PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Evans
vs
Drago

175 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
257 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steven Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago slips under a jab from Evans.
Drago slips a jab and a cross from Evans.
Evans throws a right and a left that both miss.
Evans misses with a double jab.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. Drago tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Drago manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Drago rushes Evans and presses him up against the cage.
Evans lands a nice elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago goes for a takedown attempt but Evans pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Evans looks to land a left hand but Drago moved out of range nicely.
Drago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drago ducks under a wild hook from Evans.
Drago tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Drago seems content to control.
Let's hope that Drago has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Evans is concentrating on defense, preventing Drago from advancing position.
Evans wants to control but Drago is keeping busy.
Evans is concentrating on defense, preventing Drago from advancing position.
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Evans is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drago tries to stand and escape but Evans is controlling the position.
Evans preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Evans as Drago shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drago has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drago.

Evans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evans tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drago was well out of range. Poor timing from Evans.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Evans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Steven Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Drago throws a sloppy head kick and Evans moves out of range easily.
Evans fails to land with a series of punches.
Evans misses with a wild combination.
Drago tries to counter by closing the distance.
No joy there for Evans, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Drago closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Evans to the mat! Evans manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago tries to stand but Evans is controlling from the bottom.
Evans looking for a sweep. Not yet Evans, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drago trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Evans looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.
Evans might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans keeping full guard, as Drago tries to pass.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Drago won't allow Evans to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evans waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drago.
Drago steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Evans.
Drago dodges the punch combination from Evans.
The fighters circling - Evans throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Drago wants to counter the offense by Evans and move into the clinch position.
Evans definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Evans misses with a few strikes there.
Drago steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Evans.
Drago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Evans is fending him off so far but Drago persists. Nope, Evans circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steven Evans will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Drago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
A left and a right from Drago both land. Nice combination.
Evans misses with a wild combination.
Drago raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Drago shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Evans's guard.
Drago looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Evans manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drago manages to get himself to full guard.

Drago is looking to stand up but Evans isn't so interested in that idea.
Ivan Drago has got the better of the ground game so far.

Drago 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drago is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Drago managing to control the position.
Evans trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Drago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Evans controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drago.
And Drago tries to counter it with a takedown but Evans pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Evans ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drago moves away.
A combination from Evans does no damage.
Evans throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drago swats away the attempt to clinch by Evans.
Drago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Evans.

Evans scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Drago flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Drago is controlling Evans's trapped leg to prevent Evans from advancing to side control.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to improve his position but Evans is controlling well.
Evans sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drago defending well though.

Drago looking for submissions off his back.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but Drago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Evans drops an elbow to the side of Drago's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Evans is nestled in close to Drago, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Evans missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drago is refusing to be controlled, as Evans sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Evans dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago wants to clinch up but Evans keeps it at a distance.
Evans is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Drago.

Drago forces Evans back against the cage and clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Evans.
Drago tries a body shot but Evans blocks it.
Drago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
Steven Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans throws a right hand that Drago ducks under and follows up with a left that Drago also avoids with ease.
Drago fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Evans dives in and scores a takedown into Drago's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans preventing the sweep.
Evans trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.

Drago 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 scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Drago can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Evans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Drago's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Drago is trying to keep Evans in close.
Evans trying to control but Drago is working from the bottom.
Evans is stalling in the full guard.
Drago is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans forces Drago back against the cage and clinches.
Drago wants to break free but Evans has control.
Evans misses with a hook from the clinch.
Evans effectively controlling the action here.
Drago goes for a takedown attempt but Evans pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Steven Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Evans misses with a wild body shot.
Drago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Evans as he jumps to the side.

Evans gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago stopping the sweep attempt from Evans.
Drago trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Steven Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drago is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Evans is controlling Drago's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drago trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Ivan Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans controlling Drago's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Evans!
Steven Evans was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.