PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Banks (ranked 3107 p4p, 3101 weight class) and Thomas Evans (ranked 412 p4p, 407 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Banks
vs
Evans

187 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
178
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Freddy Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Evans!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Evans counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Evans avoids it really well and circles away.

Evans gets the takedown into side control.
Banks wants to control but Evans postures up.
Banks gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Evans seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Evans trying to control from half guard but Banks is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Evans is keen to just control but Banks is a slippery customer.
Evans is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Evans prevents Banks from improving his position.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but Banks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Evans seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Evans trying to control from half guard but Banks is working away.
Banks wants to control but Evans is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Banks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Evans's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Evans's back!

Banks looking for the choke from the back.
I would not like to be Evans right now.
Evans rolls, trying to escape but Banks keeps control of the position.
Evans rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Evans is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to get back to full guard.
Banks slows the pace down in half guard.
Banks prevents Evans from improving his position.
Banks is pressing down on Evans's thigh, looking to free his foot. Evans is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Evans is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Banks content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Banks is working for a submission of some sort.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Evans has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banks is working away from the top position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Freddy Banks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Evans. No joy for Banks on that attempt.
Banks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Evans darts in looking for a takedown but Banks gets double underhooks and turns Evans into the cage.
Banks misses with a few strikes there.
Banks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Evans is fending him off so far but Banks persists. Nope, Evans circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Evans sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Banks somewhat.
Evans leaves Banks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans lands a nice hook to Banks's body. Banks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Evans closes the distance and pushes Banks back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Banks uses from the top position.
Evans controls Banks momentarily but Banks frees himself.

Evans is looking for a triangle but Banks pushes his legs off easily.
Evans will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Banks stands up and waves to Evans to follow him.
Banks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Evans circles away.

Evans takes the fight into the clinch.
Evans has had enough of the clinch but Banks keeps him there for the moment.
Evans has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Banks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans breaks the clinch.
Evans throws a push kick but Banks slaps the foot to one side.
Evans feints and then cracks Banks's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banks down.
Evans stuffs the takedown.
Banks shoots in and drives through. Evans sprawls well.
Evans misses with a series of wild punches.
Banks is looking to clinch.
Evans has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Evans throws a series of punches but Banks avoids them all with ease.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banks wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans is looking for a kimura here.
Banks is looking to improve his position.
Banks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Banks wants to improve his position but Evans is controlling well.

That's four 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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banks keeps working.
Banks trying to control here.
Banks gets full guard.

Banks is looking for a triangle here but Evans uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Who's going to make the next move?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Evans 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 stuffs the takedown.

Banks forces Evans back against the cage and clinches.

Evans is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Banks can't fight it off and eventually Evans manages to take the fight to the floor. Banks looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Banks wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Evans manages to pass to side control.

Evans is nestled in close to Banks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Evans is thwarting Banks's attempts to control the position.
Banks regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Evans is working for a submission of some sort.

Evans stands up and beckons Banks to join him on the feet.
Evans tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Banks swivels and escapes.

Banks has Evans up against the cage in a clinch.

Evans manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Banks defends it nicely.
Banks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Evans swivels and escapes.
Banks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Evans instigates a clinch.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Banks is controlling the position.

Evans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Evans changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Banks tries to avoid it but Evans manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Banks to the ground. Banks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It appears Banks was looking to counter with a kick there.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Evans. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Evans just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Banks.
Evans lands a nice looking body kick.
Banks leaves Evans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Evans forces Banks back against the cage and clinches.

Evans is trying to trip Banks. He has hold of a leg but Banks is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Evans persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Evans throws a big right hand that misses.
Evans pushes down on Banks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Evans sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks regains full guard. Nicely done.
Evans slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Banks trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans wants to stand but Banks is controlling his posture from full guard.
Banks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Evans!