PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards has chosen Loch Lomond as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Evans
vs
Richards

200 cm
26
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
29
205 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cliff Richards!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards dives in and grabs Evans's left leg, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes down on Richards's head and hops out.

Richards clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Evans lands a nice shot to the body.
Richards misses with the head strike.
Evans leaning his opponent against the cage.
Richards has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Richards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Evans uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.
Richards slips a jab and a cross from Evans.

Evans feints and as Richards raises his hands in defense, Evans changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Evans wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards wants to stand and escape but Evans is having none of it.
Evans controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Evans scoring with punches to the head and body.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richards can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Evans controls the pace.
Evans won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws a big right hand that misses.
Evans looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Evans as he avoids it easily.
Evans throws a left and a right that both miss
and Richards counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Richards's shoulder, as Richards tries to avoid the shot.
Marcus Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans throws a body punch but Richards moves out of range.
Evans uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A cross from Evans lands.
Evans lands a right hook to the body.
Richards shoots for a double leg takedown but Evans sprawls well. He's pushed Richards's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marcus Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Richards.
Evans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Richards.
A slow jab from Evans misses its intended target.
Richards slips a jab from Evans.
Evans misses with a hook.
Richards walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Richards is trying desperately to land a takedown but Evans is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Richards.
Evans throws an off balance right hand
and Richards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Evans thuds a left hand into Richards's body.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richards slips under a jab.
Richards displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
Evans jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Evans fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Richards to the ground. Evans is now in Richards's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans is in close to Richards's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Richards has wrist control.
Richards wants to get back to his feet but Evans is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Evans works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans wants to free his trapped foot but Richards is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Evans is trying to work for a kimura but Richards is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Evans dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Evans. Richards does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marcus Evans is winning the standup battle so far.
Richards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Evans moves out of range as Richards strikes.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Evans.
A decent looking cross lands there for Evans.
Cliff Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Evans throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Richards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Evans to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Evans engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans 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.
Evans stops Richards from standing up.
Evans works over Richards with some ground and pound from guard.

Richards kicks Evans off and gets to his feet.
Evans scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans misses with a hook
and Richards counters with a nice uppercut.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?
Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richards defending well as Evans loads up on a big left hand.
Evans fails with the takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Evans misses with a hook.
Evans looks to land a right hand but Richards moved out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Evans.

Richards drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Evans is looking to reverse the position.
Richards tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans can't do much from the bottom here.
Richards wants to stand but Evans is controlling his arm.
Marcus Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans is trying to control Richards's posture but Richards avoids it.
Evans is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Evans is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Richards off and has taken his back!
Richards is covering up but some of the strikes from Evans are getting through and doing damage.
Richards is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Evans off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans controlling the position well here. Richards rolled but Evans kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Evans scores with punches from the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans is punishing Richards with strikes - can he finish him?!
Evans is landing with strikes. Richards can't take much more of this.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Evans dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Evans smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Evans misses with a body shot
and Richards counters with a nice leg kick.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Evans scores with a jab.
Evans misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Richards closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Evans throws a jab when Richards was well out of range.
Richards wants to clinch but Evans slips to the side
and Richards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans lands with a shot to the body.
Evans throws a poor cross that misses
and Richards counters with a one-two to the body.
Evans throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Richards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Richards tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.
Evans stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Richards is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Evans.
Evans throws a hook but Richards blocks it.

Evans bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Richards is pushing Evans's head away, looking to escape. Evans manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Evans tries to advance to mount but Richards denies him.
Evans working the ground and pound from side control.
Richards is not content to let Evans control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Evans advances nicely into full mount.
You get the feeling that Richards really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Evans takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Evans sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marcus Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Evans lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cliff Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Richards trying desperately to get to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Evans has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Evans!
In his post fight interview, Marcus Evans started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.