PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shaw Shank (ranked 3855 p4p, 338 weight class) and Andre Mahesa (ranked 5792 p4p, 410 weight class). Mahesa has chosen You're Going Down as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shank
vs
Mahesa

160 cm
25
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shaw Shank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andre Mahesa!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahesa ducks under a wild hook from Shank.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mahesa has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Shank wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mahesa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mahesa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mahesa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahesa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shank sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mahesa somewhat.
Shank half committed to a counter leg kick.
Shaw Shank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Mahesa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahesa goes for a double leg but Shank avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shank continues to drive forward.
Shank swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mahesa shoots for a double leg takedown but Shank sprawls well. He's pushed Mahesa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shank scores with a hook to the body. Mahesa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mahesa blocks a jab.
Mahesa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shank definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shank smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shank displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mahesa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shank throws a hook to the side of Mahesa's head but Mahesa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Shank paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mahesa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shank tries to avoid it but Mahesa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shank to the ground. Shank escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shank tried to counter with a leg kick but Mahesa avoided it.
Shank misses the shot to the body.
And Mahesa tries to counter it with a takedown but Shank pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Mahesa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mahesa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahesa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shank might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mahesa chips away with some ground and pound.

Mahesa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mahesa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mahesa is pushing down on Shank's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shank is fighting to maintain full guard but Mahesa has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mahesa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shank is just riding it out for now. Mahesa eventually gives up the hold.
Mahesa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Mahesa is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Shank to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Shank wants to stand and escape but Mahesa is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mahesa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mahesa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Mahesa 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.
Mahesa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahesa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mahesa chips away with some ground and pound.
Mahesa pushes down on Shank's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Shank is defending against the submission attempts here by Mahesa.
Mahesa looks winded!

Mahesa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mahesa thows a huge punch but Shank dodges it nicely.
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 Shaw Shank 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.

Nice shot by Shank.
Shank stuffs the takedown.
Shank was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Shank keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shank throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shank connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mahesa's hands.
Mahesa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shank makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shaw Shank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Mahesa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Shank.
Mahesa moves out of range of the strikes.
Shank misses with an uppercut.
Shank is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mahesa can do to turn this around?
Mahesa avoids the body shot from Shank.
Shank dips to his left and cracks Mahesa with an uppercut!
Shank just misses with a punch to the body.
Shank lands a head shot.
Shaw Shank is winning the standup battle so far.
Mahesa staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shank throws a jab when Mahesa was well out of range.
Shank catches Mahesa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mahesa has his takedown stuffed
and Shank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mahesa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shank defends it nicely.
Shank connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank cracks a nice hook into Mahesa's ribs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shank. That's going to slow Mahesa down.
Shank swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mahesa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shank lands with a shot to the body.
Mahesa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mahesa looks for a takedown but Shank sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shank misses with a hook.
Shank slaps away a takedown attempt from Mahesa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mahesa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shank counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mahesa thinking.
Shank looks to throw the jab but Mahesa is out of range.
Mahesa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahesa looks for a takedown but Shank sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaw Shank dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shank misses the jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mahesa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shank lands a leg kick that knocks Mahesa off balance momentarily.
Mahesa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shank counters with a nice uppercut.
A slow jab from Shank misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahesa slips a straight right by Shank.
Shank cracks Mahesa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mahesa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank throws a hook but Mahesa avoids it easily.
Mahesa shoots for a double leg takedown but Shank sprawls well. He's pushed Mahesa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shank throwing a counter right hand but Mahesa manages to avoid it.
Shaw Shank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Mahesa.
Mahesa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shank tries to land a leg kick but Mahesa saw it coming and moves away.
Mahesa avoids the body shot from Shank.
Shank lands a nice hook to Mahesa's body. Mahesa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mahesa staying out of range there.
Mahesa shoots in for a takedown but Shank shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahesa dives in and scores a takedown into Shank's guard.
Mahesa forces his way into half guard.
Mahesa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Mahesa has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Shank defend it? Mahesa steps over the head and cranks it - Shank is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Mahesa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Andre Mahesa!
During a confident post fight interview, Andre Mahesa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.