PBP Commentary

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

Koponen
vs
Evans

187 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
205 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Koponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koponen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Evans throws out the jab.
Koponen digs a good body shot into Evans's ribs.
Evans rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Koponen counters with a stiff right hand.
Evans jabs at Koponen's body.
Evans ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Evans thows a left - swing and a miss!
Evans tests Koponen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Evans looks to land a right hand but Koponen moved out of range.
Evans waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koponen.
Koponen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Evans.

Koponen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Evans to the mat! Evans manages to get full guard.
Koponen pushing down on Evans's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans trying to control but Koponen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koponen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Koponen is looking to advance position but Evans won't allow it.
Koponen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Evans keeps working.
Koponen wants to stand up but Evans is controlling the position.
Evans is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Koponen wants to work for an arm triangle but Evans is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koponen is working for a kimura but Evans is defending it quite comfortably.
Koponen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Evans knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Evans avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koponen.

Koponen seems to be looking for submissions.

Koponen seems to be working for a kimura but Evans defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Koponen is working for a submission of some sort.
Koponen tries to pass to full mount but Evans defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Koponen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Koponen is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to get back to full guard.

Koponen is looking for a kimura here.

Koponen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koponen wants to stand up but Evans is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Koponen dominated that round.
That's time! Koponen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Evans keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Koponen takes a swing at Evans's ribcage but misses.
Evans throws a hook but Koponen avoids it easily.
Evans comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Evans's corner calls for a 1-2. Evans obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Koponen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Koponen missing with a left hand there. Evans was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koponen misses with a few strikes there.
Koponen drops his hands momentarily and Evans takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Evans closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Koponen's guard.

Koponen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koponen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Evans passes into half guard.
Koponen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Evans scoring with punches to the head and body.
Koponen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Evans.
Evans scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Evans cracks Koponen with a solid left hand.
Evans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Koponen's head.
Evans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Koponen's head.
Evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Evans landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koponen 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.

Koponen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Evans defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Evans's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Evans is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Evans postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Koponen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Evans is aware though and is defending well.
Koponen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koponen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Koponen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Koponen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Evans is aware though and is defending well.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koponen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans distracts Koponen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Evans's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Koponen is rocked!
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!
Evans gets to his feet and stands over Koponen, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Koponen felt that one! Evans unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Koponen from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rashad Evans!
Rashad Evans really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.