PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out. 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
Russell

200 cm
31
220 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

187 cm
27
219 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcus Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shaun Russell!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell throws a left and a right that both miss

and Evans counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Russell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.
Evans tries to pass the half guard into mount. Russell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Evans thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Russell's head.
Russell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Evans is looking to advance position but Russell won't allow it.
Evans not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Russell to regain full guard.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Russell is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Russell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Russell!
Evans is controlling Russell's posture.
Evans will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.
Russell is looking to stand up but Evans won't let him.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Russell wants to stand but Evans has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Russell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is fighting to break Evans's control of his arms but Evans is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Evans wants to slow Russell down by chopping away at his legs.
Evans connects with a body shot that sends Russell's belly button to the back.
Evans fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russell manages to avoid it.
Russell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Russell.

It looks like Marcus Evans has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Russell's shoulder, as Russell tries to avoid the shot.
Russell changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Russell scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Evans moves into the clinch.
Russell is pressed up against the cage. Evans has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russell down to the mat. Russell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Russell looks to score with a jab to the body but Evans is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Evans.
Russell looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Russell is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Russell circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Russell, right into the meat.
Evans looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russell misses with a left hand

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russell won't be happy with that.
Russell can't do much from the bottom here.
Evans in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Evans tries to score with some ground and pound. Russell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans is putting a hurting on Russell here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell is not content to let Evans control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Evans tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Russell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Russell throws a combination that misses

so Evans counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Russell blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Russell blocks nicely.
Russell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Evans is one step ahead there.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from Russell.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Russell is keeping the position.
Evans working some strikes from top position.
Evans missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to sweep but no luck.
Evans 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.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Russell is keeping the position.
Russell trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Russell has control of Evans's left arm, preventing Evans from doing any damage.

Shaun Russell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Russell throws a hook but Evans avoids it easily.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Russell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Evans.
Evans shoots in but no luck this time.
Shaun Russell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russell keeps the fight on the outside.
Shaun Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell misses with an uppercut.
Russell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Evans shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Evans's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fighters circling - Russell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russell clobbers Evans with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Evans uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russell.
Russell misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans passes Russell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Evans trying to control from Russell's half guard. Russell has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Russell is keeping the position.
Evans passes Russell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Evans dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Evans's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Russell swings for the body but Evans moves out of range.
Evans tries to clinch but Russell is having none of it.
Russell throws a lazy uppercut

and Evans counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Russell's guard now.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Russell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Russell is trying to keep Evans in close.
Evans passes into half guard.
Evans thows a huge punch but Russell dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Evans wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russell keeps working.
Evans trying to advance position but Russell counters by regaining guard.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Russell is retaining full guard.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Marcus Evans.
Evans throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russell.

Evans looking to score a takedown here. Russell is defending well but Evans drives through and ends up in Russell's guard.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Russell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Russell!
Russell wants to get up but he can't break Evans's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Evans pulls Russell in close to his closed guard and prevents Russell from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shaun Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russell's guard.
Russell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Evans!
Evans keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Evans tries to hold on but Russell postures up.
Marcus Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans is working to get back to half guard.
Evans is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Evans preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Russell seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Evans, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Evans!
A relieved looking Marcus 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.