PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (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.

Rua
vs
Evans

183 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 Montreal, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Evans!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Evans is controlling the pace.
Rua works his way to full guard. Good work.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Evans is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Evans won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Evans closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.

Evans manages to pull guard.
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Evans is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Evans 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Evans pushes Rua off and gets back to his feet.

Evans rushes Rua and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Evans is keeping busy.
Evans prevents a takedown attempt there.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Rua pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt.

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua is working hard here to advance position.
Evans controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Evans.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Evans looking to control but Rua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Evans lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Evans tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
BOOM! Evans connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Evans connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Evans throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Rua throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Evans.

Evans feints and as Rua raises his hands in defense, Evans changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Evans wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Evans is one step ahead there.
Evans stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Evans scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Evans is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Evans counters with a single leg into guard. Rua didn't expect that.
Evans tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Evans controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Evans gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Evans fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Rua keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua trying to stall but Evans improves his position.

Evans manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Evans tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to control the position.
Evans has Rua pulled in close to control his posture.
Evans is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Evans is looking to stall here but Rua recovers full guard.
Rashad Evans has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Evans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evans's guard.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Evans instigates a clinch.
Evans tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the cage.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.
Evans fails to pull guard.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Evans's efforts to push away.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Evans tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Evans drops back down to his feet.
Rua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Evans prevents it.
Rua is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
Evans tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Evans.
Evans blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Evans has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is working for takedown but Rua is calmly controlling the position for now.

Evans drags the fight down to the ground.
Evans controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Rua is looking to stand up but Evans won't let him.
Evans is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Evans escapes and gets back to his feet.

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!

Evans stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Evans to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Evans trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua wants to stand but Evans is controlling the position.
Evans sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Evans has passed into side control.
Evans scoring with punches from side control.
Evans tries to move to mount but Rua blocks the move with his legs.
Rua is looking for a sweep.

Evans decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Evans looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
Evans tries to control but Rua wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Evans cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rashad Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Evans controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Evans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Evans!