PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ashton (ranked 132 p4p, 19 weight class) and Ravi Shankoli (ranked 303 p4p, 38 weight class). Ashton comes to the cage accompanied by Zombie Nation. Shankoli has chosen Ravi Shankar - Om Shiva 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.

Ashton
vs
Shankoli

182 cm
30
189 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

187 cm
35
191 lbs
44 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill
Sin City Allstars

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Ashton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Ravi Shankoli!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shankoli misses with a double jab.
Ashton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ashton looks for the body kick but Shankoli saw that one coming.
Shankoli looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shankoli keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shankoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shankoli checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As Ashton backs off Shankoli throws a huge counter combo but Ashton manages to avoid it all.
Shankoli takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ashton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shankoli gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shankoli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ashton.
Shankoli takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ashton misses with a straight left.
Shankoli unleashes a big counter combination but Ashton bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ashton throws a hook to the side of Shankoli's head but Shankoli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankoli scores with a leg kick.
Ashton connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Some wild striking there from Shankoli.
Shankoli staying out of range there.
Ashton looks to land a left hand but Shankoli moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shankoli! But no joy.
Ashton lands a head shot.
A swing and a miss from Ashton.
Ashton throws a hook but Shankoli blocks it.
Shankoli checks a leg kick.
Shankoli throws out a counter right but Ashton avoids it with no problem.
Ashton throws a hook to the side of Shankoli's head but Shankoli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shankoli misses with a hook. Ashton ducked under it nicely.
Ashton connects with an inside leg kick.
Eric Ashton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shankoli moves out of range as Ashton strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ashton attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ashton throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ashton looks to land a left hand but Shankoli moved out of range nicely.
Shankoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ashton throws a right hand that misses
and Shankoli counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Ashton misses.
It seemed like Shankoli was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shankoli misses with a wild combination.
Ashton lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shankoli keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ashton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shankoli throws a counter combo.

Ashton gets the takedown into side control.

Shankoli explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton scores with a nice head shot.
Ashton throws an overhand right that lands on Shankoli's shoulder, as Shankoli tries to avoid the shot.
Shankoli scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ashton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shankoli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shankoli appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Shankoli defending well as Ashton loads up on a big left hand.
Ashton throws a push kick but Shankoli slaps the foot to one side.
Shankoli throws a series of punches but Ashton moves out of range.

Shankoli clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ashton can't break the clinch.
Ashton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ashton can't break the clinch.
Ashton prevents a body shot from Shankoli.
A right hook to the body lands for Shankoli.
Ashton wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ashton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashton is trying to drag Shankoli to the mat but Shankoli just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shankoli prevents the takedown attempt.
Ashton goes for a takedown attempt but Shankoli pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ashton connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ashton lands a body shot.
Shankoli slips under a jab from Ashton.
Shankoli misses with a looping right.
Shankoli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ashton.
Ashton misses with a left hand
and Shankoli counters with a two punch combo.
Shankoli keeps Ashton at a distance using the push kick.
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 Eric Ashton will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ashton loads up on a big right hand but Shankoli slips the punch.
Shankoli blocks the body kick.
Ashton misses with a head kick.
Ravi Shankoli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shankoli feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Ashton sprawling to the canvas! Ashton rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Shankoli finish him?!
Ashton thumps Shankoli with a low kick.
Ashton throws a right and a left that Shankoli avoids nicely.
Ashton lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ashton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shankoli's sensitive parts.
Ashton tries for a takedown but Shankoli circles away easily
and Shankoli counters with a left and a right... And another left! Ashton is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ravi Shankoli!
Ravi Shankoli is the new middleweight champion!
An intense looking Ravi Shankoli took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: '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'.