PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mohammad Lowal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lowal's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, KING KING KING. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lowal
vs
Evans

180 cm
33
217 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

180 cm
27
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohammad Lowal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans misses the jab.
Lowal takes a swing at Evans's ribcage but misses.
Evans looks to land a right hand but Lowal moved out of range.
Lowal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Evans.
Lowal scores with a hook to the body. Evans takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown but Lowal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Lowal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lowal pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lowal controlling the position easily from mount.
Lowal thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Evans is working to get back to half guard.
Lowal wants to control the pace but Evans is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lowal goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Evans turns into him and now he's in Lowal's guard.
Lowal keeping full guard, as Evans tries to pass.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Lowal has wrist control.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Lowal blocks nicely.
Evans stops Lowal from standing up.
Lowal lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Evans!
Evans really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Lowal has hold of Evans's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Evans manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Lowal tries to control but Evans wriggling away.
Lowal throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lowal goes for an armbar but Evans turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Evans.
Lowal wants to sweep but no luck.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Lowal has wrist control.
Lowal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from Lowal.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Lowal is retaining full guard.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lowal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Evans chips away with some ground and pound.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lowal is keeping the position for now.
Evans postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Evans's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Evans postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lowal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Evans is looking to advance position but Lowal has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Evans is trying desperately to improve position.
Lowal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Lowal throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans is squirming around, avoiding Lowal's attempts to control the action.

Lowal working for a submission but Evans is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Evans connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Evans keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lowal works the jab nicely.
Evans moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lowal jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
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 throws a right hand that misses

and Lowal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Evans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Lowal from controlling successfully.
Lowal preventing the sweep.
Lowal with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowal working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lowal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Evans is keeping the position for now.
Evans has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Lowal has passed into side control.
Evans is trying to get back to half guard.

Lowal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lowal tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lowal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Evans stops Lowal from passing to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Evans can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lowal swings around for an armbar but Evans sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lowal's guard.
Lowal pulls Evans in close to his closed guard and prevents Evans from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowal will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Evans lands a couple of digs.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lowal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans distracts Lowal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans cracks Lowal with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lowal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans won't allow Lowal to sweep him here.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses.
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 throws a strike but Lowal rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Evans is trying to keep Lowal in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lowal drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Evans dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mohammad Lowal will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lowal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Evans.
Lowal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Lowal looking to score a takedown here. Evans is defending well but Lowal drives through and ends up in Evans's guard.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Lowal from controlling successfully.
Lowal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mohammad Lowal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans working a defensive guard here.
Lowal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lowal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Evans is keeping the position for now.
Evans 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.
Lowal looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowal controls Evans momentarily but Evans frees himself.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lowal is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.
Evans is looking to advance position but Lowal has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Lowal working for a guillotine from mount but Evans is in no mood to give up.
Mohammad Lowal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Evans working to try and regain half guard.
Evans tries to lock up and control but Lowal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowal controlling his opponent.
Rashad Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evans regains half guard.
Lowal trying to control the action but Evans is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lowal is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Evans!
Evans is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lowal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Evans is looking to escape.
Lowal thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans is squirming around, avoiding Lowal's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammad Lowal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lowal 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohammad Lowal!
A very excited looking Mohammad Lowal rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.