PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Anttila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mustafa Shabazz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mustafa Shabazz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Anttila
vs
Shabazz

163 cm
27
145 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

176 cm
28
163 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent knees
Powerful

Sun-Tzu

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taisto Anttila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mustafa Shabazz!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anttila scores with a nice right hand.
Shabazz throws a hook but Anttila avoids it easily.
Shabazz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Anttila misses with a looping left.
Shabazz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shabazz misses with a hook. Anttila ducked under it nicely.
Anttila half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Shabazz misses with a wild body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shabazz, right into the meat.
Shabazz gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Anttila counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shabazz working a defensive guard but Anttila passes into half guard.
Anttila wants to pass to mount but Shabazz is defending the position.
Shabazz is staying active underneath Anttila, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shabazz is looking to control Anttila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shabazz avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anttila prevents Shabazz from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anttila is pressing down on Shabazz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shabazz is holding on for now.
Well, if Anttila is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Anttila wants to control but Shabazz is keeping him busy.
Anttila trying to pass the guard but Shabazz defending well.
Shabazz moves into full guard.
Anttila advances position into side control!
Shabazz tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz sneaks back into half guard.
Anttila is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Shabazz tries to get to full guard but Anttila has control of the leg.
Shabazz moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anttila forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz is looking to improve his position.
Anttila wants to control but Shabazz is keeping him busy.
Anttila takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Anttila trying to advance position but Shabazz counters by regaining guard.
Shabazz keeping full guard, as Anttila tries to pass.
Anttila seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shabazz trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anttila trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shabazz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shabazz controls Anttila momentarily but Anttila frees himself.
We've been hearing good reports from Anttila's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Anttila from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Anttila looks to land a left hand but Shabazz moved out of range nicely.
Shabazz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Anttila feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shabazzs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Anttila darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anttila scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shabazz in his tracks.
Mustafa Shabazz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shabazz cracks Anttila with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Taisto Anttila has been cut.
Shabazz thuds his right hand into Anttila's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Anttila tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shabazz was well out of range. Poor timing from Anttila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Anttila dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taisto Anttila's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shabazz leaves Anttila with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shabazz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Anttila.

Anttila is rocked!
Shabazz throws a lazy right hand but Anttila sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oh Anttila is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shabazz.
Shabazz has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Shabazz throws a sloppy head kick

and Anttila counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shabazz!

Anttila looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Anttila seems to have got his legs back now.
Shabazz is trying to get back to half guard.

Anttila is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shabazz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Anttila here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Anttila slows the pace down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Shabazz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Anttila wants to control from the top but Shabazz keeps moving.

Shabazz is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Anttila rolls with it to try and escape but Shabazz cranks on the arm and Anttila is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mustafa Shabazz!
An out of breath Mustafa Shabazz thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.