PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Granger (ranked 1621 p4p, 1367 weight class) and Rahim Shabazz (ranked 227 p4p, 191 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Granger
vs
Shabazz

183 cm
34
226
22 - 15 - 0

187 cm
29
224
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frank Granger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahim Shabazz!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granger throws a head kick but Shabazz moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Granger.
Granger tries to clinch there but Shabazz circles away.
A jab lands there for Shabazz.
Granger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shabazz scores with a head kick. Granger tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Frank Granger has been cut.
Granger thumps Shabazz with a low kick.
We've been told by Granger's head coaches at RED BELT ACADEMY that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A low kick from Granger is predictable there
and Shabazz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nice sprawl there from Granger as Shabazz shoots in.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Granger crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shabazz - the referee stops the clock and Granger gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shabazz. Granger manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Granger misses with a body shot.
Shabazz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Granger manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Granger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shabazz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Granger instigates a clinch.
Shabazz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Granger wants to get back to striking at distance but Shabazz won't allow it.
Granger has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Granger breaks from the clinch.
Shabazz has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz throws a shot from downtown. Granger moves away and avoids it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A head kick from Shabazz lands but Granger takes it in his stride.
Shabazz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Granger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shabazz.
A punch combination from Granger misses.
Granger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Granger wants to clinch.
Shabazz throws a shot to the body.
Shabazz scores with a sloppy right hand. Granger should have avoided that one.
Granger slips under a jab.
Shabazz just misses with a punch to the body.
Shabazz scores with a jab.
Shabazz throws an overhand right that lands on Granger's shoulder, as Granger tries to avoid the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Granger throws a head kick that half lands.
Shabazz is looking to slow Granger down with leg kicks.
Granger lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Granger moves away.
Shabazz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Granger.
Granger misses with a body shot.
Granger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Granger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shabazz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Granger throws a body shot but no joy.
Shabazz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Granger throws out the jab.
Granger misses with a wild body shot.
Granger swings for the body but Shabazz moves out of range.
Shabazz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Granger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shabazz moves away.
Frank Granger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by Granger. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Granger.
Shabazz tries a low kick but Granger avoids it.
Shabazz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Granger's head.
Granger just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Shabazz misses the target.

Granger clinches up against the cage.
Granger is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Granger manages to break the clinch.
Shabazz blocks the body kick.
Shabazz throws out a counter right but Granger avoids it with no problem.
Granger ducks under a wild hook from Shabazz.
Nice uppercut there from Granger.
Shabazz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shabazz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good work by Shabazz as he checks the leg kick.
Granger is looking to wear down Shabazz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Shabazz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Granger but Granger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shabazz misses with a looping right.
Shabazz misses with a kick to the body.
Shabazz dips to his left and cracks Granger with an uppercut!
Shabazz scores with a nice right hand.
Shabazz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Granger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shabazz.
Granger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shabazz throws a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Shabazz.
Granger misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger throws a body punch but Shabazz moves out of range.
Granger throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shabazz on the side of the head.
Shabazz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Granger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shabazz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Granger scores with a jab to the body.
Granger scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Granger on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shabazz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shabazz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Granger lands a nice shot that snaps Shabazz's head back.
Shabazz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Granger had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Granger throws a chopping leg kick but Shabazz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good leg kick by Shabazz.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Granger takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shabazz misses with a head kick.

Granger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shabazz, pushing him back against the cage.
Shabazz misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rahim Shabazz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Frank Granger's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Granger is looking to clinch.
Shabazz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shabazz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Granger slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Shabazz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Granger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rahim Shabazz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shabazz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Granger.
Granger with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shabazz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Granger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shabazz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shabazz scores with the left hand. Granger knows he should have avoided that one.
Granger tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Shabazz misses.
Shabazz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Granger lunges at Shabazz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shabazz's hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Granger throws a head kick but Shabazz moves out of range.
Granger misses with a wild body shot.
Shabazz throws a wild body kick that Granger sees coming a mile off.
Shabazz dodges the punch combination from Granger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger is looking to clinch.
Shabazz throws a big shot that misses.
Shabazz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Granger closes the distance and pushes Shabazz back into the cage.
Shabazz wants to break free but Granger has control.

Granger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shabazz. Granger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Granger throws a low kick, looking for Shabazz's leg but Shabazz calmly moves out of range.
Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Granger moves away.
Granger scores with a head kick. Shabazz tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Shabazz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Granger's head.
Shabazz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice body punch from Shabazz.
Granger fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shabazz.
Granger will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Granger lands a glancing blow to the side of Shabazz's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shabazz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Granger at a distance.
Granger thumps Shabazz with a low kick.
Granger scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Granger checks a low kick from Shabazz.
As Shabazz looks to move away, Granger throws a big counter combo but Shabazz just gets out of the way.
Shabazz throws a solid leg kick but Granger takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shabazz.
Granger takes a swing at Shabazz's ribcage but misses.
Granger wants to clinch.
Granger scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shabazz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Granger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shabazz lands an overhand right.
Granger throws out a leg kick but Shabazz moves out of range and Granger only half commits.
Shabazz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Shabazz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Granger.
Shabazz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shabazz cracks Granger with a right hand to the side of the head.
Granger misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shabazz connects with a nice looking jab.
Shabazz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Granger throws a solid leg kick but Shabazz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Granger.
Granger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shabazz.
Shabazz looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Shabazz lands with a good body shot.
Shabazz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Granger under the eye.

Granger gets caught napping as Shabazz dives in and scores a takedown. Granger manages to retain guard.
Shabazz postures up and lands a big shot to Granger's brow.
Granger keeping full guard, as Shabazz tries to pass.
Granger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shabazz won't allow Granger to get back to his feet.
Shabazz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shabazz advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shabazz drops an elbow to the side of Granger's head.
Shabazz throws a strike but Granger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Shabazz passes Granger's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Shabazz is trying to work for a kimura but Granger is defending well.
Granger is trying to stand back up but Shabazz is controlling him
Shabazz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Granger wants to get back to his feet.
Shabazz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Granger is not content to let Shabazz control the position.

Shabazz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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 Frank Granger will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Frank Granger's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Granger misses with a wild body shot.
Shabazz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Granger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shabazz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shabazz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Granger avoids the head kick by Shabazz.
Shabazz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Granger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Granger looks to score with a jab to the body but Shabazz is just out of range.
Shabazz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Granger's head backwards.
Shabazz's corner calls for a 1-2. Shabazz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Shabazz avoids the body shot from Granger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granger dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shabazz. That did some damage!
Shabazz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Granger swings for the body but Shabazz moves out of range.
Good shot there by Shabazz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Granger wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shabazz walks into a stiff left hand from Granger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shabazz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shabazz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shabazz avoids a kick to the body.
Shabazz misses with a straight left.
Shabazz scores with a kick to the body.
Granger feints and then cracks Shabazz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shabazz down.
Shabazz scores with a hook to the body. Granger takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shabazz scores with a jab. Granger acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Shabazz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shabazz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Granger. Shabazz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shabazz is looking for the big counter here.
Shabazz scores with a nice strike.
Shabazz looks for the body kick but Granger saw that one coming.
Shabazz throws a shot from downtown. Granger moves away and avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A decent looking cross lands there for Shabazz.
Shabazz throws a head kick that misses.
Shabazz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shabazz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shabazz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shabazz throws a body kick that misses.
Shabazz darts in looking for a takedown but Granger gets double underhooks and turns Shabazz into the cage.
Jab by Granger.
Granger slaps away a takedown attempt from Shabazz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shabazz scores with a hook to the body. Granger takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shabazz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A shot to the liver by Granger. Beautiful body shot.
Granger misses with a few strikes there.
Granger throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Granger fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shabazz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Shabazz scores with a shot to the body.
Granger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Granger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger looks to score with a jab to the body but Shabazz is just out of range.
Shabazz looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Granger delivers a nice body kick.
Granger misses with a two punch combination.
Shabazz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Granger is looking to counter with a body kick.
Shabazz throws a nice head kick!
Granger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shabazz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Granger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping body kick lands there for Granger.
Shabazz lands a leg kick that knocks Granger off balance momentarily.
Shabazz scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab lands there for Shabazz.
Shabazz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Granger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shabazz. Shabazz obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Granger tries to land a front kick but Shabazz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Shabazz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Granger was well out of range. Poor timing from Shabazz.
Shabazz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger tries to clinch but Shabazz moves out of range.
Granger throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Granger looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shabazz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Granger drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shabazz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Granger lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Shabazz backs up against the cage.
Granger avoids the head kick by Shabazz.
Granger throws out a loose jab but Shabazz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Granger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shabazz.
Granger feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shabazzs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shabazz swinging wildly here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Granger misses with a head kick.
Shabazz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shabazz misses with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rahim Shabazz.
I think Shabazz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahim Shabazz!
Rahim Shabazz made sure to mention his sponsor, Brooklyn Apothecary in his post fight interview.