PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mustafa Shabazz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoran Jolevi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Shabazz
vs
Jolevi

176 cm
29
163 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

167 cm
30
160 lbs
23 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Max Octane Fight Wear
Héritage!

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Mustafa Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zoran Jolevi!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabazz takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Shabazz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jolevi, pushing him back against the cage.
Shabazz tries to pull guard but Jolevi holds him up against the cage and eventually Shabazz drops back down to his feet.
Jolevi stops a takedown attempt from Shabazz.
Jolevi tries a body shot but Shabazz blocks it.
Jolevi is pressed up against the cage. Shabazz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jolevi down to the mat. Jolevi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mustafa Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shabazz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shabazz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jolevi manages to get back to half guard.

Shabazz is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Jolevi to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Jolevi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shabazz tries to free his leg and advance position but Jolevi is retaining full guard.
Jolevi keeping moving, preventing Shabazz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jolevi pulls Shabazz in to control the position.
Jolevi looking to control.
Shabazz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jolevi is keeping the position for now.
Shabazz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jolevi's guard.
Jolevi controlling the position well.

Shabazz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Shabazz is looking for a kimura but Jolevi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shabazz to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jolevi wants to control but Shabazz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jolevi is trying to get back to full guard.

Shabazz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Shabazz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shabazz moves into full mount! Jolevi won't be happy about that!
Shabazz looking to control but Jolevi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi tries to hold on but Shabazz postures up.
Jolevi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jolevi is trying to escape the mount but Shabazz keeps good control and instead manages to take Jolevi's back.
Jolevi tries to escape but Shabazz has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Shabazz is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Jolevi is defending well though. Shabazz let's go of the attempt for now.

Jolevi fending off the submission attempt from Shabazz.
Shabazz trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Shabazz is persistently looking for the submission but Jolevi is defending it well.
Jolevi rolls, trying to escape but Shabazz keeps control of the position.

Shabazz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Jolevi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Shabazz working for a choke but Jolevi is defending well.
Shabazz seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shabazz looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Shabazz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Shabazz.
Shabazz takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Shabazz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shabazz tries to pull guard but Jolevi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jolevi pushes Shabazz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jolevi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
Jolevi misses with some punches.
Shabazz tries to score a body lock takedown but Jolevi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mustafa Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shabazz lands an elbow that stopped Jolevi in his tracks for a moment.
Shabazz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jolevi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabazz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jolevi fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Shabazz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shabazz wants to work for an arm triangle but Jolevi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jolevi gets full guard.
Jolevi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shabazz trying to control but Jolevi is working from the bottom.
Jolevi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jolevi keeping full guard, as Shabazz tries to pass.

Shabazz drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jolevi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jolevi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jolevi!

Jolevi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shabazz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jolevi but great work by Shabazz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Shabazz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jolevi defends it well.
Jolevi is looking to improve his position.

Shabazz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jolevi is just riding it out for now. Shabazz eventually gives up the hold.
Shabazz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jolevi can do to turn this around?

Shabazz trying to work for an americana but Jolevi has managed to regain full guard.
Jolevi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shabazz is looking to advance position but Jolevi has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

A nice elbow there by Jolevi.
Jolevi wants to control the pace but Shabazz is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz has given up his back.
Jolevi has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Shabazz's body.
Jolevi controlling well, preventing Shabazz from escaping the position.

Jolevi has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Shabazz is in real trouble here. Jolevi gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Shabazz is tapping out! Jolevi wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zoran Jolevi!
Zoran Jolevi opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.