PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Evans (ranked 4422 p4p, 4306 weight class) and Merlin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Evans
vs
Manhoef

175 cm
20
235
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
265
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Merlin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Evans blocks the low kick.
Manhoef avoids a punch combination nicely.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans clobbers Manhoef with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Merlin Manhoef has been cut.
Manhoef scores with a three punch combo!
Manhoef misses with a takedown attempt - Evans sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Evans connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Manhoef stalks Evans and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Evans's face. Evans staggers backwards, shaken.
Manhoef scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Evans dodges the punch combination from Manhoef.
Manhoef swinging wildly here.
Manhoef shoots in looking for a takedown. Evans tries to sprawl out of it but Manhoef keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Evans manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans throws a series of punches but Manhoef avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Manhoef or perhaps it was just good defense by Evans, which made it look bad.
Evans swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rich Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Merlin Manhoef.
Evans misses with a jab, cross combination.
Manhoef is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Evans throws a right and a left that both miss.
Evans takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Evans throws a shot from downtown. Manhoef moves away and avoids it.
Evans sizes up Manhoef with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Manhoef throws a wild body kick that Evans sees coming a mile off.
Manhoef is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Evans misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manhoef.
Evans moves into range and connects with a jab.
Evans throws a right and a left that Manhoef avoids nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Evans.
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!
Manhoef dodges the punch combination from Evans.
Evans could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Evans swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Evans looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Evans misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Evans checks it.
Evans fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manhoef manages to avoid it.
Manhoef unleashes a big counter combination but Evans bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Manhoef looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Evans misses with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Evans. Those never looked like landing.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Evans is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Manhoef.
A telegraphed right hand from Evans misses the target.
Evans throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Evans misses with the combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Manhoef scores with a four punch combination!
A right-left combo lands from Manhoef.
Manhoef looks to land a combination. Evans sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Manhoef shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Evans defends it nicely.
Manhoef goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Manhoef is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws a body shot but no joy.
Manhoef moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Evans shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Manhoef lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Manhoef, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rich Evans is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Evans bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Evans moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Evans throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manhoef.
Manhoef keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manhoef fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Evans on the side of the head.
Manhoef connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Evans momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans misses with a few strikes there.
Manhoef fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Manhoef.

Evans is rocked!
Manhoef avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rich Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manhoef slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Oh Evans is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Manhoef lands with a right and another and another! Evans is in big trouble! Manhoef lands again and this time it's lights out for Evans! A quality knockout there for Manhoef.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Merlin Manhoef!