PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rashad evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by The Ecstasy of Gold. rashad evans is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smith
vs
evans

185 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

220 cm
18
270 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Win Nutritional

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Harry Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, rashad evans!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
evans tries a head kick but it misses.
evans misses with a double jab.
A nice combination there by evans.

It looks like Harry Smith has been cut.
evans shoots in but no luck this time.
evans throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
evans goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
rashad evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
evans looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

evans shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than evans was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
evans controlling his opponent.
evans is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
evans looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
evans takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
evans working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
evans controlling from the full mount.
evans lands a heavy elbow.
evans looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
evans pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
evans takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, rashad evans just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but evans persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Good shot there by evans.
A left and a right from evans both land. Nice combination.

Harry Smith's cut is getting worse.

Excellent takedown into side control there by evans.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
evans fails to land a wild elbow strike.
evans tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Smith is not content to let evans control the position.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith is trying to control evans's posture but evans avoids it.
evans working the ground and pound.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
evans fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Harry Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rashad evans.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from evans.
evans throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing evans off to one side.

evans scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smith is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but evans has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smith gets back to half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but evans keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is in trouble now - evans has advanced to mount!
Smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
evans trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
evans is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
evans controlling Smith's posture.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
evans controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rashad evans dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Harry Smith's cut.
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.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from evans.
evans throws a head kick that misses.

evans drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith is trying to keep evans in close.
evans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but evans defends easily.
evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
evans is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
evans wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
evans slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
evans trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
evans is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
evans manages to get to full guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
evans is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
evans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
evans sitting and controlling from the half guard.
evans is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Well, if evans is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Smith is staying active underneath evans, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
evans content to control rather than advance.

Despite being in the dominant position, rashad evans just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
evans tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
evans closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. evans pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Harry Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rashad evans.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but evans is working from the bottom.
evans seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.
evans throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rashad evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Harry Smith's cut.
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. This is the final round!

evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Smith is looking for a triangle but evans pushes his legs off easily.
evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
evans stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
evans trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
evans controlling from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
rashad evans has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
evans working the ground and pound from side control.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
evans controls the position.
Smith takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
evans lands some shots froms side control.
Smith on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
evans is chipping away with strikes.
Smith struggling a bit here.
evans scoring with punches from side control.

evans has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
evans scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from evans.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith checks a low kick from evans.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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.
Smith working away.
Smith wants to control but evans is keeping him busy.
evans struggling a bit here.
evans sneaks back into half guard.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but evans is defending well.
Smith trying to pass the guard but evans defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but evans is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
evans throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
evans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

evans closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith gets full guard.
evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
evans content to stall in guard here.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in evans's guard.
rashad evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Smith gets to his feet. evans looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
evans tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. evans fights it but they end up in guard.
Harry Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
evans is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to rashad 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... rashad evans!