PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Plato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Plato is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Poker Face. Omar Plato acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Evans
vs
Plato

200 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
141 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Omar Plato!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Evans shoots in and bounces Plato off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Evans postures up in Plato's guard and throws a big left but Plato blocks it.
Evans thows a big elbow that misses.
Plato wants to stand and escape but Evans is having none of it.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Plato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Plato wants to stand but Evans is controlling the position.
Evans scoring with punches to the head and body.

Evans decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Plato, up you get!

Evans decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Evans seems to be looking for submissions.
Evans really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Plato pushes Evans off looking to stand but Evans dives back in and keeps control.
Evans is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plato looks like he's trying to stand up.
Plato taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
Plato is trying to stand.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
Plato is looking to escape.
Plato taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Evans working over Plato with some ground and pound. Plato looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Evans working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
Evans prevents Plato from improving his position.
Evans stops Plato from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Plato has one foot on Evans's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Plato throws out a leg kick but Evans moves out of range and Plato only half commits.

Evans instigates a clinch.
Plato can't break the clinch.
Plato tries to break the clinch but Evans is controlling the position.
Evans tries for a takedown. No joy.
Evans can't get the takedown.
Plato wants to get back to striking at distance but Evans won't allow it.

Plato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Plato closes the distance and clinches.
Plato avoiding damage as Evans throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Plato gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Plato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Plato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Evans keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Evans closes the distance and clinches up with Plato, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes Plato against the cage but Plato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Plato throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Plato scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Plato throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Plato misses with a double jab.

Evans rushes Plato and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plato tries to break the clinch but Evans is controlling the position.
Plato is pressed up against the cage. Evans has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Plato down to the mat. Plato avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Plato looks to land a combination. Evans sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A punch combination from Plato misses.

Plato closes the distance and clinches.
Evans jumps guard but Plato stands there with Evans around his waist. Evans gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Plato avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Plato is trying to break the clinch but Evans has him pressed against the cage.
Plato is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Evans dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Plato 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Evans throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Evans had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Plato 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 Plato's back instead.
Plato is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Evans doesn't have the hooks in and Plato manages to turn into his guard.

Evans looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Plato content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Evans throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Plato tries to stand but Evans is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Plato lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Plato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Plato looks like he's trying to stand up.
Plato punching from the bottom.
Plato pushes Evans off looking to stand but Evans dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Evans shoots for a takedown but Plato saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Plato looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Evans fails with the takedown.

Plato scores with a takedown into Evans's guard.

Evans manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Plato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Plato misses with a series of wild punches.
Plato misses with a jab, cross combination.
Evans tries for a takedown but Plato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Plato.
Plato throws a leg kick but Evans checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plato looks for the body kick but Evans saw that one coming.
Evans fails to land the takedown.
Plato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt - Plato sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Plato works over Evans's head and body with a nice combination.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Plato paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Plato lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Plato looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Plato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Evans shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Plato counters with a three punch combo that has Evans backing up. Evans nods at Plato to acknowledge the strikes.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plato is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Plato circles away and we're back to standing.
Plato fails to land with a series of punches.
Ryan Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Plato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Evans moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Plato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Evans or perhaps it was just good defense by Plato which made him look bad.
Plato closes the distance and clinches up with Evans, looking for a takedown. Plato pushes Evans against the cage but Evans circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Evans gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Plato tries to pull guard but Evans holds him up against the cage and eventually Plato drops back down to his feet.
Plato is pressed up against the cage. Evans has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Plato down to the mat. Plato avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Plato fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Plato does no damage.
Plato closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Plato shoots for a takedown but Evans saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Evans looks for a takedown but Plato sprawls well.
Plato throws a series of punches but Evans avoids them all with ease.
Evans lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Plato backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Plato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Evans takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Evans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Evans tries to pull guard but Plato holds him up against the cage and eventually Evans drops back down to his feet.

Evans manages to pull guard.

Evans pushes Plato off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horrible takedown by Evans or perhaps it was just good defense by Plato which made him look bad.
Plato is looking to score with low kicks.
Plato wants to clinch up but Evans keeps it at a distance.
A jab lands there for Plato.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Plato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Evans checks a leg kick.
Plato misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Plato circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice takedown defense from Evans. No joy for Plato on that attempt.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Plato.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plato misses with a two punch combination.

Evans shoots in and bounces Plato off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Evans cracks Plato with a solid left hand.

Plato has his feet on Evans's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Plato.

Evans scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Plato looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands with a punch from half guard.
Plato wants to get back to his feet.
Evans lands with a punch from half guard.

Plato kicks Evans off and gets back to his feet.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plato is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Plato circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Plato but Plato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Evans has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Plato swinging wilding here.
Evans will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Left hook, right uppercut from Plato.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Plato shows good takedown defense.
Evans tries for a takedown but Plato circles away easily
and Plato counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from Plato does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans shoots in but no luck this time.
Plato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Evans circles away quickly and effectively.
Evans tries for a takedown but Plato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Evans shoots in and drives through. Plato sprawls well.
Plato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Plato throws a right and a left that Evans avoids nicely.

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Plato!
Plato's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Plato is trying desperately to improve position.
Evans with good strikes from the mount here!

Plato somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Plato missing with a left hand there. Evans was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Plato lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans looks for a takedown but Plato sprawls well.
Plato fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Plato looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Plato throws a right and a left that Evans avoids nicely.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plato is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Plato circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Plato.
Plato misses with the combination.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Plato.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Plato as he jumps to the side.
Plato lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Plato misses.
Evans fails with the takedown.
A punch combination from Plato misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Omar Plato.
I think Plato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Omar Plato!