PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cody Evans (ranked 2043 p4p, 2961 weight class) and Gareth Keenan Jr (ranked 178 p4p, 236 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Evans
vs
Keenan Jr

171 cm
26
152
10 - 7 - 0

179 cm
35
150
16 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

020 Clothing
Stoner's Killer Apparel

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth Keenan Jr!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keenan Jr connects with a solid leg kick.
Evans dives in for a single leg takedown but Keenan Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Keenan Jr manages to break the clinch.
We've been told by Evans's head coaches at The Jungle Room that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A lazy body kick from Keenan Jr

so Evans counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Evans is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Keenan Jr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Evans defends well.
Our spies down at at 020 Gym inform us that Keenan Jr has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Keenan Jr has control of Evans's left arm, preventing Evans from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans trying to control but Keenan Jr is working from the bottom.
Evans has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Evans with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Keenan Jr isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Evans stacks Keenan Jr on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Evans!
Keenan Jr dodges the ground and pound from Evans.
Keenan Jr is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Evans cracks Keenan Jr with a big right hand but Keenan Jr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Keenan Jr is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
A lull in the action here as Evans stalls from top position.
Keenan Jr is trying to control Evans's posture but Evans avoids it.
Evans landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr is looking to reverse the position.
Keenan Jr wants to control but Evans postures up.
Keenan Jr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Evans wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Evans scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keenan Jr takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Evans takes a little break here. Keenan Jr wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Keenan Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Evans lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Keenan Jr down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans scores with a couple of short elbows.
You can see the frustration on Keenan Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Evans landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Keenan Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Keenan Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Keenan Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Evans is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Evans trying to hold on to Keenan Jr's head to control him but Keenan Jr postures up.
Keenan Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Evans is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans is looking for a sweep. Keenan Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Evans trying to control from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Evans dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Evans misses with a left hand
letting Keenan Jr counter with a right hand.
Keenan Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A little feinted left hand from Evans on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Keenan Jr lands with a thumping leg kick.
Keenan Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Keenan Jr throws a big shot that misses.
Evans is looking for a counter combo.
Keenan Jr goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Keenan Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Evans counters with a stiff right hand.
Evans throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan Jr throws a lazy body kick

and Evans counters with a single leg into guard. Keenan Jr didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Keenan Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evans's guard.

Keenan Jr stops Evans from standing up.
Keenan Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan Jr looking to pass the guard.
Keenan Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keenan Jr throwing strikes from guard but Evans blocks nicely.

Keenan Jr drops back looking for a leg! Evans is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Evans manages to kick Keenan Jr off! Keenan Jr jumps back into Evans's guard.
Keenan Jr wants to pass the guard but Evans is keeping the position.
Evans can't keep his opponent in guard - Keenan Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans is staying active underneath Keenan Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Keenan Jr has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Evans defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Keenan Jr.

Keenan Jr jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Evans is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Evans and Keenan Jr has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Evans struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keenan Jr is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Evans knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Keenan Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Keenan Jr controlling from side mount.
Keenan Jr trying to control the action but Evans is working from the bottom.
Evans is holding Keenan Jr down, trying to stall.

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.

Keenan Jr goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Evans rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Keenan Jr's guard! Nice work there by Evans!

Keenan Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Evans gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Keenan Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Evans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Evans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Keenan Jr has his foot on Evans's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Evans works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Keenan Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Keenan Jr chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt - Keenan Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Keenan Jr let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Evans throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Keenan Jr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Evans is in Keenan Jr's guard.

Keenan Jr looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Evans passes into half guard.

Keenan Jr looking for a kimura from the bottom but Evans passes into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan Jr is looking for a sweep.
Evans is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Keenan Jr's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan Jr is trying to improve his position.
Keenan Jr is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Evans is thwarting Keenan Jr's attempts to control the position.
Nice strikes from Evans there.
Evans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Evans scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Evans lands strikes from half guard.
Evans trying to control the action but Keenan Jr is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans prevents Keenan Jr from improving his position.
Evans drops an elbow to the side of Keenan Jr's head.

Keenan Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Keenan Jr reverses the position - he's now on top in Evans's guard.
Keenan Jr wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Keenan Jr being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Keenan Jr wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Keenan Jr preventing the sweep.
Evans has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Keenan Jr postures up.

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.
Keenan Jr passes Evans's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Keenan Jr wants to advance to full mount but Evans doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Keenan Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Keenan Jr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Evans manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Keenan Jr has Evans in his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keenan Jr looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Evans has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Evans!
A relieved looking Cody Evans thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.