PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stanley Messie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thor Evanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Messie
vs
Evanson

187 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
EVOLUTION Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Stanley Messie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thor Evanson!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evanson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Messie shoots for a takedown but Evanson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Messie fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Messie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Evanson but Evanson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Messie backs off Evanson throws a huge counter combo but Messie manages to avoid it all.
Evanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Messie. Messie gets slowly back to his feet.
As Messie backs off Evanson throws a huge counter combo but Messie manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stanley Messie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messie swings for the body but Evanson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Messie.
Evanson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Messie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Evanson, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messie is trying to pull guard but Evanson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Messie tries to land knees in the clinch but Evanson avoids the damage to the body.

Messie has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Evanson uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messie pulls Evanson in close to prevent any damage.

Evanson stands up and waves to Messie to follow him.
Evanson has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Messie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Messie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Evanson sprawls well. Evanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Messie gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messie looks for a takedown but Evanson sprawls well.
Crunch! Messie slams his shin into Evanson's torso.
Messie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Evanson pinned against the cage. Evanson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Evanson looks to land a combination but Messie avoids it well.

Messie rushes Evanson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messie works on Evanson's body with a couple of short punches.
Evanson stops a takedown attempt from Messie.
Evanson looking for a takedown.
Evanson is trying to break the clinch but Messie is controlling him.
Messie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Evansons head.
Evanson has Messie pressed against the cage, preventing Messie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Messie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Evanson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Evanson dodges an elbow strike from Messie.
Messie has Evanson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Evanson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Messie wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Messie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Evanson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Evanson has had enough of the clinch but Messie keeps him there for the moment.
Messie wants to break free but Evanson has control.
Messie wants to get back to striking at distance but Evanson won't allow it.
Messie is trying to break the clinch but Evanson is controlling him.
Evanson keeps control of Messie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Evanson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Evanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Evanson fails to land the takedown.
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 Stanley Messie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Messie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messie seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Messie is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stanley Messie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Messie darts in and clinches Evanson up against the cage.

Messie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Evanson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Messie, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Messie instigates a clinch.
Messie is trying to break the clinch but Evanson has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Messie.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messie wants a takedown but no success here.
Messie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Messie jumps guard but Evanson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Messie will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Evanson up against the cage.
Messie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stanley Messie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messie slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Messie can't get the takedown.
Evanson tries to break the clinch but Messie is controlling the position.
Evanson prevents the takedown attempt.
Messie leaning his opponent against the cage.

Messie jumps guard.
Messie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Messie tries to get out of the position.
Messie looking for a sweep. Not yet Messie, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messie wants to hit a switch here but Evanson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Messie there!
Messie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Evanson blocks Messie's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Evanson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Messie shoots in looking for a takedown. Evanson tries to sprawl out of it but Messie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Evanson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Messie drives through and clinches with Evanson against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Messie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Evanson lands with a right to the head.
Messie is trying to pull guard but Evanson has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Messie is leaning against Evanson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Messie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
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 Stanley Messie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Evanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Messie. Messie gets slowly back to his feet.
Messie tries to work over Evanson's front leg with a kick but Evanson checks it.

Evanson tries to keep at a distance but Messie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Messie is trying to pull guard but Evanson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Evanson jumps into guard, dragging Messie to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evanson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Messie manages to get himself to full guard.

Messie has Evanson pulled in close to control his posture.

Evanson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evanson gets caught napping as Messie dives in and scores a takedown. Evanson manages to retain guard.

Evanson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Messie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stanley Messie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Evanson swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stanley Messie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messie misses with a wild combination.
Messie shoots in looking for a takedown. Evanson tries to sprawl out of it but Messie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Evanson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evanson throws a right hand that Messie ducks under and follows up with a left that Messie also avoids with ease.
Evanson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Messie. Messie obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Messie feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Evansons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Evanson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Messie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messie scores with a shot to the body.
Nice cross by Evanson.

It looks like Stanley Messie has been cut.
Messie throws a sloppy head kick and Evanson moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messie misses with a takedown attempt - Evanson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Messie with that takedown attempt.
Evanson follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oooooh!!! Evanson has knocked Messie down with a huge combo! Evanson steps away and waves a wobbly Messie back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Evanson misses with a few strikes there.
Messie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Messie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evanson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Messie shoots in for a double leg but Evanson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Evanson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evanson connects with a left and a right that sees a clearly hurt Messie covering up! Evanson comes in with a big uppercut and Messie goes doooown! He's slumped up against the cage, eyes staring blankly into space.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Thor Evanson!
Thor Evanson took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, EVOLUTION Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.