PBP Commentary

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

Witson
vs
Evens

185 cm
19
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johny Witson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rashad Evens!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evens stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Evens. No joy for Witson on that attempt.
Witson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Witson has closed the distance and engaged Evens in a clinch.

Witson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Witson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Witson won't allow Evens to sweep him here.

Evens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Evens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Witson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Witson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Evens should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Witson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Witson decides to stand back up. Witson steps back and let's Evens get back to his feet.
Witson tries to clinch up.
Witson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Evens looks winded!
Witson lands a head kick!
Witson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Evens blocks a head kick by Witson.
Witson tries to clinch up.
Witson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Evens as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Witson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Witson clinches up with Evens and pushes him back against the cage.

Witson pulls guard successfully.
Evens controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witson pulls Evens in close to his closed guard and prevents Evens from doing any damage or advancing position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Evens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Evens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Witson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Evens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Witson forces Evens back against the cage and clinches.
Witson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Evens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Witson has Evens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Evens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Evens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Witson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Witson stuffs the takedown attempt from Evens. Evens gets slowly back to his feet.

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

Witson manages to break the clinch.
Witson shoots in looking for a takedown but Evens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Witson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Witson is defended easily by Evens.
Evens fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Witson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Witson shoots in and drives through. Evens sprawls well.
Evens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evens connects with a right hand. Witson shakes it off.
Witson shoots in for a takedown but Evens shows good takedown defense.
No joy there for Evens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Evens drives through and clinches with Witson against the cage.
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!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Witson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Evens lands a two punch combo.
Witson shoots in for a takedown but Evens shows good takedown defense.
Evens leaves Witson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Johny Witson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Witson stuffs the takedown.
Evens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Witson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Witson shoots in looking for a takedown. Evens tries to sprawl out of it but Witson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Evens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Witson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Witson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Evens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Witson somewhat.
Witson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Witson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Witson throws a head kick that misses
and Evens counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Evens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Evens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Witson shoots for a takedown but Evens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Witson. No joy for Evens on that attempt.

Witson darts in and clinches Evens up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Witson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Witson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Witson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Evens is fending him off so far but Witson persists. Nope, Evens circles away and we're back to standing.

Witson closes the distance and clinches.
Witson wants to break free but Evens has control.

Witson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Witson. No joy for Evens on that attempt.
Witson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Evens under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Witson tries to clinch up but Evens circles away and keeps his distance.
Evens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Witson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witson throws a head kick that Evens semi-blocks.
Witson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Evens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Witson is looking to wear down Evens with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Evens closes the distance and clinches up with Witson, looking for a takedown. Evens pushes Witson against the cage but Witson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Evens or perhaps it was just good defense by Witson which made him look bad.
Witson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Witson is looking to clinch but Evens is avoiding it.
Witson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johny Witson is winning the standup battle so far.
Evens fails with the takedown

and Witson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Witson.
Evens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Evens is trying to pull guard but Witson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Witson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Witson doesn't manage to clinch there - Evens circles away.
Witson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Evens shoots in looking for a takedown but Witson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Witson.
Evens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Witson avoids it really well and circles away.
Witson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Evens's waist but Evens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Witson off to one side.
Johny Witson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Witson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Witson moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Witson dominated that second round.
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!

Witson lands a body shot.
Evens tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Witson is able to avoid easily.
Evens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Witson.
Witson throws a head kick that misses.
Witson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Witson throws a lazy head kick
and Evens counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Witson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Witson has Evens up against the cage in a clinch.
Witson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Evens has him pressed against the cage.
Evens has Witson pressed against the cage, preventing Witson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Witson prevents the takedown attempt.
Witson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Evens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Witson is trying to break the clinch but Evens has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Evens tries to pull guard but Witson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Witson trying to stall but Evens improves his position.
Witson takes a knee right on the jaw!

Witson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evens slaps away a takedown attempt from Witson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Witson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evens is looking to clinch but Witson is avoiding it.
Evens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Witson's guard.
Evens wants to control from the top but Witson keeps moving.
Witson has Evens pulled in close to control his posture.
Johny Witson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rashad Evens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Witson fails with a takedown attempt.
Witson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witson leaves Evens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evens shoots in looking for a takedown. Witson tries to sprawl out of it but Evens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Witson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Witson moves into range and clinches up with Evens.

Witson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Witson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Evens, pushing him back against the cage.
Witson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Witson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Evens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Evens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Witson rushes Evens and presses him up against the cage.
Witson lands an elbow that stopped Evens in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Witson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rashad Evens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evens tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Witson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Witson 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Witson!