PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ken Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Rinaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Enzo Rinaldi acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Evans
vs
Rinaldi

178 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ken Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Enzo Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans closes the distance and clinches.
Rinaldi looking to slow down the pace here.
Evans stalling the fight.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch.
Ken Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rinaldi swivels and escapes.
Rinaldi throws a head kick but Evans moves out of range.
Rinaldi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Evans's head.
Good work by Rinaldi as he checks the leg kick.
Evans looks for a takedown but Rinaldi sprawls well.
Evans fails with the takedown
and Rinaldi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Evans drives through and clinches with Rinaldi against the cage.
Rinaldi is looking to break free of the clinch but Evans has double underhooks.
Evans jumps guard but Rinaldi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinaldi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rinaldi enables Evans to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rinaldi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rinaldi is looking to stand up but Evans isn't so interested in that idea.
Evans is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Evans decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rinaldi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Evans.

It looks like Ken Evans has been cut.
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 moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by Rinaldi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rinaldi.
Evans throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Rinaldi.
Evans shoots and misses
and Rinaldi counters with a nice body kick.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Evans gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rinaldi counters with a body kick.
Evans stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rinaldi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rinaldi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi jabs Evans right on the nose. Evans blinks but takes it well.
Evans shoots and misses
and Rinaldi counters with a three punch combo that has Evans backing up. Evans nods at Rinaldi to acknowledge the strikes.
Rinaldi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Evans backs up against the cage.
Rinaldi digs a good hook to Evans's body.
Nice body kick there by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinaldi with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Rinaldi.
Evans chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rinaldi can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi throws a head kick but Evans moves out of range.
Rinaldi misses with a head kick.
Rinaldi tries a head kick but it misses.
Evans misses with a kick to the body.
Rinaldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Evans with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rinaldi counters with a body kick that stops Evans in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rinaldi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Evans slips a jab and a cross from Rinaldi.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rinaldi throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Rinaldi misses with a looping left.
Rinaldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Evans moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Rinaldi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ken Evans's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rinaldi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Evans has time to react.
Evans will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Enzo Rinaldi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Evans moves into the clinch successfully.

Rinaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt
and Rinaldi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Evans moves out of range of the body kick.
Rinaldi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rinaldi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rinaldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Evans blocks a head kick by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinaldi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi scores with a spinning back kick!

Evans has managed to clinch.
Rinaldi is looking to break free of the clinch but Evans has double underhooks.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Evans.

Evans stands up and beckons Rinaldi to his feet.
Rinaldi misses with a looping right.
Rinaldi misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi misses with a series of wild punches.
Evans throws a sloppy head kick and Rinaldi moves out of range easily.
Evans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Evans shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rinaldi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans wants to control from the top but Rinaldi keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rinaldi is looking to stand up but Evans isn't so interested in that idea.
Evans pushes down on Rinaldi's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rinaldi has one foot on Evans's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rinaldi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rinaldi misses with a looping left.
Rinaldi tries to score with a low kick but Evans moves his leg out of the way.
Ken Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Evans forces Rinaldi back against the cage and clinches.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Rinaldi won't allow it.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rinaldi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Evans ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rinaldi moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Evans with that takedown attempt.
Rinaldi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rinaldi throws a series of punches but Evans moves out of range.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Rinaldi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rinaldi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rinaldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ken Evans will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ken Evans's cut.
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!

Rinaldi leaves Evans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evans takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rinaldi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Evans dives in and scores a takedown into Rinaldi's guard.
Rinaldi 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.

Rinaldi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rinaldi swings for the body but Evans moves out of range.
Rinaldi throws a head kick but Evans moves out of range.
Evans misses with a takedown
and Rinaldi counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Evans fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Evans fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinaldi misses with a double jab.
Rinaldi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rinaldi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Evans moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Evans blocks a head kick by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Evans circles away quickly and effectively.
Rinaldi looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans has a takedown stuffed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rinaldi. Evans does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rinaldi misses with a few strikes there.

Evans shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rinaldi is trying to defend but Evans finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rinaldi wants to get back to his feet.

Evans seems to be working for a kimura but Rinaldi defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi tries to kick Evans off but Evans keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Evans seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rinaldi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Evans manages to mount him!
Rinaldi wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ken Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans working the ground and pound effectively.
Evans trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Evans is landing with some decent strikes but Rinaldi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rinaldi is trying to stand up.

Evans goes for an armbar but Rinaldi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ken Evans.
I think Evans has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

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