PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zolar Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr.. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Emelianenko
vs
Evans

175 cm
22
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

175 cm
29
142 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zolar Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Freddy Evans!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelianenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Evans.
Evans jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Evans slips under a jab.
A jab from Emelianenko misses.
A left lands for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A swing and a miss from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Emelianenko duly obliges.
A telegraphed right hand from Emelianenko misses the target.
Emelianenko scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko connects with a right hand. Evans shakes it off.
Emelianenko swings widly with a right hand

and Evans counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Emelianenko's guard now.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.
Evans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Evans looking to pass the guard.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans preventing the sweep.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Emelianenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Emelianenko tries to get out of the position.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emelianenko thumps Evans with a low kick.
Evans just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Emelianenko misses with a looping left.
Evans has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Emelianenko.
Zolar Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans looks gassed!
Emelianenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Evans was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Evans shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emelianenko pinned against the cage. Emelianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice defenses there by Evans.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws a hook but Emelianenko avoids it easily.
Emelianenko scores with a push kick.
Evans slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
A combination from Emelianenko does no damage.
Emelianenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Evans was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with a body punch
and Evans counters with a series of strikes. Emelianenko will be more careful next time no doubt.
Evans bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Evans avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Evans keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Emelianenko.
A looping hook to the body misses from Evans. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Evans misses with a hook. Emelianenko ducked under it nicely.
Emelianenko lands a nice looking kick to the body. Evans takes a step back to recover.
Emelianenko moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Evans takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut. Evans saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Evans throws a body punch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Evans connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Evans walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Emelianenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emelianenko walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Evans takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Emelianenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Evans counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko clobbers Evans with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Emelianenko throws a jab when Evans was well out of range.
Emelianenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Emelianenko lands with a hook. Evans tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Emelianenko looks to land a right hand but Evans moved out of range.
Emelianenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Evans.
Emelianenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Evans cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut.
Emelianenko misses with a few strikes there.
Emelianenko misses with a combination
and Evans counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Evans uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with the combination.
No joy there for Emelianenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

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.
Emelianenko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Evans to score with a decent uppercut.
Emelianenko misses with a hook to the body

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Emelianenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but Emelianenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko is working hard here to advance position.
Emelianenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zolar Emelianenko dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Evans.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sloppy strikes from Emelianenko. Those never looked like landing.
Emelianenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Evans.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko swings widly with a right hand

and Evans counters with a single leg into guard. Emelianenko didn't expect that.
Evans throwing strikes but missing.
Evans in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.
Evans trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

Evans thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Emelianenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Evans on the ground.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two 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 wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.
Evans controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Evans in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Evans missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Evans passes into half guard.

Evans is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Emelianenko has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Evans seems to be looking for submissions.
Evans prevents Emelianenko from improving his position.
Evans seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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 seems to be looking for submissions.
Emelianenko trying to control from the bottom.
Emelianenko holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Evans thows a huge punch but Emelianenko dodges it nicely.
Emelianenko is trying is best to control the position here.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Freddy Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zolar Emelianenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenko 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zolar Emelianenko!