PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dmitrii Vitali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks has chosen Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers as his entrance music. Dmitrii Vitali had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vitali
vs
Shanks

180 cm
30
200 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

190 cm
31
188 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dmitrii Vitali !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shanks!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanks lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vitali 's sensitive parts.
Shanks pushes Vitali away with a front kick.
Shanks lands a leg kick that knocks Vitali off balance momentarily.
Shanks moves out of range as Vitali strikes.
Shanks tries to score with a low kick but Vitali moves his leg out of the way.
Shanks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vitali has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shanks lands a jab to Vitali 's midsection.
Shanks lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vitali tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shanks is able to avoid easily.
Vitali misses the jab.
A thudding body kick lands there by Shanks!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vitali crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shanks - the referee stops the clock and Vitali gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shanks. Vitali manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vitali blocks a head kick by Shanks.
Shanks works Vitali 's body with a nice hook.
Shanks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shanks blocks a jab.
Vitali takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Vitali throws a body punch but Shanks moves out of range.
Shanks misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Shanks cracks Vitali with a good jab.
Vitali missing with a left hand there. Shanks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vitali just misses with a punch to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shanks checks a leg kick.
Vitali looks to land a left hand but Shanks moved out of range nicely.
Vitali loads up on a big right hand but Shanks slips the punch.
Shanks throws a nice outside leg kick.
A combination from Shanks does no damage.
Vitali shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A shot to the liver by Shanks. Beautiful body shot.
Vitali keeps the fight on the outside.
Shanks thows a body shot but no joy.
Shanks is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vitali rather than just go for the knockout.
Shanks's jab looks to have found its range, popping Vitali under the eye.
Vitali lands with a nice combination. Shanks backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vitali throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shanks counters with a nice body kick.
Shanks moves away from the strike by Vitali .
Vitali looks to land a body kick but Shanks moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks lands a slapping body shot.
Vitali looks to land a right hand but Shanks moved out of range.
A big right from Vitali misses.
Vitali uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shanks.
Shanks staying out of range there.
Shanks thuds his right hand into Vitali 's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A good leg kick by Vitali .
Nice jab there from Shanks.
Shanks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vitali .
Shanks jabs at Vitali 's body.
Vitali is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Shanks's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Shanks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shanks misses with a series of wild punches.
Vitali steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shanks. That one must have hurt.
A jab lands there for Shanks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vitali connects with a right hand. Shanks shakes it off.
Shanks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vitali .
Vitali pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shanks.
Shanks thuds his right hand into Vitali 's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Shanks closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vitali .

Shanks clinches up with Vitali and pushes him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Shanks.
Vitali is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A hook to the body from Shanks.
Vitali looking to slow down the pace here.
A left hand lands to the body for Shanks.
Shanks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vitali in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Come on Shanks - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Shanks pushes Vitali back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vitali or not.
Shanks lands a body punch.
Knees to the body from Shanks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vitali .
Shanks lands with a light punch inside.
Knees to the body from Shanks.
Shanks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vitali or not.
Shanks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shanks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shanks scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shanks connects with a looping right hand.
Shanks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vitali . Shanks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shanks scores with a push kick.
Shanks keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Shanks lands a really nice looking cross but Vitali seems unphased.
Shanks takes one to the side of the head.
Shanks keeps Vitali at a distance using the push kick.
Vitali throws a poor cross that misses
and Shanks counters with a nice body kick.
Shanks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Shanks.

Shanks moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Shanks.
Shanks unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shanks crunches a lovely knee into Vitali 's ribcage.
Shanks lands a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shanks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shanks.
Shanks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shanks leaning against his opponent.
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks can't find room to land a body shot as Vitali controls the action.
Shanks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vitali will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Shanks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shanks throws an elbow but misses.
Shanks working Vitali over with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shanks is working Vitali over against the cage.
Shanks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Shanks drops Vitali with a big knee straight up the middle! Vitali is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Vitali is rocked!

Shanks has Vitali up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Vitali is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shanks unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Vitali ! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Shanks is unloading with more strikes now! Vitali drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Shanks!
A relieved looking Michael Shanks thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.