PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Shankar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mag Dalena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shankar comes to the cage accompanied by "Them Belly Full" by Bob Marley. Dalena has chosen Judgment Night by Biohazard&Onyx as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Shankar
vs
Dalena

192 cm
25
267 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

188 cm
29
245 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andre Shankar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mag Dalena!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dalena misses with a shot to the body

and Shankar counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Dalena had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shankar defends it easily.
Shankar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Shankar postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dalena is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shankar, into his guard.
Dalena looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalena is looking to stand up but Shankar won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andre Shankar wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dalena doesn't manage to clinch there - Shankar circles away.
Shankar moves out of range of the strikes.
Shankar with a poor takedown
and Dalena makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dalena misses with a looping right.

Dalena tries to sprawl but Shankar drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shankar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dalena keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalena tries to roll over but Shankar keeps him under control.
Shankar is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dalena!
Dalena is in all sorts of trouble here.
Shankar tries to control but Dalena wriggling away.

Shankar is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dalena can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dalena is squirming around, avoiding Shankar's attempts to control the action.
Dalena is trying desperately to improve position.
Dalena is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dalena keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Shankar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dalena throws a lazy uppercut

and Shankar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dalena won't be happy with that.

Shankar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shankar wants to take a breather but Dalena manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Shankar.

Dalena is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shankar defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankar won't allow Dalena to sweep him here.
Shankar stands up over Dalena, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shankar wants to pass the guard but Dalena is keeping the position.
Shankar lands a couple of elbows.
Shankar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shankar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dalena keeping moving, preventing Shankar from controlling successfully.

Shankar drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dalena dives on top into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shankar wants to get back to his feet but Dalena is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Andre Shankar wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dalena misses with a hook

and Shankar counters with a single leg into guard. Dalena didn't expect that.
Shankar trying to control but Dalena is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dalena is on top in guard.
Dalena trying to control the position from guard on top but Shankar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andre Shankar.

Shankar gets a double leg takedown into Dalena's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dalena is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dalena keeping moving, preventing Shankar from controlling successfully.
Shankar advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dalena throws a right hand that misses

so Shankar counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shankar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shankar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dalena is keeping the position for now.
Dalena keeping moving, preventing Shankar from controlling successfully.
Andre Shankar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dalena throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankar is looking to stand up but Dalena isn't so interested in that idea.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andre Shankar just wasn't active enough.
Dalena throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Shankar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dalena won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dalena tries to improve position but can't.
Mag Dalena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dalena is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Shankar is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dalena knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dalena is not content to let Shankar control the position.
Shankar with the ground and pound but Dalena regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar prevents Dalena from improving his position.
Shankar throwing shots but Dalena is blocking nicely.
Dalena makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dalena.
Shankar stopping the sweep attempt from Dalena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shankar trying to control the position from guard on top but Dalena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Andre Shankar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dalena doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Dalena keeping full guard, as Shankar tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Shankar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shankar, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Shankar!