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 comes to the cage accompanied by "Them Belly Full" by Bob Marley. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Shankar
vs
Rophilia

192 cm
19
267 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

196 cm
23
265 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Non-Stop Nutrition
Organic Peak Performance

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 5 - 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Rophilia!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Shankar as Rophilia shoots in.
Shankar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Nick Rophilia has been cut.
Shankar digs a good body shot into Rophilia's ribs.

Rophilia looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shankar!
Rophilia with a couple of short strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rophilia prevents Shankar from getting the reversal.
Shankar tries to lock up and control but Rophilia gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rophilia misses with a head shot.
Shankar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shankar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shankar trying to control the position from guard on top but Rophilia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shankar slips nicely into half guard.
Rophilia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia keeping moving, preventing Shankar from controlling successfully.
Rophilia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shankar!
Shankar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rophilia looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shankar is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shankar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shankar blocking the ground and pound.
Rophilia scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Rophilia working for a guillotine from mount but Shankar is in no mood to give up.
Rophilia lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia looking to finish Shankar with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shankar!
Rophilia unloads with some shots from mount but Shankar bucks and avoids them well.
Shankar taking shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shankar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rophilia wants to control the pace but Shankar is squirming around nicely.
Rophilia looks gassed!
Shankar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shankar wants to hold on but Rophilia pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar taking shots to the head.
Rophilia lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shankar hang on?
Shankar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shankar is in a horrible position here. Rophilia smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rophilia punishing his opponent with strikes.
Shankar regains half guard.
Rophilia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rophilia unloading with bombs!
Rophilia sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Shankar takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rophilia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shankar is looking to escape.
Rophilia lands a big shot there that rocks Shankar but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Shankar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rophilia is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Shankar can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Rophilia swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Shankar is now in Rophilia's guard. A big mistake from Rophilia there, giving up the dominant position!
Shankar trying to control but Rophilia is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shankar won't allow Rophilia to sweep him here.
Rophilia doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Rophilia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Rophilia's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shankar throws a head kick but Rophilia moves out of range.
Rophilia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Shankar with that takedown attempt.
Shankar connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Rophilia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rophilia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rophilia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shankar looking to pass the guard.
Shankar trying to control but Rophilia is working from the bottom.
Rophilia has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shankar has passed into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shankar is looking to take a break and control but Rophilia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rophilia is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shankar's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Shankar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rophilia tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rophilia is trying to maintain the position but Shankar is very close to passing his half guard.
Rophilia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shankar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shankar's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rophilia looking to break Shankar's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Shankar remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rophilia will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rophilia is trying to stick to Shankar's back but Shankar is turning into Rophilia. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rophilia's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shankar.
Rophilia wants to control but Shankar passes easily into half guard.
Rophilia wants to get back to full guard but Shankar has passed into side control.
Shankar lands a nice shot to the head.
Shankar looking to control but Rophilia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rophilia really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rophilia is trying to reverse the position but instead Shankar has taken his back - oops!
Rophilia tries to break free.

Rophilia fending off the submission attempt from Shankar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shankar is persistently looking for the submission but Rophilia is defending it well.

Shankar is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rophilia knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rophilia for a finish.
Shankar gets his hands free as Rophilia looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shankar trying to control.

Shankar is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rophilia has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Shankar is trying to stick to Rophilia's back but Rophilia is turning into Shankar. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Shankar's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rophilia.
Rophilia trying to control the position from guard on top but Shankar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rophilia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shankar looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shankar is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rophilia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shankar misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Shankar won't allow Rophilia to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nick Rophilia'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.

Rophilia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rophilia takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Shankar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rophilia looking for a sweep. Not yet Rophilia, not yet.

Shankar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shankar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shankar wants to control from the top but Rophilia keeps moving.
Rophilia looking for a sweep. Not yet Rophilia, not yet.
Rophilia trying to keep a closed guard but Shankar is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rophilia looking for a sweep. Not yet Rophilia, not yet.
Rophilia will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Shankar is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rophilia swats away the attempt to clinch by Shankar.
Rophilia has his takedown stuffed
and Shankar counters with a straight right hand.

Shankar closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rophilia to the mat! Rophilia manages to get full guard.
Rophilia wants to sweep here but Shankar controlling him for the moment.
Shankar advances to half guard.
Rophilia is looking to improve his position.
Nick Rophilia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rophilia is refusing to be controlled, as Shankar sits in half guard.
Shankar blocks the strikes from Rophilia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia tries to get to full guard but Shankar has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Shankar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Shankar shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rophilia trying to control here.
Rophilia wants to get back to full guard.
Rophilia trying to control but Shankar postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shankar takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shankar takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shankar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rophilia knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rophilia tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rophilia avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shankar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shankar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shankar looks to land a combination but Rophilia avoids it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rophilia checks a leg kick.
Rophilia misses with a takedown attempt - Shankar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Andre Shankar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Rophilia.

Shankar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shankar controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shankar tries to free his leg and advance position but Rophilia is retaining full guard.

Shankar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Shankar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shankar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rophilia manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rophilia cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shankar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Shankar clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Rophilia's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Shankar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Shankar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rophilia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rophilia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shankar off and has taken his back!
Rophilia cracks Shankar with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Shankar from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Rophilia scores with punches from the back.
Rophilia lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Shankar hold on?!
Rophilia landing with strikes.
Shankar wants to escape the position.
Rophilia lands a shot to the head.
Rophilia struggling to keep hold of the position.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rophilia scores with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rophilia lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Shankar.
Shankar looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Rophilia connects with a big shot to the side of Shankar's head.
Rophilia is controlling the position but Shankar somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Rophilia sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rophilia takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rophilia drops an elbow to the side of Shankar's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shankar wants to improve his position but Rophilia is controlling well.
Shankar regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shankar keeping moving, preventing Rophilia from controlling successfully.

Shankar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rophilia lands a couple of digs.
Rophilia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shankar is keeping the position for now.
Shankar is trying to keep Rophilia in close.
Shankar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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.
Rophilia is looking to work some ground and pound but Shankar has wrist control.

Shankar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rophilia is pushing down on Shankar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shankar is fighting to maintain full guard but Rophilia has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shankar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Rophilia there.
Rophilia is looking to pass Shankar's guard but actually Shankar recovers to full guard.
Rophilia won't allow Shankar to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shankar had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rophilia is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Shankar Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rophilia's back instead.
Rophilia rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Shankar trying to control from half guard but Rophilia is working away.
Rophilia tries to get to full guard but Shankar has control of the leg.

Shankar is looking for a kimura here.
Rophilia works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Rophilia dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Nick Rophilia's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rophilia.
Shankar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rophilia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shankar is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rophilia frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rophilia with a couple of short strikes.
The referee warns Shankar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Rophilia.
Shankar gets back to half guard.
Shankar is in trouble now - Rophilia has advanced to mount!
Rophilia landing shots from mount.
The referee warns Shankar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rophilia with a couple of short strikes.
Shankar is working to get back to half guard.
Shankar slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Shankar is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rophilia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rophilia's back!

Rophilia is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Shankar gets his way!

Shankar is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rophilia knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rophilia for a finish.
Rophilia rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia strikes from the bottom but Shankar passes into mount!
Rophilia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rophilia wants to improve his position but Shankar is controlling well.
Rophilia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rophilia is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Shankar jumps into side control!
Shankar working the ground and pound but Rophilia is defending the strikes.
Rophilia defending against the ground and pound.
Shankar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rophilia keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rophilia fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shankar sprawls well initially but Rophilia persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shankar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shankar working a defensive guard here.
Rophilia looking to pass the guard.

Shankar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rophilia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rophilia connects with a couple of short punches.
Shankar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rophilia.
Rophilia is looking to advance position but Shankar has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Shankar looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shankar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rophilia is looking to escape.

Shankar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rophilia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Rophilia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rophilia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 47:48
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Rophilia!
Nick Rophilia is the new heavyweight champion!