PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evans's entrance music is 50 Cent - Many Men. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Evans
vs
Kontiovaara

180 cm
33
212 lbs
20 - 15 - 2

193 cm
39
267 lbs
20 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kontiovaara looks to land a left hand but Evans moved out of range nicely.
Kontiovaara avoids the body shot from Evans.
Kontiovaara slips under a jab from Evans.
Kontiovaara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Evans.
Kontiovaara lands a nice shot that snaps Evans's head back.
Evans dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kontiovaara dodges the punch combination from Evans.
Decent striking displayed by Evans there.
Kontiovaara misses with a few strikes there.
Evans misses with a left hand

and Kontiovaara counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kontiovaara.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kontiovaara wants to stand but Evans has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Evans looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Evans working for a triangle but Kontiovaara defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiovaara trying to stand up but can't free himself from Evans's guard.
Evans working a defensive guard but Kontiovaara manages to pass into side control anyway.

Kontiovaara is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Evans knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kontiovaara in side control, throwing shots but Evans defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara working away.

Kontiovaara stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nice cross by Evans.
Evans connects with an inside leg kick.
Evans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kontiovaara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Evans staying out of range there.
Evans doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kontiovaara uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Evans.
Evans throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kontiovaara tries to clinch there but Evans circles away.
Kontiovaara throws a sloppy body shot

and Evans decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kontiovaara's guard.

Kontiovaara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Evans gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Kontiovaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kontiovaara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Evans defends well.
Kontiovaara trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara controlling the position.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Kontiovaara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Kontiovaara!

Evans is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kontiovaara is looking to stand up but Evans won't let him.
Evans wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kontiovaara is now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kontiovaara sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Evans defending well though.
Evans moves into full guard.

Evans working for a triangle but Kontiovaara defends it easily.
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 Rashad Evans will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Evans uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kontiovaara.
Rashad Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kontiovaara throws out the jab.
Evans connects with a leg kick. Kontiovaara looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kontiovaara gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kontiovaara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kontiovaara is looking to clinch but Evans is avoiding it.
Kontiovaara takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
That kick from Evans tenderised Kontiovaara's leg. Kontiovaara is trying to keep his angry face on.
Evans slips a jab from Kontiovaara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans misses the shot to the body.
Rashad Evans is winning the standup battle so far.
Evans connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Evans is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kontiovaara.
We've been told by Evans's head coaches at VENDETTA Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Evans uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kontiovaara.
Evans lands with a nice body punch.

Kontiovaara throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Evans tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kontiovaara is in Evans's guard.
Kontiovaara looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Evans wants to control from the top but Kontiovaara keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara controlling the position.
Kontiovaara trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Evans advances position into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Evans wants to take a breather but Kontiovaara manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Evans.
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Evans trying to control but Kontiovaara is working from the bottom.
Kontiovaara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Kontiovaara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Kontiovaara!
Kontiovaara trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Kontiovaara throws an elbow that misses. Evans uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kontiovaara's guard. Nice move by Evans!
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Kontiovaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kontiovaara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kontiovaara is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kontiovaara holds on and takes a little breather.
Kontiovaara working a defensive guard here.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kontiovaara is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice cross by Evans.
Kontiovaara throws a sloppy head kick

and Evans counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kontiovaara is looking for a sweep. Evans is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Evans is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kontiovaara wants to get back to his feet.
Evans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kontiovaara is trying to stand.
Kontiovaara is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Evans's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Evans's back!
I really don't envy Evans right now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evans just trying to survive but Kontiovaara is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Evans defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Evans manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kontiovaara's guard. Nice work there by Evans.
Evans works over Kontiovaara with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Evans accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kontiovaara is trying to control the position but Evans postures up.
Evans controlling from the top position.
Rashad Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rashad Evans has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Evans throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara tries to clinch up but Evans circles away and keeps his distance.

Kontiovaara moves into the clinch.

Kontiovaara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kontiovaara doesn't seem bothered though.
Evans lands with a straight right. Kontiovaara didn't see that one coming.
Evans misses with an uppercut.

Kontiovaara shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kontiovaara was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Evans struggling a bit here.
Evans manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans is defending against the submission attempts here by Kontiovaara.
Evans is controlling Kontiovaara's trapped leg to prevent Kontiovaara from advancing to side control.

Kontiovaara is working for a kimura but Evans is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are battling for position here. Evans manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Evans!
An out of breath Rashad Evans thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.