PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 2247 p4p, 285 weight class) and Samuel Taiwo (ranked 3761 p4p, 435 weight class). Taiwo has chosen Lil Wayne - Moment as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Samuel Taiwo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Shabazz
vs
Taiwo

187 cm
20
221 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rahim Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuel Taiwo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shabazz moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Shabazz - that landed with a thud.
Shabazz working aggressively here.
Shabazz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shabazz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Shabazz misses with a body punch.
Shabazz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taiwo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shabazz tries a knee to the head but Taiwo blocks it.
Shabazz misses with a punch on the inside.
Shabazz misses with some punches.
Shabazz misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shabazz.
Shabazz misses with a knee strike.
Shabazz looking to throw knees to the head but Taiwo is blocking nicely.
Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Taiwo blocks with his arms.
Shabazz misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz misses with a punch on the inside.
Taiwo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shabazz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taiwo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shabazz misses with the head strike.
Shabazz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shabazz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Our sources have told us that Shabazz has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Shabazz misses with a body punch.
Shabazz tries to throw a body punch but Taiwo avoids it by throwing Shabazz back against the ropes.
Shabazz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shabazz misses with some punches.
Shabazz is leaning against Taiwo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shabazz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shabazz swings wildly with an uppercut but Taiwo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shabazz misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taiwo avoiding damage as Shabazz throws knees to the body.
Shabazz has a couple of punches blocked by Taiwo.
Taiwo takes a shot to the head.
Shabazz working aggressively here.
Taiwo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shabazz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shabazz throws a head punch that misses.
Shabazz lands an uppercut.
Shabazz looking to throw knees to the head but Taiwo is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shabazz is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taiwo has had enough of the clinch but Shabazz keeps him there for the moment.
Shabazz misses with a knee to the head.
Shabazz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shabazz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taiwo is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shabazz loads up on a big right hand but Taiwo slips the punch.
Shabazz misses with a head kick.
Taiwo misses with the combination.
Taiwo avoids the head kick by Shabazz.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shabazz.
Shabazz avoids the head kick by Taiwo.
Shabazz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taiwo fails to land with a series of punches.

Shabazz closes the distance and clinches.
Shabazz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taiwo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taiwo takes a shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabazz gets through Taiwo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shabazz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shabazz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shabazz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taiwo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiwo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shabazz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taiwo backwards.
Rahim Shabazz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shabazz misses with a knee strike.
Shabazz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shabazz misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taiwo.
Taiwo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shabazz misses with some punches.
Shabazz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shabazz tries a knee to the head but Taiwo blocks it.
Shabazz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shabazz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Taiwo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taiwo wants to break free but Shabazz has control.
Shabazz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taiwo can do to turn this around?
Shabazz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shabazz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shabazz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shabazz unloads a knee to the mid-section. Taiwo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shabazz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shabazz misses with a body punch.
Taiwo blocking some punches.
Shabazz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taiwo blocks a body shot from Shabazz.
Shabazz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shabazz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shabazz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taiwo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahim Shabazz dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A slow jab from Shabazz misses its intended target.
Samuel Taiwo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taiwo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Taiwo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Taiwo.
Taiwo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Taiwo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shabazz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shabazz misses with a hook. Taiwo ducked under it nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shabazz.
Taiwo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Taiwo duly obliges.
Shabazz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shabazz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shabazz jabs at Taiwo's body.
A big right from Shabazz misses.
Good exchange - Shabazz coming out on top.
Shabazz misses with a hook
and Taiwo counters with a three punch combo that has Shabazz backing up. Shabazz nods at Taiwo to acknowledge the strikes.
Taiwo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shabazz.
Shabazz dodges the punch combination from Taiwo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shabazz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Taiwo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shabazz gets through Taiwo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rahim Shabazz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shabazz.
Taiwo is trying to force a seperation but Shabazz has the dominant position.
Taiwo tries to break free but Shabazz pushes him back against the ropes.
Shabazz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taiwo is defending well for now.

Taiwo breaks from the clinch.
Samuel Taiwo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz misses the jab.
Taiwo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shabazz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shabazz misses with a head kick.
Taiwo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sloppy strikes from Shabazz. Those never looked like landing.
Shabazz misses with a right hand
and Taiwo counters with a leg kick.
Shabazz looks to score with a jab to the body but Taiwo is just out of range.
Samuel Taiwo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taiwo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Shabazz fails to land.
Samuel Taiwo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taiwo has had enough of the clinch but Shabazz keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Taiwo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shabazz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahim Shabazz!
After winning the bout, Rahim Shabazz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.