PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans has chosen Big Punisher- Off Wit' His Head as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thai
vs
Evans

190 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thai pushes Evans up against the cage in a clinch.
Thai is trying to break the clinch but Evans is controlling him.

Thai breaks the clinch.
Evans avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thai tries to clinch up but Evans circles away and keeps his distance.
Thai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Thai, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Evans has a takedown stuffed.
Thai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Evans.
Thai lands a right hook to the body.

Evans closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Evans throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Evans lands a decent elbow from side control.
Evans working away.
Thai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Evans throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Evans wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai taking a bit of punishment here - Evans scoring with strikes.
Evans looks gassed!
Thai taking punishment in the form of punches.
Evans misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Evans is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thai struggling a bit here.
Thai is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Thai is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Evans off and has taken his back!
Evans rolls, trying to escape but Thai keeps control of the position.
Evans is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai misses with punches from the back.
Evans trying to get back to his feet but Thai is in full control for now.
Thai tries to keep control of the position but Evans is staying busy.
Evans tries to escape the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thai struggling to keep hold of the position.

Evans showing good submission defense here.
Evans manages to reverse the position and now he's in Thai's guard. Nice work there by Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt.
Thai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Evans but Evans pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thai tries to clinch up.
Thai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Evans closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Evans in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thai down.
Evans working the ground and pound from side control.
Evans is chipping away with strikes.
Evans scores with punches from side control.
Evans scoring with punches and elbows.
Thai tries to bench press Evans off him but Evans keeps the position.
Thai managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Evans.
Thai managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Evans.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Evans.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thai swats away the attempt to clinch by Evans.
Rashad Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thai shoots in but no luck this time.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Evans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thai misses with a few strikes there.
Thai tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.
Evans fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thai doesn't manage to clinch there - Evans circles away.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Evans pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Evans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Evans defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Evans drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Thai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Evans on the ground.
Thai wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Thai has wrist control.
Evans throws a big right hand that misses.
Evans wants to control from the top but Thai keeps moving.
Thai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thai looking for a sweep. Not yet Thai, not yet.
Evans postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No joy there for Evans, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Evans is looking to clinch.
Thai throws a head kick but Evans moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Evans thows a huge punch but Thai dodges it nicely.
Evans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thai with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Evans thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Evans working Thai over with strikes.
Thai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.
Evans thows a huge punch but Thai dodges it nicely.
Thai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Evans has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Evans trying to control the action but Thai is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt - Thai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
John Thai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans misses with a two punch combination.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Thai, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thai!
Thai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Evans looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thai is looking to improve his position but Evans isn't that keen on the idea.
Thai is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Evans fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Thai tries to lock up and control but Evans gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Evans dominating with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Evans.
Thai tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Thai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Evans punishing his opponent with strikes.
Evans in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Thai tries to land a front kick but Evans steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed right hand from Evans misses the target.

Evans scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Evans lands a few punches from side control.
Thai is trying to improve his position.
Evans passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Thai!
Evans has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thai's face.
Evans raining down shots from the mount!
Evans scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Evans landing punches.

Evans looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans punishing his opponent with strikes.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Evans throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Evans.
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
Thai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Evans is landing with some decent strikes but Thai is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Thai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Evans landing strikes from the mount and Thai is in trouble!
Evans unloading with bombs!
Evans lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Evans lands with some strikes.
Thai tries to hold on but Evans pushes him away.
Evans lands a big elbow.
Evans with good strikes from the mount here!
Evans lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thai hang on?
Evans raining down shots from the mount!
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
Evans working Thai over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans with shots to the head and body - Thai looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rashad Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thai tries to lock up and control but Evans gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Evans scoring with strikes but Thai is staying in there.
Thai trying desperately to get to his feet.
Thai is bucking up trying to escape but Evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Evans scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Evans pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Evans lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thai taking shots to the head.
Evans putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Evans landing strikes, looking to finish!
Evans lands a big shot there that rocks Thai but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Evans punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thai working to try and regain half guard.
Evans lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thai is in a horrible position here. Evans smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Thai is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
A nice elbow there by Evans.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Evans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

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