PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Shankar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Rophilia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shankar's entrance music is "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shankar
vs
Rophilia

192 cm
18
266 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Hellbent, Inc.
Bushido Clothing

Prime Time Fighting Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andre Shankar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Rophilia!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shankar darts in and clinches Rophilia up against the cage.
Shankar is trying to stall.
Shankar prevents the takedown attempt.
Shankar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shankar lands an elbow just above Rophilia 's eye.
Shankar looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rophilia has Shankar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shankar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Andre Shankar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Rophilia.

Rophilia turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rophilia in the domination position with Shankar hanging on.
Rophilia working away.
Shankar is looking to reverse the position.
Rophilia working the body and head with strikes.
Rophilia is looking to take a break and control but Shankar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shankar is looking to regain half guard here but Rophilia keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Shankar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rophilia is looking to take a break and control but Shankar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shankar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Shankar passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rophilia!
Rophilia wants to control but Shankar is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shankar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rophilia is looking to escape.
Rophilia is trying to escape the mount.

Shankar working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Shankar get's back to his feet.
Rophilia keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Rophilia or perhaps it was just good defense by Shankar which made him look bad.
Shankar is looking to clinch but Rophilia is avoiding it.
Shankar tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rophilia drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shankar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shankar working for a triangle but Rophilia defends it easily.
Shankar is breathing heavily.
Rophilia working some strikes from top position.
Rophilia postures up in Shankar's guard and throws a big left but Shankar blocks it.
Shankar keeping full guard, as Rophilia tries to pass.
Shankar is trying to control the position but Rophilia postures up.
Shankar being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shankar controls Rophilia momentarily but Rophilia frees himself.
Shankar keeping full guard, as Rophilia tries to pass.
Rophilia trying to control the position from guard on top but Shankar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rophilia fails to land the takedown.
Shankar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Shankar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Shankar is tying to control. Rophilia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rophilia is trying to maintain the position but Shankar is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andre Shankar will probably get the nod.
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.

Rophilia tries for a takedown but Shankar circles away easily

and Shankar counters with a takedown into side control.

Shankar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Shankar goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rophilia has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shankar but great work by Rophilia.
Rophilia working the head with strikes.
Rophilia lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shankar down.
Shankar struggling a bit here.
Shankar tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rophilia trying to control the position but Shankar is working away.
Rophilia tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rophilia with a poor takedown

and Shankar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shankar.
Rophilia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shankar wants to control from the top but Rophilia keeps moving.
Shankar wants to stand but Rophilia is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shankar trying to control the position from guard on top but Rophilia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rophilia had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Shankar is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rophilia Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Shankar's back instead.
Rophilia is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Shankar can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar is working hard here to advance position.
Shankar turns into Rophilia and is now in his guard.

Shankar drops back looking for a leg! Rophilia is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rophilia manages to kick Shankar off! Shankar jumps back into Rophilia's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rophilia misses with a takedown

and Shankar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Andre Shankar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Rophilia.
Rophilia prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rophilia prevents the takedown attempt.
Rophilia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Shankar ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shankar no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rophilia pushing down on Shankar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rophilia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Rophilia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rophilia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Andre Shankar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rophilia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shankar keeps working.
Rophilia controlling the pace.
Rophilia winds up and cracks Shankar with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rophilia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rophilia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shankar tries to get to full guard but Rophilia has control of the leg.
Rophilia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rophilia's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rophilia is looking to advance position but Shankar won't allow it.
Shankar manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia prevents Shankar from getting back to his feet.
Shankar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rophilia is looking to improve his position.
Rophilia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rophilia is trying to control but can't.
Rophilia wants to improve his position but Shankar is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shankar moves into full mount! Rophilia won't be happy about that!
Shankar prevents Rophilia from getting the reversal.
Shankar with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Shankar forces the positional change into back control.

Shankar looking for the choke from the back.
Shankar tries to keep control of the position but Rophilia is staying busy.
Shankar throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Shankar looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Even with his hooks in, Shankar manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Rophilia looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Will Shankar go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Shankar patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Shankar has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

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

Shankar is looking for the choke from the back position but Rophilia is controlling his hands well.

Shankar is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Shankar is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rophilia is defending well though. Shankar let's go of the attempt for now.
Rophilia is really stuck here.

Shankar is persistently looking for the submission but Rophilia is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar clearly takes 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.

Shankar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rophilia decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shankar's guard.

Shankar is looking for a triangle but Rophilia pushes his legs off easily.
Shankar keeping full guard, as Rophilia tries to pass.
Shankar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rophilia pushes down on Shankar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rophilia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shankar with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rophilia is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rophilia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shankar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia is thwarting Shankar's attempts to control the position.
Rophilia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shankar with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shankar moves into full guard.
Shankar looking to control.
Shankar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rophilia is one step ahead there.
Rophilia stays in close to Shankar's body and controls the position.
Rophilia looking to sit in guard and control but Shankar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rophilia will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rophilia looking for a sweep. Not yet Rophilia, not yet.

Shankar drops back looking for a leg! Rophilia is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rophilia manages to kick Shankar off! Shankar jumps back into Rophilia's guard.
Rophilia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rophilia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shankar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rophilia.
Rophilia controlling the position well.
Shankar prevents Rophilia from improving his position.
Rophilia punching from the bottom.
Rophilia is looking to control Shankar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rophilia avoid being mounted?
Shankar wants to pass the guard but Rophilia is defending well.
Rophilia manages to get to full guard.

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.
Shankar trying to control but Rophilia is working from the bottom.

Rophilia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shankar passes into side control.
Rophilia sneaks back into half guard.
Rophilia tries to roll over but Shankar keeps him under control.

Shankar is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rophilia has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Nick Rophilia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Shankar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rophilia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rophilia misses with a takedown attempt

and Shankar counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rophilia's guard now.
Rophilia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rophilia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shankar is one step ahead there.
Shankar wants to stand but Rophilia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shankar won't allow Rophilia to sweep him here.
Shankar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shankar looking to pass the guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rophilia throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shankar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Rophilia drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shankar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rophilia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rophilia landing some decent shots from guard.
Rophilia keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shankar's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia with a nice head shot there.
Shankar has momentary wrist control but Rophilia slips an elbow through the middle.
Rophilia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Shankar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rophilia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shankar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rophilia controls the pace.

Shankar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rophilia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shankar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rophilia trying to control the position from guard on top but Shankar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shankar keeping moving, preventing Rophilia from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rophilia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Rophilia tries to keep at a distance but Shankar has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shankar takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Rophilia has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shankar clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rophilia doesn't have the hooks in and Shankar manages to turn into his guard.

Shankar drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Shankar seems to have locked his on tight now - Rophilia screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Shankar, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Andre Shankar!
Andre Shankar retains his heavyweight title!