PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ravi Shankoli (ranked 459 p4p, 63 weight class) and Derrick Thomas (ranked 490 p4p, 65 weight class). Shankoli comes into the arena with Ravi Shankar - Om Shiva blaring out of the sound system. Thomas has chosen Shinedown - as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shankoli
vs
Thomas

187 cm
34
191 lbs
41 - 13 - 0

191 cm
28
189 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Aspire Clothing
FORCEE

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 41 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Ravi Shankoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shankoli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Thomas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shankoli, pushing him back against the cage.
Thomas throws a head punch that misses.
Shankoli scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shankoli blocking some punches.
Thomas stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thomas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shankoli misses with a punch on the inside.
Shankoli scores with a nice hook to the head.
The referee calls for Thomas to work.
A short right from Thomas.
Thomas tries a body shot but Shankoli blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shankoli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Shankoli breaks the clinch.
Thomas looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Thomas rushes Shankoli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
I was talking to Shankoli's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Thomas blocking some punches.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Shankoli.
A short right from Thomas on the inside.
Thomas works on Shankoli's body with a couple of short punches.
Shankoli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas lands an uppercut.
Shankoli blocks a body shot from Thomas.
Shankoli cracks Thomas with a nice body shot.
Thomas scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shankoli lands an overhand right.
Shankoli takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shankoli blocks a jab.
Thomas scores with a nice strike.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thomas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shankoli scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Shankoli tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankoli keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thomas is looking to slow Shankoli down with leg kicks.
Shankoli blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Shankoli lands a big head kick that sends Thomas tumbling to the mat! Shankoli takes a step backwards and waves Thomas back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Thomas is rocked!

It looks like Derrick Thomas has been cut.
Shankoli throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas is still on wobbly legs! Can Shankoli finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shankoli looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas seems to have recovered his senses.
Shankoli has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thomas.
Thomas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shankoli appears to be looking for a big counter.
Shankoli takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shankoli is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Thomas on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas works the jab nicely.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thomas throws the kick towards the body but Shankoli avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Thomas misses.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shankoli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Shankoli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shankoli staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Shankoli appears to be looking for a big counter.
A thudding body kick lands there by Thomas!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Thomas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shankoli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Derrick Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shankoli wants to clinch.
Thomas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thomas lunges at Shankoli with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shankoli's hand.
Shankoli misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shankoli misses with a double jab
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Thomas there.
Thomas looks to throw a body kick
and Shankoli counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas connects with a jab.
Thomas thows a leg kick but Shankoli checks it
and Shankoli counters with a left to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shankoli. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Shankoli misses with a low kick.
Shankoli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shankoli appears to be looking for a big counter.
Thomas slips a straight right by Shankoli.
Shankoli misses with a hook to the body
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A big left from Thomas misses.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas looks to land a body kick but Shankoli moved away.
Shankoli throwing a counter right hand but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thomas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shankoli throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Thomas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Shankoli has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thomas.
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!
Shankoli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas throws a front kick aimed at Shankoli's knee but Shankoli avoids it well.
Shankoli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Shankoli is just out of range.
Shankoli is looking for a counter combo.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Shankoli throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas is looking for the big counter here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shankoli.
Shankoli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shankoli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shankoli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Shankoli circles away.
Ravi Shankoli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shankoli wants to clinch.
Shankoli shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shankoli tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas lands a jab to the nose.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shankoli takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thomas.
Shankoli pushes Thomas away with a front kick.
Thomas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shankoli.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Shankoli.
Shankoli misses with a two punch combination.
Derrick Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shankoli throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thomas in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shankoli moves away.
Thomas bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thomas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shankoli avoids the head kick by Thomas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Derrick Thomas's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Thomas lets loose with a powerful body kick. Shankoli will feel that in the morning.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Shankoli.
Shankoli connects with the punch.
Shankoli tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shankoli throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas moves to clinch but Shankoli breaks away
and Shankoli counters with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shankoli avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Thomas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shankoli has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shankoli keeps the fight on the outside.
Shankoli thinks about countering with a head kick.
Thomas throws a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shankoli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shankoli.
Thomas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shankoli is defending well for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thomas.
Thomas lands a nice uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Shankoli as the two fighters clinch.

Shankoli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shankoli blocks a leg kick.
Shankoli is looking for a counter combo.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas cracks Shankoli with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Thomas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thomas.
Ravi Shankoli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thomas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
Shankoli tries to clinch up
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Shankoli's front leg but catches the back leg as Shankoli tries to avoid it.
Derrick Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Shankoli lands but Thomas takes it in his stride.
An inside leg kick lands from Thomas.
Shankoli takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thomas connects with an inside leg kick.
Shankoli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shankoli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas.
Shankoli walks into a stiff left hand from Thomas.
Thomas throws a nice head kick!
Thomas is looking to score with low kicks.
Shankoli avoids a kick to the body.
Shankoli is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Shankoli.
Thomas is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Thomas.
Thomas tries to counter with a clinch but Shankoli shakes him off and moves away.
Shankoli lands a head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
Thomas thows a body kick. Shankoli tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thomas throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
Thomas scores with a body shot.
Shankoli throws out a loose jab but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thomas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Thomas!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Derrick Thomas waved his t-shirt featuring Aspire Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.
In defeat, Ravi Shankoli stepped up to the mic, saying 'I believe he forgotten shower for a week or something, I gagged on my own vomit and never could get it back together again. Take a shower you filthy bastard!'.