PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edwin Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Evans
vs
Thomson

176 cm
26
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

181 cm
26
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edwin Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tyler Thomson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
Evans fails to land the takedown.
Thomson scores with a jab.

Evans moves into the clinch.
Thomson tries to pull guard but Evans forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Evans has picked Thomson up - he's going for a ride! Evans dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Evans looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans trying to mount his opponent but Thomson defends it.
Evans is working hard here to advance position.
Thomson is looking to improve his position.

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 not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thomson tries to get to full guard but Evans has control of the leg.
Thomson trying to hold on to Evans's head to control him but Evans postures up.
Thomson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thomson.
Evans throws a big elbow that misses.
Evans lands a couple of elbows.
Evans wants to control from the top but Thomson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thomson has closed the distance and engaged Evans in a clinch.
Thomson tries to work over Evans's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Thomson manages to break the clinch.
Thomson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thomson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Evans tries to avoid it but Thomson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Evans to the ground. Evans escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Evans tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Thomson manages to circle out of the way.
A nice combination there by Evans.
Evans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomson shoots in and bounces Evans off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Evans is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Evans tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Evans being controlled here, momentarily.
Thomson stops Evans from standing up.
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 Edwin Evans will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Evans thinks about countering with a body kick.
Thomson shoots for a double leg takedown but Evans sprawls well. He's pushed Thomson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thomson dives in and grabs Evans's left leg, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes down on Thomson's head and hops out.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Evans rushes Thomson and presses him up against the cage.

Evans manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Thomson is stalling in the full guard.
Evans is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Thomson stopping the sweep attempt from Evans.
Thomson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomson wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Evans working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Evans feints and as Thomson raises his hands in defense, Evans changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Edwin Evans overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomson has wrist control.
Evans landing with the ground and pound.
Evans trying to control but Thomson is working from the bottom.
Thomson 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.
Evans looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thomson dives in for a single leg takedown but Evans sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Edwin Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Thomson.

Evans drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Evans makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Evans has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Evans slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Evans swings around for an armbar but Thomson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Evans's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans trying to keep a closed guard but Thomson is proving a slippery customer.
Thomson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Evans is looking for a sweep.
Evans is trying to control Thomson's posture but Thomson avoids it.
Evans on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Evans tries to get out of the position.
Thomson throwing strikes but Evans manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans slows the pace down.
Thomson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Evans.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwin Evans dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomson leaves Evans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thomson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thomson shoots in for a takedown but Evans shows good takedown defense.
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomson. Thomson gets slowly back to his feet.
Edwin Evans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomson throws a sloppy head kick and Evans moves out of range easily.
Edwin Evans is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Evans.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edwin Evans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomson blocks a head kick by Evans.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Thomson shows good takedown defense.
Thomson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Evans.
Evans shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evans's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Evans tries a head kick but it misses.

Thomson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Evans's half guard.
Evans wants to stand back up but Thomson manages to pass into side control.
Thomson trying to control the action but Evans is working from the bottom.

Evans throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to land a leg kick but Thomson is out of range.
Thomson moves in looking to clinch but Evans pushes him off.
Thomson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Evans walks into a stiff left hand from Thomson.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomson can do to turn this around?
Thomson throws a sloppy head kick and Evans moves out of range easily.
Thomson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Evans moves into the clinch.

Evans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thomson looking to score a takedown here. Evans is defending well but Thomson drives through and ends up in Evans's guard.
Evans looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Evans continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson passes Evans's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thomson trying to mount his opponent but Evans defends it.
Evans trying to control from the bottom.
Evans wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thomson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Evans keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Evans pushes Thomson up against the cage in a clinch.

Evans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomson.
Evans tries a head kick but it misses.
Evans shoots in for a double leg but Thomson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Evans tries to keep at a distance but Thomson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thomson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tyler Thomson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edwin Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thomson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Evans shoots in for a takedown but Thomson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyler Thomson.
Well Evans has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edwin Evans!
Edwin Evans took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.