PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 1028 p4p, 927 weight class) and Vincent Lemieux (ranked 29 p4p, 29 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Shabazz
vs
Lemieux

187 cm
32
224
23 - 14 - 0

193 cm
45
270
37 - 39 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary
Pound Town INC

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahim Shabazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 39 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vincent Lemieux!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lemieux looks to land a right hand but Shabazz moved out of range.
Shabazz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Shabazz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lemieux did well to prevent Shabazz getting side control.

Lemieux has one foot on Shabazz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rahim Shabazz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Lemieux.
A slow jab from Lemieux misses its intended target.
Lemieux just misses with a punch to the body.

Shabazz has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lemieux has Shabazz pressed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lemieux throws an elbow but misses.
Lemieux lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
Shabazz has a couple of punches blocked by Lemieux.
Lemieux has a couple of punches blocked by Shabazz.
Lemieux misses with a punch on the inside.
Shabazz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lemieux avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Shabazz lands a nice shot to the body.
Lemieux tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shabazz lands a shot to the body.
Shabazz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shabazz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabazz lands with a left to the head.
Shabazz lands a hook that snaps the head of Lemieux backwards.
Shabazz tries to throw a body punch but Lemieux avoids it by throwing Shabazz back against the cage.
Shabazz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lemieux taking a breather.
Lemieux avoiding damage as Shabazz throws knees to the body.
Shabazz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shabazz looking for a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shabazz obliges.
Lemieux looks winded!
Lemieux throws a punch but it's blocked by Shabazz.
Lemieux tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shabazz's elbow.
Shabazz lands a good knee to the midsection. Lemieux won't want to take too many of those.
Shabazz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lemieux is defending well for now.
Shabazz pushes Lemieux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shabazz tries to land a knee to the head but Lemieux blocks with his arms.
Shabazz lands with a light punch inside.
Shabazz tries to score a body lock takedown but Lemieux shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahim Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lemieux has a couple of punches blocked by Shabazz.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shabazz obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shabazz scores with a shot to the side of Lemieux's head.

Shabazz jumps into guard, dragging Lemieux to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz pulls Lemieux in to control the position.
Lemieux postures up.
Shabazz keeping moving, preventing Lemieux from controlling successfully.

Shabazz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lemieux drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Shabazz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lemieux has Shabazz in his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shabazz looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shabazz throws a big right hand that misses.
Lemieux trying to keep a closed guard but Shabazz is proving a slippery customer.
Lemieux wants to control but Shabazz passes easily into half guard.
Lemieux is trying to stand back up but Shabazz is controlling him

Shabazz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lemieux doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shabazz.
Shabazz trying to pass the guard but Lemieux defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shabazz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Lemieux is looking for a sweep. Shabazz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Lemieux is defending against the submission attempts here by Shabazz.
Lemieux tries to roll over but Shabazz keeps him under control.
Lemieux trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Lemieux taking shots to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lemieux takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lemieux defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shabazz.
Shabazz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Shabazz.
Shabazz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shabazz throws a hook to the side of Lemieux's head but Lemieux sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shabazz shoots in but Lemieux avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Shabazz drops Lemieux with a right and a left! Shabazz comes rushing in but Lemieux regains his composure and manages to keep Shabazz in guard.

Lemieux is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shabazz stopping the sweep attempt from Lemieux.
Lemieux can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shabazz controls the pace.

Lemieux manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Lemieux is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shabazz is keeping busy.
Shabazz lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux lands a nice shot to the body.
Shabazz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shabazz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lemieux's elbow.
Lemieux is pressed up against the cage. Shabazz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lemieux down to the mat. Lemieux 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 Rahim Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shabazz misses with the combination.
Lemieux just misses with a punch to the body.
Shabazz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lemieux tries to counter by closing the distance.
Shabazz ducks under a wild hook from Lemieux.
Shabazz avoids the body shot from Lemieux.
Shabazz connects with a solid leg kick.

Shabazz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shabazz is trying to control. Lemieux wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shabazz is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lemieux manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shabazz wants to control from the top but Lemieux keeps moving.
Lemieux is trying to control the position but Shabazz postures up.
Shabazz trying to control the position from guard on top but Lemieux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shabazz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shabazz wants to control but Lemieux is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux is trying to improve his position.

Shabazz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shabazz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Shabazz decides to stand back up.
Shabazz misses the jab.
Shabazz lands with a cross.
Shabazz slips a jab from Lemieux.
Shabazz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lemieux defends well and Shabazz ends up having to push Lemieux into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Good body shot from Lemieux.
A short left from Lemieux.
Shabazz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lemieux can do to turn this around?
Shabazz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lemieux backwards.
Lemieux scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
Lemieux gets through Shabazz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lemieux throws an elbow but misses.
Lemieux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lemieux lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Lemieux.
Lemieux presses Shabazz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lemieux lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lemieux gets through Shabazz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lemieux leaning against his opponent.
Lemieux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
Lemieux pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lemieux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shabazz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lemieux avoids it.
A body shot lands from Lemieux.
Lemieux lands with a left to the head.
Lemieux throws an elbow but it misses.
Lemieux throws an elbow but it misses.
Lemieux lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vincent Lemieux will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shabazz misses with a few strikes there.
Shabazz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lemieux.
It looked like Shabazz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shabazz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lemieux tries to counter with a clinch but Shabazz shakes him off and moves away.
Lemieux takes one to the chin there.
Lemieux works Shabazz's body with a nice hook.
Shabazz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lemieux sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A combination from Shabazz does no damage.
Shabazz sets himself, and Lemieux steps forward looking for the clinch! Shabazz avoids it this time.
Shabazz misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabazz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lemieux connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shabazz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lemieux lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shabazz takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux looks to land a right hand but Shabazz moved out of range.
Lemieux scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lemieux waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shabazz.
Shabazz takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Lemieux has Shabazz up against the cage in a clinch.
Lemieux misses with an elbow strike.

Shabazz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lemieux is trying to keep an underhook but Shabazz manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Lemieux gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lemieux seems keen to control Shabazz's posture.
Shabazz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lemieux keeping moving, preventing Shabazz from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rahim Shabazz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lemieux doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Lemieux working a defensive guard here.
Lemieux bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shabazz's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lemieux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Lemieux gets to his feet - Shabazz follows without any prompting.
Lemieux avoids a kick to the body.
Shabazz shoots in but Lemieux avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shabazz misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz moves in looking to clinch but Lemieux pushes him off.
Shabazz sets himself, and Lemieux steps forward looking for the clinch! Shabazz avoids it this time.
Lemieux scores with a nice right hand.
Shabazz misses with a looping right.
Sloppy strikes from Shabazz. Those never looked like landing.
Shabazz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lemieux moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahim Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lemieux lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lemieux just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shabazz's brow.
Lemieux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lemieux working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lemieux lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lemieux doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shabazz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lemieux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shabazz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shabazz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shabazz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shabazz tries to throw a body punch but Lemieux avoids it by throwing Shabazz back against the cage.
Shabazz lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right hook to the body lands for Shabazz.
Lemieux throws a punch but it's blocked by Shabazz.
Lemieux lands with a left to the head.
Shabazz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lemieux's elbow.
Lemieux scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shabazz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lemieux swings wildly with an uppercut but Shabazz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shabazz blocks a body shot from Lemieux.
Shabazz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shabazz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lemieux.
Lemieux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lemieux lands an elbow that stopped Shabazz in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Rahim Shabazz has been cut.
Shabazz blocking some punches.
Lemieux lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shabazz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shabazz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vincent Lemieux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lemieux has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Lemieux!