PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poglavica Muda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Evans
vs
Muda

170 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Poglavica Muda!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Muda tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Evans is trying hard to land a takedown here. Muda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Poglavica Muda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans tries to clinch up but Muda circles away and keeps his distance.
Evans misses with an uppercut. Muda saw that one coming.

Muda gets caught napping as Evans dives in and scores a takedown. Muda manages to retain guard.
Evans slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Muda is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Muda can do anything to dispel that myth.
Muda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Evans.
Evans controlling from the top position.
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.
Muda controlling Evans's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rashad Evans just wasn't active enough.

Evans closes the distance and pushes Muda back into the cage.
Evans could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Muda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Evans wants a takedown but no success here.
Muda tries to work over Evans's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Evans is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Muda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muda misses with an elbow over the top.

Muda breaks the clinch.

Evans has Muda up against the cage in a clinch.
Muda misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans looking for a takedown.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Muda pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Evans has closed the distance and engaged Muda in a clinch.
Evans is trying to drag Muda to the mat but Muda just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Muda avoids a wild elbow strike from Evans.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Muda.
Evans changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Muda fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Muda throws a wild body kick that Evans sees coming a mile off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Muda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Evans tries for a takedown but Muda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Muda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Muda misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Muda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Evans closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Evans lands in his opponent's guard.
Evans has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Muda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Evans trying to move into half guard but instead Muda has managed to sweep!
Muda prevents Evans from getting back to his feet.
Muda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Evans's head.
Muda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Muda trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Evans knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Muda on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muda is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Evans is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Muda is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Evans looking for a sweep. Not yet Evans, not yet.
Muda throwing strikes from guard but Evans blocks nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans is looking to stand up but Muda isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Muda from controlling successfully.
Muda passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rashad Evans will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans throws a shot from downtown. Muda moves away and avoids it.
Muda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Muda moves into range and clinches up with Evans.

Muda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Muda as Evans shoots in.

Muda rushes Evans and presses him up against the cage.

Muda breaks from the clinch.
Muda tries to clinch but Evans moves out of range.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Muda misses with a hook.

Muda tries to sprawl but Evans drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Muda works his way to full guard. Good work.
Muda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muda managing to control the position.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Muda trying to keep a closed guard but Evans is proving a slippery customer.
Evans might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Evans slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Muda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Evans wants to control from the top but Muda keeps moving.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Muda is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Muda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Muda 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.
Evans uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muda.
Muda tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.
Evans tries for a takedown but Muda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Muda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Muda moves in looking to clinch but Evans pushes him off.
Evans shoots in but Muda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Evans tries to keep at a distance but Muda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Evans drops down looking for an ankle pick but Muda pulls his leg out and moves away.
Evans displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Muda throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans checks the leg kick nicely there.
Muda throws a looping overhand right but Evans ducks down to avoid it.
Evans wants to clinch up but Muda keeps it at a distance.
Evans defending well as Muda loads up on a big left hand.
Muda tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.
Muda throws a looping overhand right but Evans ducks down to avoid it.
Muda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Evans.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Muda misses with a straight right.
Horrible takedown by Evans or perhaps it was just good defense by Muda which made him look bad.

Muda clinches up against the cage.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Muda avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Evans blocks an uppercut.

Muda breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Muda has Evans up against the cage in a clinch.
Evans is working for takedown but Muda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Evans changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Muda fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Muda closes the distance and clinches.
Muda lands an elbow that stopped Evans in his tracks for a moment.
Muda stops a takedown attempt from Evans.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A frustrated look appears on Evans's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Evans has Muda pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Muda manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Evans has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Muda regains guard immediately.
Muda has control of Evans's left arm, preventing Evans from doing any damage.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Poglavica Muda 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!

Muda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Evans shoots in and drives through. Muda sprawls well.
Muda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Evans looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Evans tries to keep at a distance but Muda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Muda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Evans has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Muda is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Evans tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Muda.

Muda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muda tries to clinch there but Evans circles away.
Evans dodges the punch combination from Muda.
Muda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Evans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rashad Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Evans tries for a takedown but Muda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muda tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Muda closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Muda stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Evans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Evans is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Muda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Evans wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Muda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Muda rushes Evans and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Evans is looking for a takedown.

Muda manages to break the clinch.

Muda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Muda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Poglavica Muda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Evans moves out of range of the leg kick from Muda.
Muda tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans closes this distance looking for a takedown but Muda circles away.
Evans fails with the takedown.
Muda tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.

Muda clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muda throws a punch but it's blocked by Evans.
Muda prevents a takedown attempt there.

Muda breaks from the clinch.
Evans doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Muda moves into the clinch.

Muda breaks from the clinch.
Muda scores with the left hand. Evans knows he should have avoided that one.
Muda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Muda tries to clinch up but Evans circles away and keeps his distance.
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Muda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Evans will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Muda keeps the fight on the outside.
Muda is looking to clinch.
Muda moves in looking to clinch but Evans pushes him off.
Muda wants to clinch up but Evans keeps it at a distance.
Muda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Muda doesn't manage to clinch there - Evans circles away.
Evans displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Muda throws out the jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Evans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Poglavica Muda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Muda gets underhooks to prevent Evans's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Muda pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck for Evans with that takedown attempt.
Evans swats away the attempt to clinch by Muda.
Muda fails to land with a series of punches.
Muda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab from Evans misses.
Muda lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Evans backs up against the cage.

Muda has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Muda has a couple of punches blocked by Evans.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Muda manages to break the clinch.
Muda displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Poglavica Muda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Muda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Evans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Muda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Evans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Poglavica Muda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Muda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Poglavica Muda!