PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Toefield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cuba Gooding Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sammy Toefield has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Toefield
vs
Gooding Evans

180 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammy Toefield!
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, Cuba Gooding Evans!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toefield shoots in but no luck this time.
Toefield fails with an attempt to clinch.
Evans keeps the fight on the outside.

Toefield looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Evans!
Evans is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Toefield. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Evans is trying desperately to improve position.

Toefield is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Evans has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Evans!
Evans sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toefield is trying to keep Evans in close.
Toefield throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Toefield being controlled here, momentarily.
Toefield trying to keep a closed guard but Evans is proving a slippery customer.
Toefield looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Toefield throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Evans is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toefield manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Evans manages to get himself to full guard.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Toefield from controlling successfully.
Toefield advances to half guard.
Evans is trying to get back to full guard.
Evans is positioning himself well to prevent Toefield advancing to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Evans can do anything to dispel that myth.
Toefield trying to mount his opponent but Evans defends it.
Toefield missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four 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.
Toefield trying to pass the guard but Evans defending well.
Toefield is working hard here to advance position.
Evans is pressing down on Toefield's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Toefield trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Toefield missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Toefield is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Toefield from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Toefield tries for a takedown but Evans sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cuba Gooding Evans will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Evans scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Toefield's face as Evans controls the position.
Toefield is trying to control Evans's posture but Evans avoids it.
Evans slows the pace down.
Let's hope that Evans has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Toefield sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans slows the pace down in half guard.
Toefield tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Toefield is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Evans pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Toefield wants to improve his position but Evans is controlling well.
Evans perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Toefield is looking to improve his position.
Evans takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Toefield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Evans stalling.

Toefield looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toefield manages to get to full guard.
Evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Evans content to stall in guard here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Cuba Gooding Evans just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evans digs a good body shot into Toefield's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toefield bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Evans with a poor takedown

and Toefield counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Evans!
Evans looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Evans avoids a series of strikes thrown by Toefield.
Evans is in all sorts of trouble here.
Evans wants to hold on but Toefield pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuba Gooding Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Toefield's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Evans closes the distance and clinches up with Toefield, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes Toefield against the cage but Toefield circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Toefield tries to clinch up.

Toefield drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Evans avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Toefield.

Toefield goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Evans rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Toefield's guard! Nice work there by Evans!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans passes Toefield's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toefield tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
Evans sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Toefield wants to control but Evans is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Toefield tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
Evans trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toefield misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Toefield wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.
Toefield tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
Sammy Toefield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Evans takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Evans prevents Toefield from improving his position.
Cuba Gooding Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Toefield looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cuba Gooding Evans.
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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

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