PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 1167 p4p, 159 weight class) and Trevor Fitch (ranked 2446 p4p, 294 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shabazz
vs
Fitch

187 cm
21
221 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
220 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rahim Shabazz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Trevor Fitch!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Eliza Hachem and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabazz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitch.
Fitch throws an off balance right hand
and Fitch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Trevor Fitch has been cut.
Fitch throws a lazy right hand but Shabazz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fitch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Trevor Fitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitch misses with a takedown attempt - Shabazz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shabazz has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Five Round Fight Club NY (50 max) in the buildup to the fight.
Shabazz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Fitch throws a looping overhand right but Shabazz ducks down to avoid it.
Good shot there by Shabazz.
Shabazz throws a series of punches but Fitch moves out of range.

Fitch shoots in and bounces Shabazz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shabazz is wriggling around but Fitch manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shabazz has his hands clasped together around Fitch's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch prevents Shabazz from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fitch is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Shabazz as he works his way to full guard.
Shabazz is pulling down on Fitch's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shabazz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fitch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fitch stopping the sweep attempt from Shabazz.
Shabazz controlling Fitch's posture.
Fitch looking to sit in guard and control but Shabazz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shabazz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shabazz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fitch misses with a body shot.
Shabazz misses with a few strikes there.
Fitch throws the left hand but Shabazz avoids the punch easily.

Shabazz drops Fitch with a right and a left! Shabazz comes rushing in but Fitch regains his composure and manages to keep Shabazz in guard.

That has opened up Trevor Fitch's cut even more.

Fitch looking for a guillotine here but Shabazz defends easily.
Fitch looks winded!
Shabazz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahim Shabazz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Trevor Fitch's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fitch throws an off balance right hand
and Shabazz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Shabazz moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Fitch goes down! Can Shabazz finish him!?

Fitch is rocked!

The cut above Trevor Fitch's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Shabazz content to stall in guard here.
Fitch is still in real trouble! Can Shabazz finish him?
Fitch seems to have recovered his senses.
Shabazz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fitch can do to turn this around?
Shabazz continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Shabazz.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shabazz cracks Fitch with a big right hand and Fitch goes down!
Shabazz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Fitch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shabazz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Shabazz.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fitch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shabazz defends it nicely.
Fitch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shabazz.
Fitch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Trevor Fitch's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Trevor Fitch's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rahim Shabazz!
Rahim Shabazz retains his light heavyweight title!
Rahim Shabazz was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.