PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malik El Shabazz (ranked 2034 p4p, 2001 weight class) and Viktor Reznov (ranked 284 p4p, 279 weight class). Malik El Shabazz is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

El Shabazz
vs
Reznov

185 cm
26
183
11 - 6 - 0

184 cm
26
185
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malik El Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Viktor Reznov!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reznov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reznov.
El Shabazz scores with a crisp jab that stopped Reznov in his tracks.
Reznov throws a lazy right hand but El Shabazz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
El Shabazz is looking to counter punch.
Reznov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reznov has a takedown stuffed.
El Shabazz throws a low kick, looking for Reznov's leg but Reznov calmly moves out of range.
Reznov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Reznov closes the distance and clinches up with El Shabazz, looking for a takedown. Reznov pushes El Shabazz against the cage but El Shabazz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from El Shabazz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Malik El Shabazz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Reznov.
El Shabazz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reznov manages to avoid it.
Reznov shoots in for a takedown but El Shabazz shows good takedown defense.

Reznov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Reznov trying to control the position from guard on top but El Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
El Shabazz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Reznov looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reznov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but El Shabazz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Reznov has El Shabazz in his guard.

El Shabazz controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Reznov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reznov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
El Shabazz wants to pass the guard but Reznov is keeping the position.
El Shabazz preventing the sweep.
El Shabazz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz won't allow Reznov to sweep him here.
Reznov controlling El Shabazz's posture.
El Shabazz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reznov wants to sweep but no luck.
Reznov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Reznov seems to be looking for submissions.

Reznov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reznov is looking for a kimura here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Reznov is working for a submission of some sort.

Reznov wants to work for an arm triangle but El Shabazz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Reznov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Reznov seems to be looking for submissions.

Reznov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, El Shabazz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Reznov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but El Shabazz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
El Shabazz wants to improve his position but Reznov is controlling well.

Reznov seems to be working for a kimura but El Shabazz defends the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reznov tries to pass to full mount but El Shabazz defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Reznov dominated that round.
That's time! El Shabazz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Reznov misses with an uppercut.
El Shabazz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
El Shabazz walks into a straight right hand from Reznov.
El Shabazz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
El Shabazz lands with a cross.
El Shabazz scores with a hook to the body. Reznov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
El Shabazz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Reznov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. El Shabazz was covering up waiting for the punch and Reznov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
El Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Reznov from controlling successfully.
Reznov wants to pass the guard but El Shabazz is keeping the position.
Reznov wants to control from the top but El Shabazz keeps moving.
Reznov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reznov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Reznov trying to control the position from guard on top but El Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Reznov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and El Shabazz dives on top into guard.

El Shabazz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reznov working a defensive guard here.
Reznov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Reznov moves nicely into side control.

Reznov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reznov is trying to get an arm triangle but El Shabazz is defending well.
El Shabazz is not content to let Reznov control the position.

Reznov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. El Shabazz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Reznov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, El Shabazz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Reznov's guard! Nice work there by El Shabazz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Our spies down at at Punch Out Gym inform us that Reznov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Reznov is trying to keep El Shabazz in close.
Viktor Reznov has got the better of the ground game so far.
El Shabazz looking to pass the guard.

Reznov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reznov is pulling down on El Shabazz's head. It's preventing any offense from El Shabazz, at least for the moment.
El Shabazz trying to control but Reznov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reznov trying to keep a closed guard but El Shabazz is proving a slippery customer.
Reznov looking to hit a scissor sweep but El Shabazz is one step ahead there.
El Shabazz wants to pass the guard but Reznov is keeping the position.
Reznov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
El Shabazz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reznov looking to control but El Shabazz passes into half guard.
Reznov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. El Shabazz is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Malik El Shabazz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

El Shabazz looks to land a left hand but Reznov moved out of range nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reznov.
El Shabazz lands a nice shot to the body.
El Shabazz lands a nice shot that snaps Reznov's head back.

Reznov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches El Shabazz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Reznov trying to control the action but El Shabazz is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reznov is trying to get an arm triangle but El Shabazz is defending well.

Reznov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, El Shabazz has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reznov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by El Shabazz, who protects the arm well.
El Shabazz is trying to get back to half guard.
Reznov trying to control the action but El Shabazz is working from the bottom.

Reznov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, El Shabazz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Reznov but great work by El Shabazz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reznov wants to control but El Shabazz postures up.
Reznov manages to get back to half guard.
El Shabazz wants to pass to mount but Reznov is defending the position.
El Shabazz controlling the action here.
Reznov is refusing to be controlled, as El Shabazz sits in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with El Shabazz in particular looking to stall.
El Shabazz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Reznov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
El Shabazz is thwarting Reznov's attempts to control the position.
El Shabazz trying to mount his opponent but Reznov defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Reznov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
El Shabazz trying to control the pace.
El Shabazz trying to mount his opponent but Reznov defends it.
Reznov is trying to get back to full guard.
El Shabazz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Reznov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
El Shabazz trying to pass the guard but Reznov defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reznov tries to get to full guard but El Shabazz has control of the leg.
Reznov keeps control of the position for the meantime.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some bone on bone action there as Reznov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
El Shabazz misses the shot to the body.
Reznov staying out of range there.
Reznov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
El Shabazz throws a body shot but no joy.
Reznov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
El Shabazz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
El Shabazz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Reznov closes the distance and clinches up with El Shabazz, looking for a takedown. Reznov pushes El Shabazz against the cage but El Shabazz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Good exchange - El Shabazz coming out on top.
El Shabazz lands with a straight right. Reznov didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malik El Shabazz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think El Shabazz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik El Shabazz!
In his post fight interview, Malik El Shabazz started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.