PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Omoplata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashid Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashid Evans has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Omoplata
vs
Evans

193 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Omoplata !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rashid Evans!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Omoplata or perhaps it was just good defense by Evans which made him look bad.
Omoplata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Evans sprawls well. Evans wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Omoplata gets slowly back to his feet.
Omoplata fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Omoplata . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Omoplata decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Omoplata missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Omoplata is looking for a kimura here.
Evans is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Omoplata scores with a couple of nice shots.

Omoplata is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Evans sees it coming and defends easily.
Evans is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Omoplata is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Omoplata thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Evans's head.
Omoplata is breathing heavily.
Evans trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Evans tries to get to full guard but Omoplata has control of the leg.
Evans punching from the bottom.
Omoplata stops Evans from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Evans misses with a head kick.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Evans punishing his opponent with strikes.
Evans with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omoplata throwing hammer fists to the chest of Evans. What's that going to do exactly?
Evans looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Evans can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Omoplata is looking to escape.
Evans fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Omoplata wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Evans.
Evans putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Omoplata is looking to improve his position but Evans isn't that keen on the idea.
Evans has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Omoplata 's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to control but Omoplata is having none of it.
Evans dominating with strikes here.
Evans scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Omoplata sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Evans is looking to stall here but Omoplata recovers full guard.
Evans wants to control from the top but Omoplata keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Omoplata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Omoplata is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Evans dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans delivers a nice body kick.
Omoplata takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Omoplata doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans postures up in Omoplata 's guard and throws a big left but Omoplata blocks it.
Omoplata keeping full guard, as Evans tries to pass.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Omoplata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans is looking to stand up but Omoplata won't let him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Omoplata manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Omoplata stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Evans lands a nice leg kick that just misses Omoplata 's sensitive parts.
Omoplata with a poor takedown
and Evans counters with a nice body shot.
Omoplata misses with a takedown

and Evans counters with a shoot takedown. Omoplata fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Omoplata . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Evans trying to stand up but can't free himself from Omoplata 's guard.
Evans trying to control but Omoplata is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Omoplata . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Omoplata is keeping the position.
Evans thows a big elbow that misses.
Omoplata looking for a sweep. Not yet Omoplata , not yet.

Omoplata has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Evans off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Omoplata misses with a takedown attempt

and Evans counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Evans.
Rashid Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Omoplata had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Omoplata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Omoplata is keeping the position for now.
Evans postures up and lands a big shot to Omoplata 's brow.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Omoplata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.

Omoplata is working an open guard so Evans takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Omoplata doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Omoplata has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Evans can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Omoplata has wrist control.
Omoplata looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Evans puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans throwing shots but Omoplata is blocking nicely.
Evans lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Evans 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!

Evans is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Omoplata 's half guard.
Evans prevents Omoplata from standing back up.
Evans lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Evans wants to stand up but Omoplata has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Omoplata is looking to escape.

Omoplata actively working from the bottom here.
Evans missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Evans working over Omoplata with some ground and pound. Omoplata looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans misses with a head shot. Omoplata uses the momentum to regain guard.

Omoplata 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.
Omoplata looking to control.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Omoplata is keeping the position.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Evans slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Evans scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Omoplata to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans decides to stand up, so the ref orders Omoplata to his feet.
Evans lands with a right hand.
Omoplata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Evans to counter with a crisp jab.
Evans lands a nice looking body shot.
Evans throws a series of strikes that have Omoplata backpedaling.

Evans gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Evans throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Omoplata knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Omoplata sneaks back into half guard.
Evans passes into side control, despite Omoplata 's attempt to control the position.
Omoplata 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Evans throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Omoplata can't do much from the bottom here.
Rashid Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Evans stands up and beckons Omoplata to his feet.
Omoplata fails with the takedown

and Evans counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Evans gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Antonio Omoplata is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Omoplata takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Omoplata closes the distance but Evans moves to the side

and Evans counters by clinching up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashid Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Evans has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

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