PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Asakura (ranked 1049 p4p, 1070 weight class) and Malik El Shabazz (ranked 150 p4p, 155 weight class). Asakura comes to the cage accompanied by JJBA - Giorno's Theme. 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?

Asakura
vs
El Shabazz

180 cm
28
173
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
28
183
14 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 Las Vegas, Tyson Asakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malik El Shabazz!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Asakura or perhaps it was just good defense by El Shabazz, which made it look bad.
El Shabazz throws out a counter right but Asakura avoids it with no problem.
El Shabazz scores with a jab to the jaw.
El Shabazz swings for the body but Asakura moves out of range.
El Shabazz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Asakura.
Asakura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from El Shabazz.
Asakura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Asakura's sensitive parts.

Asakura rushes El Shabazz and presses him up against the cage.
El Shabazz misses with a knee strike.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asakura works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Asakura postures up.
Asakura controls from within his opponent's guard.
El Shabazz pulls Asakura in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Asakura won't allow El Shabazz to sweep him here.
El Shabazz trying to control the position.
Asakura is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
El Shabazz trying to keep a closed guard but Asakura is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
El Shabazz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Asakura throwing a counter right hand but El Shabazz manages to avoid it.
El Shabazz cracks Asakura with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Asakura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A left lands for El Shabazz.
El Shabazz misses with a straight left.
A jab lands there for El Shabazz.
Asakura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters circling - El Shabazz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Asakura is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Asakura tries to clinch but El Shabazz moves out of range.
Asakura blocks a jab.
Asakura moves in looking to clinch but El Shabazz pushes him off.
Asakura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Asakura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Asakura tries for a takedown but El Shabazz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Asakura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
El Shabazz feints a counter leg kick.
El Shabazz has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Asakura or perhaps it was just good defense by El Shabazz, which made it look bad.
Asakura stalks El Shabazz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into El Shabazz's face. El Shabazz staggers backwards, shaken.
Asakura shoots in and drives through. El Shabazz sprawls well.

El Shabazz closes the distance and pushes Asakura back into the cage.
El Shabazz lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for El Shabazz.
El Shabazz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Asakura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Asakura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Asakura gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Asakura slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Asakura tries to stand but El Shabazz is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Asakura content to stall in guard here.
El Shabazz controlling the position.
Asakura stopping the sweep attempt from El Shabazz.
Asakura trying to control the position from guard on top but El Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
El Shabazz connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Asakura clinches up with El Shabazz and pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malik El Shabazz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

El Shabazz punishes Asakura's body with a nice straight punch.
Asakura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has El Shabazz pinned against the cage. El Shabazz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
El Shabazz lands a jab.
El Shabazz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Asakura takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
El Shabazz lands with a good body shot.
El Shabazz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
El Shabazz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Shabazz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
El Shabazz is looking to clinch.
Asakura checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice cross by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Asakuras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from El Shabazz.
Asakura tries to score a power double leg takedown but El Shabazz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Asakura somewhat.
Asakura takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A punch lands to the side of Asakura 's head but he takes it in his stride.
El Shabazz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Asakura tries for a takedown but El Shabazz circles away easily
and El Shabazz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Asakura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Shabazz throws a big shot that misses.
El Shabazz misses with an uppercut
and Asakura counters with a straight right hand.
El Shabazz looks to land a left hand but Asakura moved out of range nicely.
El Shabazz throws a hook but Asakura blocks it.
El Shabazz swats away the attempt to clinch by Asakura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz throws a body shot but no joy.
Asakura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Asakura swinging wildly here.
Asakura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and El Shabazz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Asakura drives through and clinches with El Shabazz against the cage.
El Shabazz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for El Shabazz.
Asakura tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
El Shabazz with a knee to the head.
El Shabazz tries to land knees in the clinch but Asakura avoids the damage to the body.

Asakura is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. El Shabazz can't fight it off and eventually Asakura manages to take the fight to the floor. El Shabazz looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Asakura trying to control the position from guard on top but El Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura looking to pass the guard.
Asakura would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as El Shabazz holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four 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.
El Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Asakura from controlling successfully.
Asakura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Asakura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from El Shabazz.
A lazy left from El Shabazz finds it's target.
Asakura throws a sloppy head kick and El Shabazz moves out of range easily.
El Shabazz tries to clinch but Asakura is having none of it.
Malik El Shabazz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
El Shabazz throws out a powerful jab.
El Shabazz misses with a body shot.
Asakura slips under a jab from El Shabazz.
Asakura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malik El Shabazz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Asakura tries to clinch there but El Shabazz circles away.
El Shabazz throws an overhand right that lands on Asakura's shoulder, as Asakura tries to avoid the shot.
El Shabazz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Asakura blocks a jab.
El Shabazz moves out of range as Asakura throws a body kick.
El Shabazz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and El Shabazz wants it to stay on the feet.

El Shabazz has Asakura up against the cage in a clinch.

Asakura breaks the clinch.
El Shabazz throws a leg kick but Asakura checks it.
El Shabazz looks to land a left hand but Asakura moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Shabazz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Asakura doesn't manage to clinch there - El Shabazz circles away.
Malik El Shabazz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
El Shabazz lands with an overhand left.
Asakura takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Asakura throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. El Shabazz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Asakura is in El Shabazz's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asakura trying to stand up but can't free himself from El Shabazz's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. El Shabazz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Asakura throws a big right hand that misses.
El Shabazz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Asakura is one step ahead there.
Tyson Asakura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Asakura content to stall in guard here.
Asakura trying to control but El Shabazz is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Asakura preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
El Shabazz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
El Shabazz misses with an uppercut.
We've been told by Asakura's head coaches at Banana Stand that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Asakura tries for a takedown but El Shabazz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Asakura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Asakura looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Asakura uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from El Shabazz.
Asakura throws a counter high kick but El Shabazz was just alert enough to avoid it.
Asakura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from El Shabazz.
Asakura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. El Shabazz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Asakura tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura is trying hard to land a takedown here. El Shabazz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Asakura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Shabazz takes a swing at Asakura's ribcage but misses.

Asakura gets a takedown into half guard.
El Shabazz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Asakura wants to control but El Shabazz is keeping him busy.
El Shabazz wants to get back to full guard.
Asakura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed El Shabazz's head.
El Shabazz trying to control here.
Asakura is trying to control. El Shabazz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tyson Asakura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
El Shabazz lands a slapping body shot.
Asakura on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Asakura lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Asakura walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A low kick from El Shabazz misses

and Asakura holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asakura managing to block the knees to the body from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz misses with a knee to the head.
Malik El Shabazz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Asakura breaks the clinch.
Tyson Asakura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
El Shabazz misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malik El Shabazz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got El Shabazz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik El Shabazz!
Malik El Shabazz decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.