PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Halperin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halperin comes to the cage accompanied by face the pain. Jordan Halperin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Halperin
vs
Evans

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jordan Halperin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Evans misses with a head kick.

Evans scores a takedown into full mount!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Evans tries to control but Halperin wriggling away.
Poor strikes thrown by Evans there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Halperin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Halperin blocking the ground and pound.
Halperin is bucking up trying to escape but Evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans controlling the pace for now.
Evans lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Halperin hang on?
Evans throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Evans lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Evans swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Halperin is now in Evans's guard. A big mistake from Evans there, giving up the dominant position!
Halperin trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Halperin trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halperin is pushing down on Evans's leg trying to pass to half guard. Evans is fighting to maintain full guard but Halperin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Halperin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Evans is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halperin is keen to just control but Evans is a slippery customer.
Halperin moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Evans.
Halperin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Evans regains half guard.
Evans is staying active underneath Halperin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Halperin wants to pass to mount but Evans is defending the position.
Halperin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Evans reverses the position - he's now on top in Halperin's guard.
Evans slips nicely into half guard.

That's four 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.

Halperin has one foot on Evans's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Evans feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Evans gets to his feet. Halperin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jordan Halperin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halperin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Halperin is breathing heavily.
Jab by Halperin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halperin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Halperin throws a nice looking combination but Evans bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Evans lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Halperin looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Halperin.
Halperin misses with a few strikes there.
Halperin misses with the combination.

Evans drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Halperin is working an open guard so Evans takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Evans moves into the clinch successfully.

Evans pulls guard effortlessly.
Evans pulls Halperin in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Evans can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Halperin looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halperin is working an open guard so Evans takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A punch combination from Halperin misses.
Evans defending well as Halperin loads up on a big left hand.

Evans closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Halperin to the mat! Halperin manages to get full guard.
Evans looking to sit in guard and control but Halperin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halperin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halperin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking for a sweep. Not yet Evans, not yet.
Halperin trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Evans uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Evans gets the takedown into side control.

Evans is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Halperin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Halperin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halperin is trying to maintain the position but Evans is very close to passing his half guard.
Halperin gets full guard.
Evans wants to control from the top but Halperin keeps moving.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halperin is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halperin is keeping the position for now.
Halperin keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Halperin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Evans is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Halperin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Evans to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Halperin keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rashad Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.
Evans looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Halperin is looking to stand up but Evans isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.
Evans trying to control but Halperin is working from the bottom.

Evans decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Halperin throws a series of punches but Evans moves out of range.

Evans gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Evans has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Halperin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Evans fails to pull guard.

Evans wants the takedown. Halperin is fighting it off but Evans persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Halperin's guard against the cage.
Halperin wants to sweep here but Evans controlling him for the moment.
Evans postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans prevents Halperin from getting back to his feet.
Halperin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Halperin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Evans defends well.
Evans wants to control from the top but Halperin keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Evans gets to his feet - Halperin follows without any prompting.
Evans is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Halperin.

Evans closes the distance and pushes Halperin back into the cage.
Evans tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jordan Halperin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.
Evans fails to pull guard.

Evans is trying to trip Halperin. He has hold of a leg but Halperin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Evans persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Halperin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jordan Halperin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans pushing down on Halperin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rashad Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Evans prevents Halperin from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Evans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Evans!