PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Dempsey Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Evans
vs
Dempsey Jr

183 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Dempsey Jr!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dempsey Jr misses with a takedown

and Evans counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Evans.
Dempsey Jr can't break the clinch.
Dempsey Jr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Evans just stands there and leans against the cage.
Evans gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dempsey Jr.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Dempsey Jr.

Evans gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dempsey Jr regains guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Dempsey Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Evans stays in close to Dempsey Jr's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans is working Dempsey Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Evans trying to control but Dempsey Jr is working from the bottom.
Dempsey Jr throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey Jr keeping full guard, as Evans tries to pass.

Evans gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Evans stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Evans wants it to stay on the feet.

Evans clinches up with Dempsey Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Dempsey Jr is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Evans gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dempsey Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Evans is pressed up against the cage. Dempsey Jr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Evans down to the mat. Evans avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck for Evans with that takedown attempt.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Evans drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Dempsey Jr is retaining full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Evans pushes down on Dempsey Jr's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dempsey Jr looks gassed!
Dempsey Jr is staying active underneath Evans, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Evans is trying to work for a kimura but Dempsey Jr is defending well.
Evans throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
It looks like Evans is going to stand back up.
Dempsey Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Evans is working away from the top position though.
Evans lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Evans scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dempsey Jr is looking for a sweep. Evans is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dempsey Jr wants to get back to his feet.
Evans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Evans is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Evans working Dempsey Jr over with strikes.
Evans prevents Dempsey Jr from standing back up.
Dempsey Jr has hold of Evans's hands but Evans slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans wants to work for an arm triangle but Dempsey Jr is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dempsey Jr wants to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Evans is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dempsey Jr is trying to stand up here but Evans is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dempsey Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Evans seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Evans decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Phil Dempsey Jr has been cut.
Dempsey Jr gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Evans counters with a takedown into side control.
Evans wants to control but Dempsey Jr is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Dempsey Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Evans decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Evans pushes Dempsey Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
Evans lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Evans obliges.

Evans lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Evans escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Rashad Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dempsey Jr is breathing heavily.

Evans shoots in and bounces Dempsey Jr off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dempsey Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Evans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Evans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Evans gets to his feet - Dempsey Jr follows without any prompting.

Evans shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Evans showed some decent athleticism there.
Dempsey Jr wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is nestled in close to Dempsey Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Evans lands a nice short elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Evans prevents Dempsey Jr from standing back up.
Evans controlling the action here.
Evans is keen to just control but Dempsey Jr is a slippery customer.

Evans stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Evans shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Evans landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dempsey Jr is keeping the position for now.
Dempsey Jr is looking to stand up but Evans isn't so interested in that idea.
Dempsey Jr being controlled here, momentarily.
Evans preventing the sweep.
Evans landing with the ground and pound.
Dempsey Jr tries to strike from the bottom.
Evans might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to control but Dempsey Jr is working from the bottom.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dempsey Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Dempsey Jr has an active guard here but Evans has managed to pass into half guard.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans is taking a breather. Dempsey Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Evans is trying to work for a kimura but Dempsey Jr is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phil Dempsey Jr's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Evans shoots in and drives through. Dempsey Jr sprawls well.

Dempsey Jr dives in and scores a takedown into Evans's guard.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Dempsey Jr from controlling successfully.
Evans looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dempsey Jr is one step ahead there.
Dempsey Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Evans is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans has an active guard here but Dempsey Jr has managed to pass into half guard.

Dempsey Jr is looking for a kimura but Evans is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dempsey Jr to get the leverage.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dempsey Jr can do to turn this around?

Dempsey Jr is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Evans to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Evans bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dempsey Jr's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to control but Dempsey Jr is working from the bottom.
Evans prevents Dempsey Jr from getting back to his feet.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dempsey Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dempsey Jr wants to stand but Evans is controlling the position.

Dempsey Jr working for a triangle but Evans defends it easily.

Evans gets to his feet. Dempsey Jr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dempsey Jr's half guard.

Dempsey Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Evans.
Evans seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dempsey Jr trying to control but Evans postures up.
Evans prevents Dempsey Jr from standing back up.
Evans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dempsey Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Dempsey Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey Jr is looking to escape.
Rashad Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans drops an elbow to the side of Dempsey Jr's head.
Evans looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Evans decides to return to a standing position.
Phil Dempsey Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Evans closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dempsey Jr did well to prevent Evans getting side control.
Evans prevents Dempsey Jr from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Evans is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Phil Dempsey Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rashad Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dempsey Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Evans has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Evans!
Rashad Evans seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.