PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Karl Marks was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Evans
vs
Marks

180 cm
28
205 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

189 cm
31
209 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Hopkins Athletics

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 8 - 6 - 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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karl Marks!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Marks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Evans circles away.
Evans jabs Marks to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Marks fails with the takedown
and Evans counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

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

Marks is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Evans has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Evans!
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Marks blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans postures up in Marks's guard and throws a big left but Marks blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Evans 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Evans scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans stands and throws Marks's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ground and pound from Evans seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws a strike aimed at the side of Marks's head but Marks avoids it well.
Evans scores with a couple of short elbows.
Marks avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Evans.
Marks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Evans. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Marks dodges the ground and pound from Evans.
Evans in side control lands a decent elbow.
Evans cracks Marks with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Marks takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans cracks Marks with a big elbow.
Evans in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marks takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Evans is trying to ground and pound but Marks uses the momentary lack of control by Evans to regain half guard.
Evans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that round.
That's time! Evans's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Evans connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marks momentarily.
Marks has his takedown stuffed
and Evans connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marks tries to score a power double leg takedown but Evans sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marks somewhat.
Marks takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Evans gets a double leg takedown into Marks's guard.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Evans defends it easily.
Evans distracts Marks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Evans passes Marks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Evans not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Evans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Evans looks to land a strike but Marks avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Evans passes Marks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Evans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marks can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marks defending well though.
Evans throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Marks looking for submissions off his back.
Marks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Evans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evans landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Marks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Evans.
Evans not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Marks taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Evans throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Evans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marks can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Evans thows a huge punch but Marks dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Evans lands a nice short elbow.
Evans passes to full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evans lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Evans dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marks ducks right into an uppercut from Evans.
Marks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Evans counters with a nice uppercut.

Evans shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Evans throwing shots but Marks is blocking nicely.
Marks taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Evans.
Marks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Evans.
Evans lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is nestled in close to Marks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Evans lands a nice short elbow.
Ground and pound from Evans.
Evans scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Marks is rocked!
Evans passes to side control.
Marks is still in real trouble! Can Evans finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
Marks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Evans scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Marks is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Evans can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rashad Evans!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Rashad Evans waved his t-shirt featuring Hopkins Athletics's logo in front of the cameras.