PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Balboa
vs
Evans

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
242 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Balboa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Balboa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Evans.
Evans misses with a left hand

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Evans tries to circle away but Balboa has him pinned against the cage.
Evans has had enough of the clinch but Balboa keeps him there for the moment.
Evans has had enough of the clinch but Balboa keeps him there for the moment.
Balboa controlling the action here for a moment.

Evans breaks from the clinch.
A good leg kick by Evans.

Balboa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Evans has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Evans is trying to push Balboa away but Balboa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Balboa has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Evans keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balboa's efforts to push away.
Evans working hard to break the clinch.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling him.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Balboa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Evans avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Evans is trying to force a seperation but Balboa has the dominant position.
Balboa wants a takedown but no success here.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling the position.
Balboa wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Balboa walks away with a smile on his face. Evans gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Evans misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balboa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Balboa darts in and clinches Evans up against the cage.
Balboa has Evans pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Evans manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Evans tries to break free but Balboa pushes him back against the cage.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rashad Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa closes the distance and clinches up with Evans, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes Evans against the cage but Evans circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Evans swings for the body but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good work by Evans as he checks the leg kick.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Evans fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balboa dives in and grabs Evans's left leg, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes down on Balboa's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Evans misses with a wild combination.
Evans blocks a head kick by Balboa.
Evans fails in his attempt to clinch.
Evans tries to clinch up but Balboa circles away and keeps his distance.
Balboa fails to land the takedown.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans misses with a low kick as Balboa jumps back.
Evans tries to score with a low kick but Balboa moves his leg out of the way.
Evans fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balboa manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Balboa.
Balboa digs a good hook to Evans's body.
Evans looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
Balboa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balboa's waist but Balboa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Evans off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown but Balboa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Balboa clinches with his opponent.
Evans is trying to break free.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling the position.
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 Rocky Balboa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Balboa shoots in for a double leg but Evans sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Balboa fails to land the takedown.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Evans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa misses with a low kick as Evans jumps back.
Balboa avoids the head kick by Evans.
Balboa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Evans misses its intended target.
Balboa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rocky Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch combination from Evans misses.
Evans looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Balboa shoots in looking for a takedown but Evans manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balboa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Evans throws a solid leg kick but Balboa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Evans.
Balboa blocks the body kick.
Evans throws a big shot that misses.
Evans wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Evans. Balboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balboa takes a swing at Evans's ribcage but misses.
Balboa fails with the takedown.
Evans throws a head kick that misses.
Evans will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Evans thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Balboa rather than just go for the knockout.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Evans throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Evans throws a right hand that Balboa ducks under and follows up with a left that Balboa also avoids with ease.
Balboa tries to clinch there but Evans circles away.
Balboa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Evans misses with a body shot.
Balboa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Evans is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balboa manages to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
Evans throws a jab but it's blocked by Balboa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans is looking to clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Evans.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Balboa shows good takedown defense.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt.
Balboa misses with a low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Evans as Balboa shoots in.
Evans lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Evans misses the shot to the body.
Balboa moves away from the strike by Evans.
Evans throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balboa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Balboa has Evans up against the cage in a clinch.

Balboa pulls Evans into guard.
Balboa trying to keep a closed guard but Evans is proving a slippery customer.
Balboa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa throws some wild stikes that Evans manages to avoid easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Balboa checks a leg kick.
Evans fails to land the takedown.
Evans misses with an attempted mid kick.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Evans misses with a wild combination.
Balboa dives in and grabs Evans's left leg, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes down on Balboa's head and hops out.
Evans avoids a kick to the body.

Balboa instigates a clinch.

Balboa successfully pulls guard.
Balboa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balboa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Balboa has a closed guard, preventing Evans from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is adopting a defensive guard.

Evans got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balboa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Evans has managed to get both his arms back between Balboa's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Balboa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evans's guard.
Balboa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa stays in close to Evans's body and controls the position.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.

Balboa gets to his feet - Evans follows without any prompting.
Balboa throws a push kick but Evans slaps the foot to one side.

Balboa rushes Evans and presses him up against the cage.
Balboa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Evans's efforts to push away.

Balboa pulls guard effortlessly.
Evans in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balboa is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is trying to keep Evans in close.

Balboa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Balboa has wrist control.
Balboa looking for a sweep. Not yet Balboa, not yet.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Balboa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rashad Evans.
Balboa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Evans.
Balboa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Evans's waist but Evans gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balboa off to one side.
Evans misses with a double jab.
Evans lands a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans looks for a takedown but Balboa sprawls well.
Balboa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Evans circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balboa 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!