PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quinton Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae comes to the cage accompanied by Slipknot - Before I Forget. Evans has chosen Fcuk You - Dinooosaur as his entrance music. Rik McRae has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McRae
vs
Evans

189 cm
31
198 lbs
14 - 7 - 2

187 cm
29
199 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Quinton Evans!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Evans there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McRae misses with a lunging right hand
and Evans counters with a nice uppercut.
McRae steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Evans.
McRae connects with an inside leg kick.
Evans moves out of range of the body kick.
McRae scores with a decent looking hook.
Evans takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Evans throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Rik McRae has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McRae bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Evans clobbers McRae with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Evans scores with a shot to the body.
McRae looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Evans is fending him off so far but McRae persists. Nope, Evans circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans looks to land a left hand but McRae moved out of range nicely.
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Evans throws a lazy body kick
and McRae makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Evans really felt that one!
Evans throws a lazy uppercut
and McRae counters with a three punch combo that has Evans backing up. Evans nods at McRae to acknowledge the strikes.
Evans thows a body shot but no joy.
Evans will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Evans avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

McRae closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McRae throws a strike aimed at the side of Evans's head but Evans avoids it well.
McRae sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Evans is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McRae working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McRae thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

McRae is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Evans is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McRae working the strikes but Evans uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

McRae is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Evans sees it coming and defends easily.
Evans wants to get back to full guard.

McRae is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Evans sees it coming and defends easily.

Evans looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Evans tries to roll over but McRae keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McRae is looking to advance position but Evans won't allow it.

McRae seems to be looking for submissions.

McRae seems to be working for a kimura but Evans defends the submission attempt.

McRae wants to work for an arm triangle but Evans is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McRae thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Evans wants to control but McRae is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae drops an elbow to the side of Evans's head.
Evans is looking to control McRae's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Evans avoid being mounted?

McRae is looking for a kimura but Evans is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McRae to get the leverage.
McRae misses with a head shot. Evans uses the momentum to regain guard.
McRae throws a big right hand that misses.
Evans keeping moving, preventing McRae from controlling successfully.
McRae postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McRae accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McRae trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
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!
McRae wants to pass the guard but Evans is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik McRae dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rik McRae's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McRae.
McRae throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McRae misses with a takedown attempt

and Evans counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Evans.
McRae on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Evans lands strikes from half guard.
McRae is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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!
The fighters are battling for position here. McRae manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

McRae working for a triangle but Evans defends it easily.

McRae 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.
Evans is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans cracks McRae with a solid left hand.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McRae swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from McRae.

McRae is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Evans is aware though and is defending well.
Evans working some strikes from top position.
Rik McRae overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McRae controls Evans momentarily but Evans frees himself.
Evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Evans connects with a couple of short punches.

McRae working for a triangle but Evans defends it easily.
Evans scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Evans working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

McRae 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.

McRae 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans working some strikes from top position.
Evans postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Evans content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McRae looking to hit a scissor sweep but Evans is one step ahead there.

McRae is looking for a triangle but Evans pushes his legs off easily.
McRae has momentary wrist control but Evans slips an elbow through the middle.
Evans lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Evans working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McRae's head.
McRae wants to control but Evans passes easily into half guard.
McRae tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but McRae is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Evans thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McRae wants to improve his position but Evans is controlling well.

McRae looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Evans scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Evans.
McRae has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McRae is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Evans is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Evans.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McRae trying to get back to full guard but Evans takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Evans working the ground and pound effectively.

McRae is rocked!
McRae is trying to escape the mount.
McRae bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McRae trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McRae is working hard here to advance position.
McRae won't allow Evans to sweep him here.
Evans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McRae stopping the sweep attempt from Evans.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McRae is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McRae trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rik McRae's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McRae misses with an uppercut.
McRae lands a right hook to the body.
Evans scores with a body shot.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from McRae misses the target.
Evans swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Evans throws a nice head kick!
Evans throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Evans misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throws a lazy head kick
and McRae counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Quinton Evans seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Evans lands with a straight right. McRae didn't see that one coming.
McRae throws a lazy right hand but Evans sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McRae avoids the head kick by Evans.
Evans fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McRae manages to avoid it.
Evans misses with a low kick.
Quinton Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans moves out of range of the strikes.
Evans drops his hands momentarily and McRae takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Evans tries to move into range but McRae moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McRae fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Evans to the ground. McRae is now in Evans's guard.
McRae trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
McRae throwing strikes but missing.
McRae throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Evans works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans working a defensive guard here.
McRae working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McRae throws a big elbow that misses.
McRae looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Evans is looking to stand up but McRae isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans looking for a guillotine here but McRae defends easily.
McRae lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Evans wants to sweep here but McRae controlling him for the moment.
McRae passes Evans's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

McRae is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

McRae is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Evans is just riding it out for now. McRae eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae trying to advance position but Evans counters by regaining guard.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.

Evans pushes McRae off and scrambles back to his feet.
McRae slips under a jab from Evans.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McRae on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Evans leaves McRae with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rik McRae.
I think McRae 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rik McRae!
After the fight, Rik McRae was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.