PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hugo Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Evans
vs
Gracie

200 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Evans avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Evans drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Evans will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Evans controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to control Evans's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
It looks like Evans is going to stand back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Evans lands a nice short elbow.
Evans really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Evans not doing much here.
Gracie moves into full guard.

Evans got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Evans has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Evans tries to pass.
Evans trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Rashad Evans wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie looks gassed!
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!
Evans is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Evans content to control rather than advance.

Evans decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Evans to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Evans gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Evans is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Evans controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Evans not doing much here.
Evans working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Evans is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Evans tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Evans counters with a two punch combo.
Evans fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Evans, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Evans fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gracie to the ground. Evans is now in Gracie's guard.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Evans knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie 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 lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Evans works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Evans escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans takes a little break here. Gracie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Evans off and has taken his back!
Evans trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.

Evans showing good submission defense here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Evans just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Evans showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans can't escape the position.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Evans is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
Evans is trying to break free.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Evans is controlling his hands well.
Evans is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Evans is controlling his hands well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Evans kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Gracie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Gracie 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

Gracie is persistently looking for the submission but Evans is defending it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
I really don't envy Evans right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie tries for a takedown but Evans circles away easily
and Evans counters with a three punch combo that has Gracie backing up. Gracie nods at Evans to acknowledge the strikes.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Evans.
Evans doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie dives in and grabs Evans's left leg, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Evans displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Gracie.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Evans to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Evans gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Evans would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Rashad Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Evans controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gracie controls his leg.

Evans is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Evans to get the leverage.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Evans seems content to control.
Evans working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Evans is tapping! Great win for Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Hugo Gracie!