PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 914 p4p, 1755 weight class) and Stan Shamrock (ranked 126 p4p, 233 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
Shamrock

187 cm
30
224
19 - 9 - 0

187 cm
32
187
20 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Vegan Gains

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 19 - 9 - 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 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stan Shamrock!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabazz lands with a cross.
Shabazz throws a head kick but Shamrock moves out of range.
Shamrock throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shabazz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Stan Shamrock has been cut.
Shamrock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shamrock fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shabazz manages to avoid it.
Shamrock misses with a few strikes there.
Shabazz has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Desert Fitness & Training (14 Elite Coaches) in the buildup to the fight.
Shamrock moves out of range of the strikes.
Shabazz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shamrock looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shamrock scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shabazz in his tracks.
Shamrock misses with a two punch combination.
It looked like Shabazz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shamrock rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shabazz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shabazz connects with a high kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shamrock misses with the combination.
Shabazz lands a body shot.
Shabazz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shamrock stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shamrock throws an overhand right that lands on Shabazz's shoulder, as Shabazz tries to avoid the shot.
Shabazz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shamrock.

Shabazz throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Shamrock tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shabazz is in Shamrock's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shamrock told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Shamrock looking for a sweep. Not yet Shamrock, not yet.

Shabazz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shabazz is looking to work some ground and pound but Shamrock has wrist control.
Shabazz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shabazz wants to control from the top but Shamrock keeps moving.
Shabazz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shabazz throws a strike but Shamrock rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shabazz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shabazz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shamrock has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz is looking to regain half guard here but Shamrock keeps moving and retains side control.
Shabazz tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Shamrock presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Shabazz regains half guard.
Shabazz tries to roll over but Shamrock keeps him under control.

Shabazz actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shamrock trying to control the action but Shabazz is working from the bottom.
Shabazz moves into full guard.

That's four 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.

Shabazz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shamrock 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.

Shabazz has his foot on Shamrock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shamrock works his way back into a safe position though.
Shamrock showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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.
Shabazz is trying to hold Shamrock in close to prevent damage but Shamrock has managed to pass into half guard.
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.
The cut man is working on Stan Shamrock's cut.
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 with a nice calf kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shabazz.
Shabazz takes one to the side of the head.
Shabazz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Shamrock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shamrock throws a poor cross that misses
and Shabazz counters with an inside leg kick.
Rahim Shabazz is winning the standup battle so far.
Shabazz stuns Shamrock with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Shamrock lands an overhand right.
Shamrock tests Shabazz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shamrock misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shamrock connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shabazz lands a jab to the head.

Shabazz lands a high kick to the side of Shamrock's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Shabazz dives into guard, looking to finish.

Shamrock is rocked!

That has opened up Stan Shamrock's cut even more.
Shabazz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shamrock is still in real trouble! Can Shabazz finish him?
Shabazz is pushing down on Shamrock's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shamrock is fighting to maintain full guard but Shabazz has managed to sneak the leg through.

Shabazz seems to be looking for submissions.
Shamrock seems to have recovered his senses.
Shabazz is looking to pass Shamrock's guard but actually Shamrock recovers to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shamrock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shamrock keeping full guard, as Shabazz tries to pass.
Shamrock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shabazz trying to control the position from guard on top but Shamrock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shabazz throws a big right hand that misses.
Shabazz throwing strikes but missing.
Shamrock keeping full guard, as Shabazz tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rahim Shabazz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shabazz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shabazz throws an elbow that misses. Shamrock uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shabazz's guard. Nice move by Shamrock!

Shamrock engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shamrock is posturing up here but Shabazz has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Shamrock tries to roll out but it's too tight and Shamrock has to tap! Slick submission there by Shabazz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rahim Shabazz!
Rahim Shabazz managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Brooklyn Apothecary, into his post fight interview.