PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between A Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Curtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Curtis struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Evans
vs
Curtis

176 cm
20
139 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
143 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Rocha Nutrition
FIT FOR LIFE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, A Evans!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henry Curtis!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Curtis. Curtis gets slowly back to his feet.
Evans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Curtis scores with a takedown into Evans's guard.

Curtis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Curtis sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Evans escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Curtis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Curtis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Curtis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Evans's guard.

Evans had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Curtis is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Evans Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Curtis's back instead.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Curtis trying to get back to his feet but Evans is in full control for now.

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.
Curtis looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Curtis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Evans. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
I really don't envy Curtis right now.
Curtis turns into Evans and is now in his guard.
Curtis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans has his foot on Curtis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Curtis works his way back into a safe position though.

Evans looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Curtis stands and steps away. Evans gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Curtis. Curtis gets slowly back to his feet.

Curtis drives through with a takedown into guard.

Evans escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Curtis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Curtis slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Evans has his foot on Curtis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Curtis works his way back into a safe position though.

Evans is looking for a triangle but Curtis pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Curtis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Curtis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Evans has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Curtis is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Evans.

Curtis decides to stand back up. Curtis steps back and let's Evans get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Curtis 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Curtis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Curtis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Curtis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Curtis slips a jab and a cross from Evans.
Nice takedown defense from Curtis. No joy for Evans on that attempt.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Curtis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Henry Curtis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Evans regains half guard.

Evans actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Curtis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Evans is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Curtis pulls his head out easily.
Curtis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like Curtis is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Evans actively working from the bottom here.
Curtis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Evans is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Curtis pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Evans looking for submissions off his back.
Curtis wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evans moves out of range of the body kick from Curtis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Curtis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Evans shoots in and drives through. Curtis sprawls well.

Curtis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Evans looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Curtis pushes past his half guard into mount!
Evans is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is working hard here to advance position.
Curtis controlling from the full mount.
Evans is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Evans manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Curtis stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Evans to get to his feet.
Curtis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. Curtis tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Curtis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Curtis with a lazy takedown attempt

and Evans moves into the clinch.
Evans has Curtis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Curtis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for A Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Evans pulls Curtis into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Curtis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Evans has his foot on Curtis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Curtis works his way back into a safe position though.
Curtis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Curtis wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.

Curtis stands and steps away. Evans gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Curtis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Curtis from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Evans working for submissions but it's allowed Curtis to get to half guard.
Well, if Curtis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
A Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry Curtis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Evans looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Curtis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Curtis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Curtis!
Henry Curtis is the new bantamweight champion!