PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between JJ Lycka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mustafa Shabazz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). JJ Lycka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lycka
vs
Shabazz

160 cm
27
156 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

176 cm
27
163 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, JJ Lycka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mustafa Shabazz!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lycka shoots and misses

and Shabazz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lycka is trying to get back to full guard.

Shabazz seems to be working for a kimura but Lycka defends the submission attempt.
Lycka is trying to maintain the position but Shabazz is very close to passing his half guard.
Lycka is staying active underneath Shabazz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lycka tries to get to full guard but Shabazz has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shabazz in particular looking to stall.
Shabazz trying to pass the guard but Lycka defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lycka preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lycka tries to get to full guard but Shabazz has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shabazz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lycka has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lycka is trying to get back to full guard.
Lycka is trying to control but can't.
Shabazz wants to pass the guard but Lycka is defending well.
Lycka is trying to control but can't.
Shabazz is keen to just control but Lycka is a slippery customer.
Shabazz trying to mount his opponent but Lycka defends it.
Shabazz is keen to just control but Lycka is a slippery customer.

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.
Lycka is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lycka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shabazz tries to avoid it but Lycka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shabazz to the ground. Shabazz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shabazz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shabazz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lycka.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JJ Lycka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lycka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shabazz steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lycka.
Lycka tries for a takedown but Shabazz circles away easily
and Shabazz counters with a right hand to the body.
Lycka shoots for a takedown but Shabazz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lycka is breathing heavily.
Lycka shoots in looking for a takedown but Shabazz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lycka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Shabazz clinches up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Shabazz.
Shabazz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shabazz lands a knee to the body.
Shabazz scores with a hook to the body.
Shabazz crunches a lovely knee into Lycka's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shabazz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz lands a nice knee to the body.
Shabazz putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lycka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shabazz working Lycka over with knees to the body.
Shabazz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shabazz has Lycka pressed against the cage.
Lycka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shabazz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Shabazz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shabazz instigates a clinch.
Shabazz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shabazz scores a nice knee to the body.
Lycka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shabazz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shabazz cracks Lycka with a nice body shot.
Shabazz putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lycka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shabazz lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lycka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shabazz obliges.
Shabazz lands an elbow inside that Lycka shrugs off.
Shabazz lands a body punch.
Shabazz gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Shabazz is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shabazz lands an uppercut.
Shabazz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shabazz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lycka.
Shabazz lands a knee to the head.
Shabazz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shabazz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shabazz.
A knee to the head by Shabazz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Shabazz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shabazz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shabazz has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lycka!
Lycka prevents Shabazz from taking his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shabazz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lycka can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lycka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Shabazz working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lycka is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shabazz looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lycka tries to reverse the position but Shabazz maintains control.
Shabazz tries to control but Lycka wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lycka is looking to improve his position but Shabazz isn't that keen on the idea.
Shabazz moves to take his opponent's back.
Lycka can't escape the position.

Shabazz has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lycka has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Shabazz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Shabazz working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Lycka is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Shabazz has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Lycka taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mustafa Shabazz!
Mustafa Shabazz tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.