PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vassago Ballardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ravi Shankoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballardo comes to the cage accompanied by Bandolero. Shankoli has chosen Ravi Shankar - Om Shiva as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ravi Shankoli enters the cage!

Ballardo
vs
Shankoli

188 cm
40
219 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

187 cm
31
212 lbs
32 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Hellbent

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 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vassago Ballardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ravi Shankoli!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballardo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Vassago Ballardo has been cut.
A clash of legs there as Ballardo blocks the low kick.
Ballardo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shankoli.
Shankoli takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shankoli looks to throw the jab but Ballardo is out of range.
As Shankoli tries to get set, Ballardo tries to push him back and clinch up but Shankoli manages to avoid the attempt.
Shankoli missing with a left hand there. Ballardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shankoli throws the left hand but Ballardo avoids the punch easily.
Ballardo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shankoli throws the left hand but Ballardo avoids the punch easily.
Shankoli lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A combination from Shankoli does no damage.
Ballardo seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballardo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shankoli misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankoli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ballardo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shankoli tries a head kick but it misses.
Shankoli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ballardo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ballardo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shankoli fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ballardo on the side of the head.
Ballardo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Ballardo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Shankoli.

Shankoli has taken the fight to the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Shankoli tries to throw a body punch but Ballardo avoids it by throwing Shankoli back against the cage.
Ballardo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shankoli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Ballardo.
Ballardo working aggressively here.
Ballardo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Shankoli avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Shankoli swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shankoli lands a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shankoli has a couple of punches blocked by Ballardo.
Shankoli misses with some punches.
Shankoli throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Shankoli blocks it.
Ballardo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ballardo swings wildly with an uppercut but Shankoli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.
Ballardo slows down the pace here.

Shankoli breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo misses with a body shot.
Shankoli lands the left hand.
Shankoli misses with the body kick
and Ballardo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ballardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shankoli manages to avoid it.
Shankoli let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The crowd cheers as Shankoli lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ballardo doesn't seem phased though.
Shankoli takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Ballardo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shankoli throws a big shot that misses.
Ballardo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Shankoli throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ballardo misses with a body shot.
Ballardo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shankoli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Shankoli. Those never looked like landing.
Ballardo is looking to counter punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab, jab by Ballardo - just one landing.
Ballardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shankoli manages to avoid it.
Shankoli is pawing at Ballardo, trying to feel the distance before throwing out a cross that crashes into Ballardo's nose. Ballardo is badly hurt! Shankoli pounces, throwing wild strikes as both fighters end up on the ground! Ballardo tries desperately to hold on but Shankoli is relentless in his assault! As Ballardo receives an ever increasing number of unanswered strikes the referee pulls Shankoli away and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ravi Shankoli!
Ravi Shankoli took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'His spirit was strong, but my intention was to crush him. Psychologically, as well as physically with my boxing. I knew that he would be a willing opponent, and he showed heart, but my soul wanted this more! I feel strongly against animal violence, but in this case taking the hammer to the panda wa'.