PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sandor Cleagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Shankar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shankar has chosen "Them Belly Full" by Bob Marley as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Cleagen
vs
Shankar

189 cm
21
265 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
267 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sandor Cleagen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andre Shankar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleagen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shankar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cleagen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cleagen gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Cleagen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shankar to the mat! Shankar manages to get full guard.
Shankar wants to get back to his feet but Cleagen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cleagen postures up in Shankar's guard and throws a big left but Shankar blocks it.
Shankar wants to stand up but Cleagen is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleagen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cleagen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankar wants to get back to his feet but Cleagen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cleagen throws a strike but Shankar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shankar stands up and waves to Cleagen to follow him.
Cleagen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cleagen throws a wild body kick that Shankar sees coming a mile off.
Cleagen tries to clinch up but Shankar circles away and keeps his distance.
Shankar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cleagen moves away.
Shankar fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A head kick misses from Shankar.
Andre Shankar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cleagen scores with a takedown into Shankar's guard.
Shankar wants to get back to his feet but Cleagen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Shankar wriggles free and stands up.
Shankar lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shankar moves in looking to clinch but Cleagen pushes him off.
Cleagen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Sandor Cleagen has been cut.
Cleagen is breathing heavily.
Shankar misses with a series of wild punches.
Shankar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shankar pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar misses the shot to the body.

Cleagen clinches up with Shankar and pushes him back against the cage.
Shankar with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shankar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cleagen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shankar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sandor Cleagen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shankar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cleagens head.
Shankar is stalling here.
Shankar lands with a light punch inside.
Shankar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cleagen tries to pull guard but Shankar won't allow it.
A body shot lands from Shankar.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shankar obliges.
Shankar is working Cleagen over against the cage.
Cleagen tries to work over Shankar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cleagen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shankar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cleagen backwards.
Shankar displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cleagen up against the cage.
Shankar prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shankar is struggling to control the position.
Cleagen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shankar has Cleagen pressed against the cage, preventing Cleagen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shankar creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cleagen's defenses.
Stalling in the clinch from Shankar.
Shankar lands an elbow that stopped Cleagen in his tracks for a moment.

Shankar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shankar misses with a double jab.

Shankar feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Cleagen sprawling to the canvas! Cleagen rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Shankar finish him?!

Cleagen is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shankar is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Cleagen hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Andre Shankar!