PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nate Masvidal (ranked 2805 p4p, 2160 weight class) and Malik El Shabazz (ranked 361 p4p, 295 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Masvidal
vs
El Shabazz

188 cm
25
185
11 - 12 - 1

185 cm
27
183
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Nate Masvidal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malik El Shabazz!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Shabazz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
El Shabazz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Masvidal was well out of range. Poor timing from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Masvidal misses with an uppercut.
El Shabazz loads up on a big right hand but Masvidal slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Masvidal misses the target.
Masvidal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
El Shabazz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Masvidal is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Nice uppercut lands for El Shabazz. That snapped Masvidal's head back.
El Shabazz misses the body punch
and Masvidal counters with a three punch combo that has El Shabazz backing up. El Shabazz nods at Masvidal to acknowledge the strikes.
El Shabazz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Masvidal.
El Shabazz with a jab.
Masvidal misses with a two punch combination.
Masvidal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
El Shabazz connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
El Shabazz ducks under a wild hook from Masvidal.
Masvidal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
El Shabazz swings and misses with a shot to the body
and El Shabazz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
El Shabazz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masvidal.
El Shabazz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
El Shabazz throws an off balance right hand
and Masvidal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

El Shabazz has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal has a couple of punches blocked by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Masvidal is defending well for now.

Masvidal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik El Shabazz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
El Shabazz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Masvidal tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Masvidal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Masvidal misses with a jab, cross combination.
El Shabazz connects with a body shot.
El Shabazz looks to land a right hand but Masvidal moved out of range.
El Shabazz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
El Shabazz cracks Masvidal with a good jab.
El Shabazz throws a leg kick which misses Masvidal's front leg but catches the back leg as Masvidal tries to avoid it.
El Shabazz slips under a jab.
El Shabazz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
El Shabazz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masvidal throws an ugly left hook that misses
and El Shabazz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A slapping leg kick lands for El Shabazz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
El Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Masvidal moves away.
We've been told by Masvidal's head coaches at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
El Shabazz swings widly with a right hand
and Masvidal counters with a stiff right hand.
Masvidal throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from El Shabazz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
El Shabazz lunges at Masvidal with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Masvidal's hand.
El Shabazz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Masvidal misses with a straight right.
Masvidal misses with a series of wild punches.
El Shabazz connects with a leg kick.
El Shabazz lands with a nice body punch.
El Shabazz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Masvidal.
Masvidal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Masvidal is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sloppy strikes from Masvidal. Those never looked like landing.
El Shabazz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
El Shabazz tests Masvidal's chin there with a solid looking shot.
El Shabazz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Masvidal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by El Shabazz.
A big left from Masvidal misses.
Masvidal ducks under a wild hook from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
El Shabazz tries to clinch up but Masvidal circles away and keeps his distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by El Shabazz.
Masvidal misses the shot to the body.
El Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Masvidal moves away.
El Shabazz misses with an uppercut. Masvidal saw that one coming.
El Shabazz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Masvidal misses with an uppercut. El Shabazz saw that one coming.
A little jabbing left from El Shabazz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
El Shabazz cracks Masvidal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Masvidal scores with a jab to the head.
El Shabazz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Masvidal tries to move into range but El Shabazz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Masvidal misses with a right hand
and El Shabazz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
El Shabazz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz loads up on a big right hand but Masvidal slips the punch.
El Shabazz moves forwards but Masvidal connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Masvidal wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
El Shabazz missing with a left hand there. Masvidal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
El Shabazz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
El Shabazz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Masvidal.
A shot to the body from El Shabazz misses
and Masvidal counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A good leg kick by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Masvidal misses with a two punch combination.
El Shabazz thuds his right hand into Masvidal's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Masvidal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling El Shabazz to counter with a crisp jab.

Masvidal gets tackled into the cage by El Shabazz. El Shabazz maintains the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Shabazz prevents a body shot from Masvidal.
El Shabazz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
El Shabazz misses with a knee strike.
Masvidal lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt El Shabazz or not.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malik El Shabazz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A swing and a miss from Masvidal.
El Shabazz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Masvidal was well out of range. Poor timing from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz sizes up Masvidal with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Masvidal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
El Shabazz throws a series of strikes that have Masvidal backpedaling.
Masvidal on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
El Shabazz throws out a powerful jab.
Masvidal looks to land a left hand but El Shabazz moved out of range nicely.
El Shabazz scores with a hook.
Masvidal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like El Shabazz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
El Shabazz lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Masvidal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
El Shabazz throws out a counter right but Masvidal avoids it with no problem.
Masvidal shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. El Shabazz eats them both and turns towards Masvidal to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from El Shabazz in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Masvidal throws a right hand that misses
and El Shabazz counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice body punch from Masvidal.
Malik El Shabazz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
El Shabazz just misses with a punch to the body.
Masvidal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Shabazz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Shabazz lands with a hook. Masvidal tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
El Shabazz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Masvidal momentarily.
El Shabazz throws a looping overhand right but Masvidal ducks down to avoid it.
El Shabazz lands a leg kick that knocks Masvidal off balance momentarily.
Masvidal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
El Shabazz throws a low kick but Masvidal moves out of range easily.
It looked like Masvidal was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
El Shabazz scores with a nice head shot.
Masvidal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from El Shabazz.
El Shabazz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Masvidal scores with a crisp jab that stopped El Shabazz in his tracks.
Masvidal checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
El Shabazz lands a body shot.
Masvidal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
El Shabazz slips a jab from Masvidal.
Masvidal throws a hook but El Shabazz blocks it.
A big left from Masvidal misses.
El Shabazz wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Masvidal cracks El Shabazz with an open hand slap.
El Shabazz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Masvidal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Masvidal misses with a right hand
and El Shabazz counters with a straight right hand.
El Shabazz looks to score with a jab to the body but Masvidal is just out of range.
Masvidal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Masvidal missing with a left hand there. El Shabazz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
El Shabazz throws a right hand that Masvidal ducks under and follows up with a left that Masvidal also avoids with ease.
El Shabazz dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Masvidal. That did some damage!
El Shabazz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Masvidal.
Masvidal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz throws a hook but Masvidal blocks it.
Masvidal misses with a hook. El Shabazz ducked under it nicely.
El Shabazz looks to throw the jab but Masvidal is out of range.
Masvidal is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Masvidal moves away.
El Shabazz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
El Shabazz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Masvidal.
El Shabazz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
El Shabazz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Masvidal swinging wildly here.
Masvidal fails to land with a series of punches.
Masvidal throws a jab when El Shabazz was well out of range.
Masvidal misses with a straight right.
A low kick from El Shabazz is predictable there
and Masvidal counters with a straight right hand.
El Shabazz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Masvidal momentarily.

El Shabazz rushes Masvidal and presses him up against the cage.
El Shabazz tries to throw a body punch but Masvidal avoids it by throwing El Shabazz back against the cage.
El Shabazz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Masvidal misses with a punch on the inside.
El Shabazz scores with a shot to the side of Masvidal's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Masvidal blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Shabazz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
El Shabazz lands a body shot.
El Shabazz walks into a stiff left hand from Masvidal.
No joy there for Masvidal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
El Shabazz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
El Shabazz connects with a nice looking jab.
The fighters circling - Masvidal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Masvidal listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Masvidal fails to land with a series of punches.
A countering left hand to the body from El Shabazz misses.

El Shabazz takes the fight into the clinch.
El Shabazz with a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Masvidal.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masvidal tries to circle away but El Shabazz has him pinned against the cage.

Masvidal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
El Shabazz throws a shot to the body.
El Shabazz misses with a hook. Masvidal ducked under it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malik El Shabazz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

El Shabazz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Masvidal manages to avoid it.
Masvidal ducks under a wild hook from El Shabazz.
Masvidal cracks El Shabazz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Masvidal looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
El Shabazz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masvidal.
El Shabazz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Masvidal misses the target.
El Shabazz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
El Shabazz tries to clinch up.
El Shabazz looks to score with a jab to the body but Masvidal is just out of range.
Masvidal moves away from the strike by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz throws a hook to the side of Masvidal's head but Masvidal sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masvidal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by El Shabazz.

El Shabazz clinches up with Masvidal and pushes him back against the cage.

Masvidal breaks the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Masvidal checks a leg kick.
El Shabazz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Masvidal defending well as El Shabazz loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as El Shabazz backs up against the cage.
El Shabazz moves away from the strike by Masvidal.
El Shabazz tries a quick counter leg kick but Masvidal is wise to it.
El Shabazz throws a right and a left that Masvidal avoids nicely.
El Shabazz misses with a straight left.
El Shabazz connects with a body shot.
El Shabazz scores with a body shot.
El Shabazz with a hook.
El Shabazz lands with an uppercut that bounces Masvidal off the cage and back into range.
El Shabazz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from El Shabazz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Masvidal moves away from the strike by El Shabazz.
Masvidal throwing a counter right hand but El Shabazz manages to avoid it.
El Shabazz connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
El Shabazz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Masvidal throws an overhand right that lands on El Shabazz's shoulder, as El Shabazz tries to avoid the shot.
El Shabazz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Masvidal's sensitive parts.
El Shabazz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
El Shabazz scores with a nice head shot.
Nate Masvidal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Shabazz misses with a right hand
and Masvidal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Masvidal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract El Shabazz.
Masvidal takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

El Shabazz clinches up against the cage.
Masvidal tries to circle away but El Shabazz has him pinned against the cage.
Masvidal throws a punch but it's blocked by El Shabazz.
Masvidal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
El Shabazz scores with a hook to the body.
El Shabazz lands a nice uppercut.
El Shabazz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Masvidal scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Masvidal.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Masvidal blocks with his arms.
El Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
El Shabazz misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal misses with the head strike.
El Shabazz looking to throw knees to the head but Masvidal is blocking nicely.
Masvidal is trying to push El Shabazz away but El Shabazz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
El Shabazz struggles to land a body shot inside as Masvidal controls his hands.
Masvidal lands with a short shot to the head.
Masvidal can't find room to land a body shot as El Shabazz controls the action.
El Shabazz looking to throw knees to the head but Masvidal is blocking nicely.
A short uppercut from El Shabazz.

Masvidal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masvidal looks to land a left hand but El Shabazz moved out of range nicely.
El Shabazz thuds a left hand into Masvidal's body.
El Shabazz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Masvidal.
Masvidal was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A slow jab from Masvidal misses its intended target.
El Shabazz scores with a decent looking hook.
Masvidal moves out of range of the strikes.
A decent looking cross lands there for El Shabazz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
El Shabazz lands with a hook. Masvidal tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
El Shabazz tries to clinch there but Masvidal circles away.
A good leg kick by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz wants to clinch
and Masvidal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Masvidal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by El Shabazz.
El Shabazz connects with a body shot.
Masvidal walks into a jab.
El Shabazz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Masvidals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A jab from Masvidal does it's job there.
El Shabazz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Masvidal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Shabazz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Masvidal.
Malik El Shabazz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
El Shabazz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
El Shabazz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
El Shabazz just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malik El Shabazz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well El Shabazz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malik El Shabazz!
Malik El Shabazz bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.