PBP Commentary

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

Evans
vs
dos Santos

180 cm
25
244 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

193 cm
25
240 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Junior dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans misses with a kick to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Evans!

It looks like Junior dos Santos has been cut.
A lazy left from dos Santos finds it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Evans.
dos Santos misses with a series of wild punches.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Evans.
Evans digs a good hook to dos Santos's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
dos Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Evans digs a good body shot into dos Santos's ribs.
dos Santos goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
dos Santos swinging wildly here.
Evans dodges the punch combination from dos Santos.
dos Santos looks gassed!
Evans tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Evans cracks the inside of dos Santos's front leg.
Evans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Evans could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice body kick from Evans.
Evans throws a quick head kick that skims the top of dos Santos's head.
Evans throws a sloppy head kick and dos Santos moves out of range easily.
Evans jabs dos Santos to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Evans lands a slapping body shot.
Evans works over dos Santos's head and body with a nice combination.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Evans.
Evans dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A head kick lands from Evans that sends dos Santos to the canvas. dos Santos tries to scramble back to his feet but Evans brings him back down into side control.
dos Santos wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Evans decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Evans connects with the punch.
dos Santos's jab looks to have found its range, popping Evans under the eye.

dos Santos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
dos Santos thows a body shot but no joy.
Evans throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
dos Santos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
dos Santos lands with an uppercut that bounces Evans off the cage and back into rage.
dos Santos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Evans uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
dos Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Evans.
Evans ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans scores with a hook to the body. dos Santos takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Evans.
Evans scores with a leg kick.
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Evans.
Evans's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Evans duly obliges.
Evans throws a head kick but dos Santos moves out of range.
Evans throws a head kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Evans.
Evans throws a front kick that sends dos Santos stumbling back into the cage.
Evans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Evans is on the wrong end of a nice combination from dos Santos.
dos Santos lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Evans throws a right and a left that both miss.
Evans lands with a right hand.
dos Santos throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
Evans thuds his right hand into dos Santos's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Evans is looking to wear down dos Santos with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Evans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but dos Santos circles away quickly and effectively.
dos Santos looks to land a combination. Evans sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A decent looking cross lands there for dos Santos.
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Evans.

dos Santos clinches up against the cage.
dos Santos trying to control the position but instead, Evans has worked for underhooks and has pushed dos Santos into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. dos Santos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
dos Santos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Evans up against the cage.
Knees to the body from dos Santos.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Evans tries to score a body lock takedown but dos Santos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
dos Santos taking a breather.
dos Santos is trying to stall.
dos Santos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
dos Santos jumps guard but Evans stands there with dos Santos around his waist. dos Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Evans successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Evans is trying to control the position but dos Santos postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans 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.

dos Santos drops back looking for a leg! Evans is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Evans manages to kick dos Santos off! dos Santos jumps back into Evans's guard.
dos Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans striking off his back but it's not causing dos Santos any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior dos Santos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

dos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
dos Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Evans dodges the punch combination from dos Santos.
dos Santos connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Evans momentarily.
Evans misses with a head kick.
Evans walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
dos Santos feints a jab promting Evans to slip. dos Santos then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Evans slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Evans.
dos Santos tries to bum rush Evans with a series of wild strikes but Evans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
dos Santos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Evans lands with a kick to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Evans chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Evans feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to dos Santos's calf.
Evans comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Evans lands a high kick!
Evans moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Evans is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Evans works dos Santos's body with a nice hook.
Evans throws a quick head kick that skims the top of dos Santos's head.
Evans scores with a one two! dos Santos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Evans shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. dos Santos eats them both and turns towards Evans to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans fails to land with a series of punches.
Evans throws a head kick but dos Santos moves out of range.
dos Santos closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Evans connects with a body shot.
Evans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
dos Santos connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Evans's hands.
dos Santos goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
dos Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
dos Santos misses with a body shot.
A left and a right from Evans both land. Nice combination.
Evans closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A thudding body kick lands there by Evans!
A looping hook to the body misses from Evans. dos Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Evans gets cracked there but stands up to it.
dos Santos catches Evans with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
dos Santos scores with a jab to the body.
dos Santos has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
dos Santos jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A nice leg kick lands there from Evans.
Evans scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
dos Santos throws a series of punches but Evans moves out of range.
dos Santos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rashad Evans is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts dos Santos, as that shot connected.
Evans lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
dos Santos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Evans. Evans obviously looking to wear him down.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
dos Santos scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Evans lands with a nice combination. dos Santos backs away looking to recover.
Evans stuns dos Santos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Evans with a hook.
Evans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
dos Santos goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
dos Santos shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Evans eats them both and turns towards dos Santos to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Evans scores with a spinning back kick!
dos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Evans moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.
dos Santos stalks Evans and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Evans's face. Evans staggers backwards, shaken.
Evans throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent dos Santos stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

dos Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Evans stalling against the cage.
dos Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Evans is looking for a takedown up against the cage. dos Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but Evans holds him up against the cage and eventually dos Santos drops back down to his feet.
Evans jumps guard but dos Santos stands there with Evans around his waist. Evans gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

dos Santos manages to break the clinch.
Evans fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
dos Santos scores with a sloppy right hand. Evans should have avoided that one.
dos Santos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Evans lands with a slapping head kick.
Evans lands a two punch combo.
dos Santos lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Evans walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
dos Santos scores with a jab to the jaw.
dos Santos is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
dos Santos scores with a one two! Evans had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
dos Santos thuds a left hand into Evans's body.
dos Santos takes a body punch but keeps moving.
dos Santos stalks Evans and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Evans's face. Evans staggers backwards, shaken.
dos Santos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and dos Santos duly obliges.
Rashad Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A left and a right from Evans both land. Nice combination.
dos Santos blocks a head kick by Evans.
dos Santos has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Evans.
dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that dos Santos can do to turn this around?
dos Santos misses with the combination.
dos Santos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Evans.
Evans lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
dos Santos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Evans slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
dos Santos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Evans lands a head kick!
Evans takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Evans walks into a stiff left hand from dos Santos.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Evans avoids a punch combination nicely.
Evans tries a head kick but it misses.
Danga de danga de dang - dos Santos scores with a four punch combination!
Evans throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Junior dos Santos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

dos Santos with a hook.
dos Santos misses with a double jab.
Evans walks into a straight right hand from dos Santos.
Evans walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A solid body kick from Evans.
A head kick misses from Evans.
A right-left combo lands from Evans.
A right-left combo lands from Evans.
Evans works dos Santos's body with a nice hook.
Evans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A good leg kick by Evans.
Evans keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from dos Santos.
Evans lands with a slapping head kick.
Evans tries a head kick but it misses.
dos Santos has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
dos Santos lunges at Evans with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Evans's hand.
Evans swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheers as dos Santos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Evans doesn't seem phased though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans misses with a few strikes there.
dos Santos with a hook.
dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Evans. Those never looked like landing.
dos Santos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
dos Santos throws a shot to the body.
dos Santos stuns Evans with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
dos Santos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Evans fails to land with a series of punches.
Evans takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
dos Santos lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by dos Santos.
A jab from dos Santos does it's job there.
dos Santos throws a right hand that Evans ducks under and follows up with a left that Evans also avoids with ease.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Evans.
dos Santos misses with the combination.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Evans - that will leave a mark!
Evans is working the combinations to good effect here.
Evans fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Evans feints a jab promting dos Santos to slip. Evans then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. dos Santos slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
dos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Evans throws a quick inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Evans scores with a four punch combination!

dos Santos gets a clinch.
Evans pushes dos Santos back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos looking for a takedown.
Evans can't get the takedown.
dos Santos stalling the fight.
dos Santos prevents Evans from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on dos Santos's face as he tries to break the clinch.

dos Santos manages to pull guard.
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.

dos Santos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Evans stays in close to dos Santos's body and controls the position.
dos Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos 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.
dos Santos is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Evans wants to control from the top but dos Santos keeps moving.
dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rashad Evans has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Evans throws a right and a left that both miss.
dos Santos blocks a head kick by Evans.
Evans lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

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.
dos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
dos Santos connects with the punch.
Evans scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Evans lands with a thumping leg kick.
dos Santos missing with a left hand there. Evans was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Evans lands a nice looking body kick.
dos Santos has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
dos Santos takes one to the side of the head.
Evans works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Evans fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Evans connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Evans lands with a nice combination. dos Santos backs away looking to recover.
Evans scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Evans scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Evans throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Evans on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
A cross from dos Santos lands.
Evans dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on dos Santos. That did some damage!
A shot to the liver by Evans. Beautiful body shot.
Junior dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rashad Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
dos Santos looks to land a right hand but Evans moved out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Evans, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

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