PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evander Holyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans comes to the cage accompanied by j. Holyfield has chosen Can't Touch This as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Rashad Evans has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rashad Evans seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Evans
vs
Holyfield

180 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

183 cm
26
205 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans drives through with a takedown into Holyfield's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Evans postures up in Holyfield's guard and throws a big left but Holyfield blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holyfield wants to get back to his feet but Evans is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Holyfield looking to control.
Holyfield is pulling down on Evans's head. It's preventing any offense from Evans, at least for the moment.

Evander Holyfield has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holyfield sprawls well. Holyfield wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Evans gets slowly back to his feet.
Holyfield looks to land a left hand but Evans moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holyfield sprawls well. Holyfield wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Evans gets slowly back to his feet.

Holyfield forces Evans back against the cage and clinches.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Holyfield has double underhooks.
Evans tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Holyfield escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Holyfield tries to work over Evans's front leg with a kick but Evans checks it.
Evans wants to slow Holyfield down by chopping away at his legs.
Holyfield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holyfield slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Holyfield fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Holyfield throws a shot to the body.
Holyfield lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield leaves Evans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evans dives in and grabs Holyfield's left leg, looking for a takedown. Holyfield pushes down on Evans's head and hops out.
Evans on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice shot lands for Holyfield.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holyfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Evans manages to avoid it.
Evans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holyfield is fending him off so far but Evans persists. Nope, Holyfield circles away and we're back to standing.
Evans lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Holyfield throws a jab but it's blocked by Evans.
Holyfield tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Evans is able to avoid easily.
Holyfield lands a really nice looking cross but Evans seems unphased.
Holyfield tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Evans avoids the body shot from Holyfield.
Holyfield connects with a body shot that sends Evans's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield throws a quick inside leg kick.
Holyfield misses with the combination.
Holyfield misses with a left hand
and Evans counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Holyfield tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Holyfield scoring well with a low kick there.
Holyfield scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Evans doesn't seem bothered though.
Holyfield lands a jab.
Holyfield moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Holyfield closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Evans to the mat! Evans manages to get full guard.
Evans throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holyfield working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holyfield is looking to work some ground and pound but Evans has wrist control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Holyfield is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Evans is landing with some decent strikes but Holyfield is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

It looks like Evander Holyfield has been cut.

Evans with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Holyfield has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Holyfield wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Evans.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holyfield wants to try and get back to his feet.
Holyfield slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evander Holyfield dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Evander Holyfield's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Evans works over Holyfield's head and body with a nice combination.
Evans tries to clinch up.

Evans shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Evans showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Holyfield is trying to maintain the position but Evans is very close to passing his half guard.
Evans working Holyfield over with strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Holyfield is trying to stand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in half guard, Evans seems content to control.
Evans wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holyfield keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Evans is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holyfield has managed to free his arm - good work.
Holyfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Evans thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Evans throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Holyfield pushes Evans off looking to stand but Evans dives back in and keeps control.
Still in half guard, Evans seems content to control.
Evans seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Holyfield for as long as he can get away with.
Evans is stalling here. Holyfield is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Evans seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Holyfield has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans can't do much from the bottom here.
Evans takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Holyfield tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Evans is looking for a sweep.
Holyfield lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Evans down.

Holyfield wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Evans, who protects the arm well.
Evans is looking for a sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holyfield working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Evans tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holyfield lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans manages to work his way to half guard, despite Holyfield's best efforts.
Evans trying to hold on to Holyfield's head to control him but Holyfield postures up.
Holyfield missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Holyfield sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Evans defending well though.
Evans looks like he's trying to stand up.
Evans is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holyfield's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holyfield's back!
Holyfield is trying to break free.
Rashad Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Evans looking to break Holyfield's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Holyfield remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Evans will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Evans is hanging on to Holyfield's back as he tries to escape.

Holyfield defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Evans patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Holyfield trying to control the hands but Evans breaks the grip.
Evans misses with an elbow to the head.
Holyfield is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Evans.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Even with his hooks in, Evans manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Evans. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Holyfield is looking for a way out.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holyfield turns into Evans and is now in his guard.
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 Evander Holyfield's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Holyfield stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Holyfield wants it to stay on the feet.
Holyfield tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Holyfield takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That has opened up Evander Holyfield's cut even more.
Holyfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Evans moves away.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown but Holyfield manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holyfield lands with an uppercut that bounces Evans off the cage and back into range.
Nice defenses there by Holyfield.
Holyfield misses with a looping right.
Evans misses with a double jab.
Holyfield displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holyfield dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Holyfield throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Holyfield connects with a body shot that sends Evans's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holyfield is looking to chop away at Evans's legs.
Evans looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Evander Holyfield seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Evans pushes Holyfield up against the cage in a clinch.

Holyfield manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Evans as Holyfield shoots in.
Holyfield fails with a takedown attempt.
Evans shoots in for a double leg but Holyfield sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Evans swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Evans throws a low kick but it's checked well by Holyfield.
Evans tries to land a front kick but Holyfield steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Evans.

Evans shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Evans showed some decent athleticism there.
Holyfield wants to control but Evans is keeping busy.
Holyfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holyfield gets full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holyfield controls Evans momentarily but Evans frees himself.
Holyfield keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield wants to get back to his feet but Evans is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Holyfield is retaining full guard.
Evans trying to control but Holyfield is working from the bottom.
Holyfield not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Rashad Evans wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Evans throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holyfield as he jumps to the side.

Evans drives through with a takedown into Holyfield's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Holyfield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield looking for a sweep. Not yet Holyfield, not yet.

Holyfield has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Evans off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Holyfield will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holyfield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Evans looks for a takedown but Holyfield sprawls well.
Evans fails to land the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holyfield catches Evans with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rashad Evans.
I think Evans has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rashad Evans!
After winning the bout, Rashad Evans thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.