PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Siphiwe Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Reed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tshabalala
vs
Reed

185 cm
18
150 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siphiwe Tshabalala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ed Reed!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tshabalala shoots for a takedown but Reed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reed shoots in and drives through. Tshabalala sprawls well.
Reed tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tshabalala - that will leave a mark!
Reed doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tshabalala counters with a head kick.
Tshabalala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reed sprawls well. Reed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tshabalala gets slowly back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reed drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tshabalala gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Siphiwe Tshabalala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Reed.

Tshabalala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tshabalala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tshabalala decides to pull guard.
Tshabalala looking for a sweep. Not yet Tshabalala, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala is working hard here to advance position.
Tshabalala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reed manages to get himself to full guard.
Reed looking for a sweep. Not yet Reed, not yet.
Reed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tshabalala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Reed is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tshabalala is aware though and is defending well.
Tshabalala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reed swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tshabalala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tshabalala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Reed tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Tshabalala is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tshabalala fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Tshabalala moves into the clinch successfully.
Tshabalala taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Reed has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tshabalala is pressed up against the cage. Reed has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tshabalala down to the mat. Tshabalala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Reed tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tshabalala holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A knee to the head by Tshabalala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tshabalala fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tshabalala closes the distance and clinches.

Tshabalala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tshabalala throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tshabalala tries for a takedown but Reed circles away easily
and Reed counters with a two punch combo.
Reed with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tshabalala counters with a shoot takedown. Reed fights it but they end up in guard.
Tshabalala is breathing heavily.
Reed wants to get back to his feet but Tshabalala is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tshabalala advances to half guard.
Tshabalala is looking to advance position but Reed won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reed has hold of Tshabalala's hands but Tshabalala slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reed pushes Tshabalala off looking to stand but Tshabalala dives back in and keeps control.
Reed is trying to get back to full guard.
Tshabalala really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Tshabalala decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reed showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tshabalala.

Tshabalala closes the distance and clinches.

Tshabalala pulls guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tshabalala looking for a triangle here. Reed is fighting it but it looks tight! Tshabalala pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Reed is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Siphiwe Tshabalala!
Siphiwe Tshabalala retains his lightweight title!