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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malik El Shabazz (ranked 1193 p4p, 2361 weight class) and Mr Knuckles (ranked 155 p4p, 313 weight class). Malik El Shabazz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 185 cm
35
183
27 - 15 - 0 |
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172 cm
24
178
9 - 6 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast |
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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 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malik El Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mr Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Shabazz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
It looks like Mr Knuckles has been cut.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts El Shabazz as he jumps to the side.
Knuckles takes a swing at El Shabazz's ribcage but misses.
El Shabazz has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
El Shabazz missing with a left hand there. Knuckles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Knuckles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
El Shabazz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Knuckles is rocked!
Malik El Shabazz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but El Shabazz circles away quickly and effectively.
El Shabazz throws a big shot that misses.
El Shabazz tries to clinch up but Knuckles circles away and keeps his distance.
Knuckles uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knuckles drops down looking for an ankle pick but El Shabazz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Knuckles lands a really nice looking cross but El Shabazz seems unphased.
That's one minute gone in the round.
El Shabazz with a hook.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Knuckles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
El Shabazz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knuckles.
Knuckles with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knuckles postures up in El Shabazz's guard and throws a big left but El Shabazz blocks it.
Knuckles is looking to work some ground and pound but El Shabazz has wrist control.
Knuckles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Knuckles distracts El Shabazz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Knuckles trying to control the position from guard on top but El Shabazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
El Shabazz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knuckles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Shabazz is keeping the position for now.
El Shabazz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
El Shabazz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knuckles is looking to work some ground and pound but El Shabazz has wrist control.
Knuckles sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Knuckles wants to control from the top but El Shabazz keeps moving.
Knuckles lands a couple of decent looking shots.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is in close to El Shabazz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Knuckles chips away with some ground and pound.
El Shabazz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knuckles throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckles connects with a couple of short punches.
Knuckles lands a couple of elbows.
Knuckles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of El Shabazz's head.
El Shabazz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Knuckles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knuckles working some strikes from top position.
Knuckles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as El Shabazz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Knuckles advances position into side control!
Knuckles wants to control but El Shabazz is keeping him busy.
Knuckles is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, El Shabazz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Knuckles wants to take a breather but El Shabazz manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Knuckles.
El Shabazz wants to sweep here but Knuckles controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mr Knuckles dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mr Knuckles's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
El Shabazz tries to close the distance and clinch but Knuckles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
El Shabazz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knuckles is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Knuckles throws a low kick, looking for El Shabazz's leg but El Shabazz calmly moves out of range.
Knuckles throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. El Shabazz was covering up waiting for the punch and Knuckles finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Knuckles got a little sloppy there for a moment and El Shabazz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knuckles has managed to get both his arms back between El Shabazz's legs - danger averted.
El Shabazz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles wants to control from the top but El Shabazz keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
El Shabazz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knuckles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knuckles postures up and lands a big shot to El Shabazz's brow.
Knuckles throwing strikes but missing.
Knuckles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knuckles is looking to work some ground and pound but El Shabazz has wrist control.
Knuckles looking to sit in guard and control but El Shabazz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knuckles 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
El Shabazz trying to control but Knuckles is working from the bottom.
Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Knuckles has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Knuckles controls El Shabazz momentarily but El Shabazz frees himself.
Knuckles is looking for a triangle but El Shabazz pushes his legs off easily.
Knuckles is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so El Shabazz is just riding it out for now. Knuckles eventually gives up the hold.
Knuckles working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on El Shabazz's thigh. El Shabazz counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Knuckles loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Knuckles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Shabazz is keeping the position for now.
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.
El Shabazz trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.
Knuckles postures up in El Shabazz's guard and throws a big left but El Shabazz blocks it.
Knuckles working some strikes from top position.
El Shabazz is looking for a triangle but Knuckles pushes his legs off easily.
Knuckles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of El Shabazz's head.
El Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Knuckles from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knuckles throws a strike but El Shabazz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Knuckles has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
El Shabazz trying to control but Knuckles is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mr Knuckles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mr Knuckles's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Knuckles changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knuckles doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Knuckles has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knuckles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and El Shabazz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
El Shabazz wants to clinch up but Knuckles keeps it at a distance.
Knuckles swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
El Shabazz misses the body punch
and Knuckles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
El Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knuckles moves away.
Knuckles avoids the body shot from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Knuckles throws a front kick aimed at El Shabazz's knee but El Shabazz avoids it well.
El Shabazz swings for the body but Knuckles moves out of range.
Knuckles gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles tries to land a leg kick but El Shabazz saw it coming and moves away.
El Shabazz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
El Shabazz fails with an attempt to clinch.
El Shabazz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Knuckles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
El Shabazz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knuckles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
El Shabazz stalling the fight.
Knuckles avoiding damage as El Shabazz throws knees to the body.
El Shabazz scores with a shot to the side of Knuckles's head.
El Shabazz blocks a body shot from Knuckles.
Knuckles misses with a punch on the inside.
Knuckles is looking for a takedown up against the cage. El Shabazz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Malik El Shabazz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Knuckles.
Knuckles misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
El Shabazz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Knuckles's face.
El Shabazz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Knuckles blocks with his arms.
El Shabazz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knuckles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Knuckles blocks with his arms.
El Shabazz lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El Shabazz landing knees to the head.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Knuckles blocks with his arms.
Knuckles drags the fight down to the ground.
Knuckles is trying to hold El Shabazz in close to prevent damage but El Shabazz has managed to pass into half guard.
El Shabazz is looking to advance position but Knuckles won't allow it.
Knuckles is trying to maintain the position but El Shabazz is very close to passing his half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, El Shabazz seems content to control.
El Shabazz trying to control from half guard but Knuckles is working away.
Knuckles is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but El Shabazz pulls his head out easily.
El Shabazz is keen to just control but Knuckles is a slippery customer.
Mr Knuckles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knuckles is holding on to half guard well.
Knuckles is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute El Shabazz jumps into side control!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Knuckles wants to control but El Shabazz postures up.
Mr Knuckles is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
El Shabazz tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
El Shabazz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Knuckles will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
El Shabazz has knee on belly momentarily but Knuckles bucks him off and regains half guard.
Malik El Shabazz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
El Shabazz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that's the end of the fight!
Malik El Shabazz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knuckles 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mr Knuckles!
Mr Knuckles gave a mention to Brooklyn Threads in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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