PBP Commentary

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

Evans
vs
Band

180 cm
27
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

184 cm
32
205 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ister Band!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Band's shoulder, as Band tries to avoid the shot.
Band fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Band fails with the takedown
and Evans counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Evans looks to score with a jab to the body but Band is just out of range.
Evans is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Band.
Band has a takedown stuffed.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ister Band.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Evans throwing strikes here but Band is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Evans scoring with strikes but Band is staying in there.
Evans throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Band is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Evans.
Evans landing strikes from the mount.
Band is trying desperately to improve position.
Evans scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Band?
Band tries to reverse the position but Evans maintains control.
Band blocking the ground and pound.
Evans lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Band is wriggling around trying to escape.
Evans breaks from Band's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Band is looking to get to half guard.
Evans cracks Band with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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 Band's face.
Evans landing punches.
Band is trying to escape the mount.
Band is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Band is bucking up trying to escape but Evans cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Evans lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Band hang on?
Evans scoring with strikes but Band is staying in there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evans unloading with bombs!
Band slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Band is looking to escape.
The fighters are battling for position here. Band manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Band on the ground.
Evans landing some decent shots from guard.

Band looking for a guillotine here but Evans defends easily.
Evans works over Band with some ground and pound from guard.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Band swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans trying to control but Band is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking to sit in guard and control but Band gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Band has gone for a leg lock! Evans slips out almost immediately though and dives into Band's guard.
Band manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Evans manages to get himself to full guard.
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!
Band wants to get up but he can't break Evans's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Band landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Band in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Band preventing the sweep.
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.

Evans tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Band was well out of range. Poor timing from Evans.
Band with a lazy takedown attempt
and Evans counters with a left and a right that stings Band.
Band with a lazy takedown attempt
and Evans counters with a right hand to the body.
Evans throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Band counters with a nice double leg into side control. Evans won't be happy with that.
Evans is looking for a sweep.

Band is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Evans knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Band looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Band tries to score with some ground and pound. Evans controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Band swings around for an armbar but Evans sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Band's guard.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Band is keeping the position.
Evans cracks Band with a solid left hand.
Evans stands up over Band, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Evans has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Band to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Evans is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Band pulls down on the head and he's put Evans to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ister Band!