PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Karwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Evans
vs
Karwin

180 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

196 cm
22
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shane Karwin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans clinches up with Karwin and pushes him back against the cage.
Karwin looking for a takedown.

Karwin jumps into guard, dragging Evans to the mat.

Karwin throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Evans escapes and throws Karwin's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Karwin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Evans could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Evans decides to stand back up.
Evans wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Evans. No joy for Karwin on that attempt.
Karwin throws a head kick that misses.
Evans throws a big shot that misses.
Evans throws an overhand right that lands on Karwin's shoulder, as Karwin tries to avoid the shot.

Karwin instigates a clinch.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Evans wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karwin connects with a knee to the head.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.
Karwin fails to pull guard.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Karwin.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Karwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Karwin.
Evans is breathing heavily.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Karwin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Karwin successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Karwin is on top in guard.
Karwin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Evans is keeping the position for now.
Evans can't keep his opponent in guard - Karwin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Evans kicks Karwin off and gets back to his feet.
Karwin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Evans tries to avoid it but Karwin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Evans to the ground. Evans escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rashad Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evans misses with the combination.
Rashad Evans is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karwin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Evans.
A solid body kick from Karwin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans tries to keep at a distance but Karwin has taken the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karwin lands a knee to the head.
Evans is pressed up against the cage. Karwin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Evans down to the mat. Evans avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Evans lands with a nice body punch.
Evans thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karwin fails to land the takedown.
No joy there for Evans, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karwin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Karwin instigates a clinch.
Karwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Karwin keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karwin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Evans backs up against the cage.
Evans fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karwin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Evans swings for the body but Karwin moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwin blocks a head kick by Evans.

Karwin instigates a clinch.
Evans is trying to break free.
Karwin slows down the pace here.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Karwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Karwin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Karwin lands a knee to the head.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Evans prevents it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karwin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
Evans has had enough of the clinch but Karwin keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Karwin lands an elbow that stopped Evans in his tracks for a moment.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Karwin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Evans gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Evans takes an elbow to the forehead.
Karwin lands a knee to the body.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Evans is trying to break free.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin has Evans pushed against the cage.
Karwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
Karwin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Karwin has double underhooks.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Karwin landing knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Karwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Karwin.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Karwin has double underhooks.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.

Karwin jumps guard and drags Evans to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Karwin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans misses with a few strikes there.
Evans looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Karwin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Evans misses with a wild combination.

Karwin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Karwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Karwin has double underhooks.
Evans takes an elbow to the temple.
Karwin wants a takedown but no success here.
Karwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Evans's face.
Evans wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karwin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Evans avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Karwin.
Karwin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Karwin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Karwin tries to pull guard but Evans holds him up against the cage and eventually Karwin drops back down to his feet.
Evans prevents the takedown attempt.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
Karwin fails to pull guard.
Karwin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans has had enough of the clinch but Karwin keeps him there for the moment.
Karwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Karwin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Evans has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Karwin connects with a knee to the head.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
A bit of stalling here from Karwin.
Karwin landing knees to the body.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karwin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Evans gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karwin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Karwin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Evans just stands there and leans against the cage.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.
Karwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Karwin.
Karwin keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.
Karwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.

Karwin decides to pull guard.

Karwin is looking for a triangle but Evans pushes his legs off easily.

Karwin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Evans stands and steps away. Karwin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Evans fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Evans on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Karwin. Karwin obviously looking to wear him down.
Evans throws a series of punches but Karwin avoids them all with ease.

Karwin moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Karwin.
Karwin tries to pull guard but Evans holds him up against the cage and eventually Karwin drops back down to his feet.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans managing to block the knees to the body from Karwin.
Karwin keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Karwin landing knees to the body.
Karwin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karwin looking to throw knees to the head but Evans is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Karwin tries to land a knee to the head but Evans blocks with his arms.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Karwin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Karwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Karwin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Evans is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.
Karwin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Karwin landing knees to the head.
Karwin landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Karwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Evans prevents a takedown attempt there.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A knee to the head by Karwin.

That's four 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 has had enough of the clinch but Karwin keeps him there for the moment.

Karwin manages to pull guard.
Evans trying to stand up but can't free himself from Karwin's guard.
Karwin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

and Karwin moves into the clinch.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Evans can't break the clinch.
Karwin connects with a knee to the head.
Karwin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shane Karwin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Karwin moves into range and clinches up with Evans.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karwin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Karwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Karwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Evans prevents the takedown attempt.
Karwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Karwin keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans is trying to break free.

Karwin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Karwin manages to end up in side control.

Karwin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Karwin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Evans has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Karwin tries for a kimura but Evans is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is trying to get back to his feet.

Karwin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Evans has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Karwin tries for a kimura but Evans is defending well.

Karwin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Evans has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Karwin but great work by Evans.

Evans stands up.
Rashad Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Karwin has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Karwin.

Evans manages to break the clinch.

Evans has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Evans manages to break the clinch.
Evans throws a hook but Karwin blocks it.
Evans wants to clinch

and Karwin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Karwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Karwin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Evans.
Karwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karwin lands an elbow inside.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Karwin connects with a knee to the head.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.

Karwin pulls guard successfully.

Evans gets to his feet - Karwin follows without any prompting.
Karwin tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karwin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Evans cracks Karwin with an open hand slap.
Horrible takedown by Karwin or perhaps it was just good defense by Evans which made him look bad.
Rashad Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Karwin.
Karwin moves out of range as Evans strikes.
Evans is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Evans's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Karwin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Evans's waist but Evans gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karwin off to one side.
Karwin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karwin tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karwin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A punch combination from Karwin misses.
Karwin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Evans as he jumps to the side.
Evans connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Karwin momentarily.

Karwin closes the distance and clinches.
Karwin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Evans is trying to break free.
Karwin landing knees to the head.
Evans tries to break the clinch but Karwin is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Evans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Karwin scores with a knee to the head.
Evans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Karwin.
Evans wants to get back to striking at distance but Karwin won't allow it.
Evans is trying to break the clinch but Karwin has him pressed against the cage.
Karwin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karwin can't get the takedown.
Karwin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Evans wants to break free but Karwin has control.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Evans is looking to break free of the clinch but Karwin has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Karwin.
Evans can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Karwin.
Rashad Evans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karwin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Evans lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Karwin crunches a lovely knee into Evans's ribcage.
Karwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Evans misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karwin.
Karwin keeps control of Evans as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Karwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Karwin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karwin 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Karwin!