PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark McLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Etienne Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Etienne Evans told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

McLeod
vs
Evans

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark McLeod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Etienne Evans!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLeod throws a body punch but Evans moves out of range.

Evans bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Evans takes a little break here. McLeod wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
A control attempt from McLeod but he's now mounted!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans controlling from mount.
McLeod tries to hold on but Evans postures up.
Evans controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
McLeod is desperately trying to improve his position but Evans has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans content just to control the position here.
McLeod is trying to escape the mount.
McLeod is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans content just to control the position here.
McLeod is desperately trying to improve his position but Evans has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
It looks like Evans might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
McLeod is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans controlling the pace for now.
McLeod tries to hold on but Evans postures up.
Evans prevents McLeod from getting the reversal.
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.
McLeod tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
McLeod is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Etienne Evans dominated that round.
That's time! McLeod's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Evans dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Evans drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McLeod is being controlled here.
McLeod is looking to regain half guard here but Evans keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Etienne Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.
McLeod is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Etienne Evans has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Evans looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

McLeod looking for submissions off his back.
McLeod is trying to get back to full guard.
Evans passes the guard and advances to mount!
McLeod keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to control and managing it successfully.
McLeod is desperately trying to improve his position but Evans has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLeod tries to lock up and control but Evans gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McLeod is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
McLeod tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Evans controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Etienne Evans was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Evans closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McLeod's guard.
McLeod being controlled here, momentarily.

McLeod is looking for a triangle here but Evans uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Etienne Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McLeod misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Evans. McLeod does a little dance to reset his feet.
McLeod waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Evans.
Evans works McLeod's body with a nice hook.
Etienne Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLeod lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Evans circles away quickly and effectively.
Evans checks a low kick from McLeod.
Evans throws a series of punches but McLeod moves out of range.
McLeod looks to land a combination. Evans sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Evans looking to score a takedown here. McLeod is defending well but Evans drives through and ends up in McLeod's guard.
McLeod wants to control the position but Evans says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Evans is taking a breather. McLeod says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

McLeod with the active half guard here but Evans passes nicely into side control.
Evans gets to mount! McLeod was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeod really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
McLeod tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Evans controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeod tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Evans controlling the pace for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McLeod is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to control and managing it successfully.
McLeod working to try and regain half guard.
Evans controlling his opponent.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Etienne Evans wasn't active enough on the ground.

Evans closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Evans lands in his opponent's guard.
Mark McLeod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McLeod looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Evans passes into side control.
McLeod is trying to control Evans's posture but Evans avoids it.
Evans is staying tight to McLeod's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLeod tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Evans easily slips into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Etienne 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Etienne Evans!
After the fight, Etienne Evans 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.