PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 1321 p4p, 1722 weight class) and Tom Breedon (ranked 200 p4p, 248 weight class). Breedon is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Quiet Riot - Come On Feel The Noise. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shabazz
vs
Breedon

187 cm
28
224
16 - 6 - 0

183 cm
29
211
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahim Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Breedon!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shabazz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shabazz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Breedon keeps working.
Shabazz is really struggling to control Breedon but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Breedon makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Breedon.
Breedon keeping moving, preventing Shabazz from controlling successfully.
Shabazz tries to free his leg and advance position but Breedon is retaining full guard.
Shabazz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Breedon's guard.
Shabazz is looking to advance position but Breedon won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Breedon controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Shabazz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Breedon is just riding it out for now. Shabazz eventually gives up the hold.
Shabazz is looking to stall here but Breedon recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Breedon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shabazz has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Breedon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shabazz is one step ahead there.
Shabazz trying to control but Breedon is working from the bottom.
Breedon looking for a sweep. Not yet Breedon, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shabazz slips nicely into half guard.
Breedon is pressing down on Shabazz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Breedon working a defensive guard here.
Shabazz passes into half guard.

Shabazz is looking for a kimura but Breedon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shabazz to get the leverage.
Shabazz trying to pass the guard but Breedon defending well.
Breedon is looking to control Shabazz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Breedon avoid being mounted?
Breedon is refusing to be controlled, as Shabazz sits in half guard.
Breedon regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shabazz.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Breedon is on top in guard.

Breedon trying to control the position from guard on top but Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Breedon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Breedon stays in close to Shabazz's body and controls the position.
My spies in Lads Lash Banter Gym inform me that Breedon has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Breedon trying to control the position from guard on top but Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Breedon preventing the sweep.

Shabazz has his foot on Breedon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Breedon works his way back into a safe position though.
Breedon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Breedon from controlling successfully.
Shabazz trying to keep a closed guard but Breedon is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shabazz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Breedon's guard.

Breedon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Breedon passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Breedon is looking to take a break and control but Shabazz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rahim Shabazz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shabazz feints and as Breedon raises his hands in defense, Shabazz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shabazz throwing strikes from guard but Breedon blocks nicely.
Shabazz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shabazz trying to control the action but Breedon is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shabazz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Breedon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shabazz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Breedon can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz working the ground and pound from side control.

Shabazz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Shabazz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shabazz trying to control the position but Breedon is working away.
Rahim Shabazz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Breedon struggling a bit here.

Shabazz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shabazz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Breedon tries to buck Shabazz off but Shabazz is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz wants to control but Breedon is keeping him busy.
Shabazz tries to score with some ground and pound. Breedon controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Breedon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Breedon struggling a bit here.
Breedon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz thows a huge punch but Breedon dodges it nicely.
Shabazz wants to pass the guard but Breedon is defending well.
Breedon is looking to improve his position.

Shabazz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Breedon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shabazz wants to pass the guard but Breedon is keeping the position.

Shabazz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Breedon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Breedon has escaped and now he's on top!

Shabazz working a defensive guard but Breedon passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Breedon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shabazz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shabazz tries to roll over but Breedon keeps him under control.
Breedon wants to take a breather but Shabazz is having none of it.
Breedon throwing shots but Shabazz is blocking nicely.
Breedon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shabazz's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Breedon lands a nice short elbow.
Shabazz is trying to maintain the position but Breedon is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Breedon is keen to just control but Shabazz is a slippery customer.
Shabazz is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rahim Shabazz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shabazz looking to score a takedown here. Breedon is defending well but Shabazz drives through and ends up in Breedon's guard.

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

Breedon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shabazz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Breedon is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shabazz is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz stopping the sweep attempt from Breedon.
Shabazz wants to control from the top but Breedon keeps moving.
Shabazz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Breedon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shabazz controls the pace.

Shabazz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Breedon looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Breedon looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Breedon!

A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Shabazz tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Breedon landing punches.
Breedon prevents Shabazz from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Breedon controlling from mount.
Breedon dominating with strikes here.
Breedon lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Shabazz regains half guard.
Breedon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shabazz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Breedon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Breedon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shabazz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Breedon sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Breedon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rahim Shabazz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shabazz desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Shabazz wants to improve his position but Breedon is controlling well.
Shabazz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shabazz pulls Breedon in close to prevent any damage.
Shabazz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tom Breedon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Breedon is looking to improve his position.
Shabazz is taking a breather. Breedon says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Breedon looking for submissions off his back.
Breedon is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Breedon.
Well Shabazz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahim Shabazz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Rahim Shabazz made sure he mentioned Brooklyn Apothecary, along with how happy he was to win his fight.