PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rod Shipp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rod Shipp has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Randolph
vs
Shipp

207 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

178 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Napoleon Randolph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rod Shipp!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shipp pushes Randolph up against the cage in a clinch.

Randolph's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shipp throws a nice looking combination but Randolph bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shipp rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Randolph moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shipp swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Randolph counters with a solid body kick.
Shipp throws a shot from downtown. Randolph moves away and avoids it.
Randolph lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Shipp swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Randolph counters with a big head kick but Shipp shrugs it off.
Randolph slips a jab and a cross from Shipp.
Shipp takes a swing at Randolph's ribcage but misses.
Randolph tries to clinch there but Shipp circles away.
As Randolph backs off Shipp throws a huge counter combo but Randolph manages to avoid it all.

Randolph darts in and clinches Shipp up against the cage.
Shipp prevents Randolph from breaking the clinch.
Randolph lands an elbow inside that Shipp shrugs off.
Shipp is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Randolph lands an elbow inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shipp is trying to break the clinch but Randolph is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipp blocks an elbow strike.
Shipp is trying to break the clinch but Randolph is controlling him.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Randolph fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rod Shipp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shipp throws a right hand that misses
and Randolph counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Randolph moves into the clinch.
Shipp keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Randolph's efforts to push away.
The referee calls for Randolph to work.
Randolph is trying to force a seperation but Shipp has the dominant position.

Randolph's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shipp keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shipp is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randolph fails with an attempt to clinch.

Randolph forces Shipp back against the cage and clinches.
Shipp is trying to break the clinch but Randolph is controlling him.
Randolph is trying to drag Shipp to the mat but Shipp just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Randolph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Randolph tries to land knees in the clinch but Shipp avoids the damage to the body.
Randolph jumps guard but Shipp stands there with Randolph around his waist. Randolph gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Randolph's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shipp tries to circle away but Randolph has him pinned against the cage.
Randolph wants to break the clinch but can't.
Randolph really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shipp is looking to break free of the clinch but Randolph has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Randolph - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Randolph slowing the pace effectively.
Randolph has Shipp pressed against the cage.
Randolph tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Randolph is trying to break the clinch but Shipp has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Randolph tries to land a knee to the head but Shipp blocks with his arms.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Randolph gets tackled into the cage by Shipp. Shipp maintains the clinch.
Randolph tries to circle away but Shipp has him pinned against the cage.

Randolph manages to break the clinch.

Shipp moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Randolph breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Randolph looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shipp should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Shipp clinches.

Randolph breaks from the clinch.
Randolph slips a jab and a cross from Shipp.

Shipp moves into the clinch.
Randolph fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Randolph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shipp blocks an elbow strike from Randolph.
Randolph leaning his opponent against the cage.
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 Napoleon Randolph 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.

Shipp closes the distance and clinches.
Randolph dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Randolph prevents Shipp from breaking the clinch.

Randolph breaks from the clinch.
Randolph fails in his attempt to clinch.

Shipp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Randolph is trying to break the clinch but Shipp is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randolph stalling.

Shipp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shipp falls off balance throwing a combination
and Randolph counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Randolph moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Randolph closes the distance and pushes Shipp back into the cage.
Shipp letting Randolph take a breather here.
Randolph wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shipp has him pressed against the cage.
Randolph is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shipp is trying to break the clinch but Randolph has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Randolph is working for takedown but Shipp is calmly controlling the position for now.

Randolph escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Randolph showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shipp.
Shipp throws a right and a left that Randolph avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipp misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shipp fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Randolph clinches.
Shipp working hard to break the clinch.
Randolph is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Randolph. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Randolph has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shipp uses from the top position.
Randolph will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Shipp stands up from Randolph's guard - Shipp perhaps looking for a knockout.

Shipp moves into range and clinches up with Randolph.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Randolph with a knee to the head.
Randolph is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shipp wants to break free but Randolph has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Randolph breaks from the clinch.
Shipp lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Randolph circles away quickly and effectively.

Randolph gets tackled into the cage by Shipp. Shipp maintains the clinch.
Shipp wants to get back to striking at distance but Randolph won't allow it.
Come on Randolph - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Napoleon Randolph has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Randolph looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Randolph wants to break free but Shipp has control.

Randolph breaks from the clinch.
Shipp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Randolph throws a counter high kick but Shipp was just alert enough to avoid it.
Shipp falls off balance throwing a combination
and Randolph counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shipp lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Randolph backs up against the cage.

It looks like Napoleon Randolph has been cut.
Rod Shipp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randolph doesn't manage to clinch there - Shipp circles away.
Randolph shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shipp but Shipp pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Shipp cracks Randolph with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Shipp has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Randolph to stand back up!

Randolph is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Shipp clinches.
Oh Randolph is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shipp looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shipp has had enough of the clinch but Randolph keeps him there for the moment.
Shipp is trying to push Randolph away but Randolph has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Randolph trying to control the position but instead, Shipp has worked for underhooks and has pushed Randolph into the cage.
Randolph seems to have got his legs back now.
Randolph is trying to break free.
Randolph is trying to push Shipp away but Shipp has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Randolph has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Shipp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Napoleon Randolph's cut.
That's time! Randolph's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Randolph tries to clinch but Shipp moves out of range.

Shipp takes the fight into the clinch.
Randolph leaning his opponent against the cage.
Shipp wants to get back to striking at distance but Randolph won't allow it.
Shipp avoids a wild elbow strike from Randolph.
Randolph working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Randolph's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Randolph manages to break the clinch.

Shipp darts in and clinches Randolph up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Randolph tries to break the clinch but Shipp is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipp wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Randolph has him pressed against the cage.
Randolph wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Randolph manages to break the clinch.
Shipp throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shipp misses with a double jab
and Randolph counters with a straight right hand.
Randolph tries to clinch there but Shipp circles away.
Randolph on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Randolph tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shipp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Randolph is looking to clinch but Shipp is avoiding it.
Randolph fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipp swinging wildly here.
Randolph looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shipp is fending him off so far but Randolph persists. Nope, Shipp circles away and we're back to standing.
Rod Shipp seems to be getting the better of the standup.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Randolph manages to break the clinch.
Shipp throws a series of punches but Randolph avoids them all with ease.
Randolph dodges the punch combination from Shipp.
Shipp lands a jab-cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shipp rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Randolph moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shipp listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Shipp.
Shipp connects with a combination that backs up Randolph into the cage. Shipp lands a flurry of punches that gets past Randolph's guard. Randolph is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Shipp bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rod Shipp!