PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben sr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashad Evans has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Evans
vs
sr

183 cm
25
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben sr!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
sr on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Evans. Evans obviously looking to wear him down.

Evans throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. sr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Evans is in sr's guard.
sr will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
sr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Evans is controlling him.
sr thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but sr is retaining full guard.
Evans preventing the sweep.
sr throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Evans forces his way into half guard.
sr taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Evans not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans wants to stand up but sr has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. sr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sr trying to strike off his back.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as sr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Evans's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Evans postures up and lands a big shot to sr's brow.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as sr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Evans has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
sr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Evans gets to his feet. sr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
sr slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
sr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown. sr tries to sprawl out of it but Evans keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. sr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but sr avoids it really well and circles away.
Evans avoids the head kick by sr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
sr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
sr throws a series of strikes that have Evans backpedaling.

Evans fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging sr to the ground. Evans is now in sr's guard.
Evans is breathing heavily.
sr wants to sweep but no luck.
sr seems keen to control Evans's posture.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
sr 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.
sr controls Evans momentarily but Evans frees himself.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans with the ground and pound but sr uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. sr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

sr working for a triangle but Evans defends it easily.
Evans advances position into side control!
Evans moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks sr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Evans landing strikes from the mount and sr is in trouble!
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks sr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Evans breaks from sr's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish sr?
sr is trying desperately to improve position.
Evans lands with some vicious ground and pound - can sr hang on?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Evans cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Evans postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. sr looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of sr's face.
Evans lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
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.

Evans fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
sr is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from sr enables Evans to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. sr manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. sr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

sr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Evans is aware though and is defending well.
Evans advances position into side control!
Evans scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at sr to see if he's OK.
Evans moves into full mount!
Evans connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans with good strikes from the mount here!
sr is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
sr is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks sr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Evans putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
sr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Evans fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The referee warns sr that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Evans putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Evans with a couple of short strikes.
sr takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
sr is looking to improve his position but Evans isn't that keen on the idea.
Evans dominating with strikes here.
sr is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans dominating with strikes here.
Evans is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. sr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Evans fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
sr is looking to improve his position but Evans isn't that keen on the idea.
Evans postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. sr looks a forlorn figure.
Evans working the ground and pound effectively.
sr tries to lock up and control but Evans gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Evans has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of sr's face.
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks sr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rashad Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
Evans lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Evans unloading with bombs!
Evans punishing his opponent with strikes.
Evans scores with a couple of good head shots there.
sr can't escape the position.
Evans scoring with strikes but sr is staying in there.
sr taking shots to the head.
Evans in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Evans cracks sr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans avoids the attempt from sr to control.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans raining down shots from the mount!
sr takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Evans looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Evans landing shots from mount.
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
sr is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
sr is bucking up trying to escape but Evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Evans breaks from sr's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans avoids the attempt from sr to control.
sr is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

sr looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Evans fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Evans breaks from sr's wrist control and lands an elbow.
sr regains half guard.
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.
sr punching from the bottom.
Evans sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. sr defending well though.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that sr can do to turn this around?
Evans slips a nice elbow through sr's hands, connecting with sr's forehead.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
sr throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Evans working sr over with strikes.
sr 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!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
sr struggling to land strikes to the head as Evans covers up.
sr throws a series of strikes and Evans wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Evans bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans won't allow sr to sweep him here.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but sr is retaining full guard.
sr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evans's guard.
sr with a flurry of punches that miss.
sr pushes down on Evans's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

sr gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for sr!
sr is working to get back to half guard.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Evans pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Evans connects with a massive shot to the dome!
sr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
sr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans avoids the attempt from sr to control.
Evans working the ground and pound effectively.
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks sr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
sr working to try and regain half guard.
Evans raining down hammerfists from mount.
sr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Evans dominating with strikes here.
sr is bucking up trying to escape but Evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
sr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Evans fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ben sr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
sr is desperately trying to improve his position but Evans has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Evans!
Rashad Evans took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'My heart goes out to all the fans that is live nationwide! I appreciate you all for supporting me. And shoutout to the Blackzilians and my coaches.'.