PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saulnier Raymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans has chosen BoNKerS as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Rashad Evans enters the cage!

Raymond
vs
Evans

178 cm
20
158 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Saulnier Raymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Raymond as he jumps to the side.
Evans tries to clinch but Raymond moves out of range.
Evans keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raymond.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Evans closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Raymond to the mat! Raymond manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raymond is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Evans wants to stand but Raymond has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Raymond looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Evans wants to stand but Raymond has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raymond is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raymond working for a choke but Evans is defending well.
Evans trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Evans breaks Raymond's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Evans gets to his feet - Raymond follows without any prompting.
Raymond is breathing heavily.
Raymond gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Evans counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Evans.
Evans stays in close to Raymond's body and controls the position.

Evans stands and steps away. Raymond gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raymond fails to land with a series of punches.
Raymond lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A big right from Raymond misses.

Evans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Evans successfully pulls guard.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.
Evans keeping full guard, as Raymond tries to pass.
Evans pulls Raymond in close to prevent any damage.
Evans wants to stand and escape but Raymond is having none of it.
Evans can't keep his opponent in guard - Raymond advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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!
Raymond stops Evans from getting back to his feet.

Raymond looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to kick Raymond off but Raymond keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Raymond looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Evans tries to get to full guard but Raymond has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Raymond in particular looking to stall.
Raymond uses his free foot to push down on Evans's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Evans.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Raymond looking to control but Evans is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Evans manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Evans is trying is best to control the position here.

Evans actively working from the bottom here.
Raymond is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Evans really wants to buck Raymond off and get back to his feet.
Evans sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Raymond is looking for a kimura here.
Evans tries to get to full guard but Raymond has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raymond tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Evans swivels and escapes.

Evans fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raymond, pushing him back against the cage.

Evans pulls guard.
Raymond trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Raymond stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Evans wriggles free and stands up.
Saulnier Raymond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Raymond's waist but Raymond gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Evans off to one side.

Evans scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Raymond manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Evans perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raymond is pressing down on Evans's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Raymond is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Evans has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Raymond is proving hard to escape from.
Raymond keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans trying to stand up but can't free himself from Raymond's guard.
Evans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raymond. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Raymond working for submissions but it's allowed Evans to get to half guard.
Rashad Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raymond is staying active underneath Evans, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raymond works his way to full guard. Good work.
Evans has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Raymond is proving hard to escape from.
Evans passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Raymond is trying to get back to half guard.
Raymond manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans seems to be looking for submissions.
Evans is looking to take a break and control but Raymond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Evans is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Evans prevents Raymond from improving his position.
Evans perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Evans wants to control but Raymond is keeping him busy.
Evans tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raymond knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Raymond actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evans tries to clinch but Raymond is having none of it.

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.
Evans avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Raymond as Evans shoots in.
Saulnier Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Evans.
Nice sprawl there from Raymond as Evans shoots in.
Evans shoots in for a double leg but Raymond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raymond works the jab nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Raymond scores with a four punch combination!
Saulnier Raymond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raymond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Evans drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Raymond is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Evans stands up.
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. This is the final round!

Evans fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Raymond drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Evans struggling a bit here.
Evans is trying to get back to half guard.

Raymond goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Evans rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Raymond's guard! Nice work there by Evans!
Evans is looking to stand up but Raymond won't let him.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Raymond looking for a guillotine here but Evans defends easily.
Evans has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Raymond is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raymond had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Evans is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Raymond Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Evans's back instead.
Evans tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Evans is working to get back to half guard.
Raymond moves to the back.
Raymond struggling to land strikes to the head as Evans covers up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is trying to get back to his feet but Raymond has full control of the position and if anything, Evans has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Raymond is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Evans has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Raymond trying to control.
Raymond is trying to stick to Evans's back but Evans is turning into Raymond. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Raymond's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Evans.

Raymond has his foot on Evans's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Evans works his way back into a safe position though.
Evans wants to control from the top but Raymond keeps moving.

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

Raymond looking for a guillotine here but Evans defends easily.
Evans lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raymond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Raymond throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Evans trying to control but Raymond is working from the bottom.

Raymond is looking for a triangle but Evans pushes his legs off easily.

Raymond keeping busy on the bottom but Evans has passed one foot through into half guard.
Evans wants to take a breather but Raymond is having none of it.

Raymond looking for submissions off his back.
Raymond wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Evans's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Evans's back!

Evans showing good submission defense here.

Raymond looking for the choke from the back.
Evans has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Raymond working for a choke but Evans is defending well.

Evans is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Raymond off. It looks like it's working - Raymond slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Evans displaying calm under pressure there.
Saulnier Raymond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Raymond looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saulnier Raymond showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Evans has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

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