Evans vs. Rua

[The Sandmen]

ManMMA Middleweight Championship

Rashad Evans is calm in his corner. He looks convinced of his abilities.
Shogun Rua raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident.
Now Rashad Evans put his title in contention against Shogun.
This is the first time they meet inside the cage
It's hard to say who will be winning this fight. The specialized media doesn't have a favourite either.
The referee of the bout is Josh Rosenthal.

=========================================
Round 1
=========================================

Evans and Shogun move forward as the bell signals the beginning of the fight!


Shogun Rua goes with a looping right hand while Rashad Evans jumps back and jabs
That one hits but Evans seems unaffected, countering with a few punches of his own. Great exchange here.


The clock says 0:25 in the 1 round
Good front kick from Shogun!
Rashad Evans blocks
Shogun clumsily fails here and it's time for Rashad Evans to fight back!
Rashad Evans's mind is definitely in the fight, Shogun just got nailed! Rashad Evans saw an opening and delivered a big right hand
Shogun moves aside and dodges.


Shogun Rua moves forward looking for some grappling action
Shogun has his opponent in a text book double collar thai clinch!
Evans doesn't want to clinch as he ducks under Shogun Rua embrace and tries to move away...
Shogun Rua pushes Evans forward and doesn't allow him to break the clinch.


Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Evans and Shogun Rua are cliched up against the cage. Evans steps for a throw
Shogun stays on his feet
Evans misses a step and Shogun Rua sees an opportunity to counter him!
Shogun is launching some bone breaking punches to Evans's ribs while in the clinch.
Wow. You can see the pain in Rashad Evans's eyes.


Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Rashad Evans's corner is turning out to be his worst enemy! Shogun is throwing a flurry of punches!
Evans ducks under and circles out of the corner.


Shogun goes to the body...
his punches graze Evans's arm.
Shogun clumsily fails here and it's time for Rashad Evans to fight back!
Evans tries to grapple
Shogun moves aside keeping the fight a strinking range


Rashad Evans tries to take the fight to the ground with a one leg takedown...
Shogun Rua jumps backwards and frees his leg.
Evans misses a step and Shogun Rua sees an opportunity to counter him!
Shogun Rua steps forward and fires a high kick!
Evans blocks decisively, as if to say, "No KO for me, thanks!"


Both fighters circle around the center of the cage.


The clock says 1:40 in the 1 round
Shogun decides to launch some tentative punches
Evans launches a couple of jabs that are answered by Shogun with a stiff cross! Solid exchange!
Evans's Forehead is bruised after the punishement he's received!


The clock says 1:50 in the 1 round
Rashad Evans launches a body shot
Shogun dodges and catches him with a hard cross.


The clock says 2:00 in the 1 round
Shogun launches a stiff jab!
That barely hits Evans's face but it seems like one finger has poked his eye! Does the referee see that?
Josh Rosenthal didn't see the foul!


Solid low kick from Shogun Rua.
For sure, that had to hurt!


Evans is swinging for the fences!
Shogun backpedals and creates space. Rashad Evans is asking him if he is going to fight!
Shogun tries to get some advantage after his opponent miss move...
Shogun Rua fakes a move and launches a nice uppercut
it lands on Evans's chin
Evans's Chin is bruised after the punishement he's received!


Shogun moves forward looking for some action
He surprises Evans with a double overhooks!


Shogun is one of those men capable of pounding you into oblivion!
Shogun Rua and Evans engage in a wild exchange of punches!
Shogun Rua is getting the best of the exchange as he lands a few blows.


Shogun Rua leans forwards and tries to grapple with Evans
Shogun shows his clinching skills. Both fighters are clinching now.


Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Shogun pushes off of Rashad Evans and starts launching a flurry of hooks and body shots!
Evans stumbles backwards but Shogun Rua chases him and continues the rain of blows!


Both fighters are tied in a clinch.
Once Shogun is able to keep you againts the fence in a clinch you must be worried.
Shogun Rua is absolutely terrifying with his power in the clinch, and is violently punishing Evans with uppercuts!
Evans is taking more than he can endure. This could end soon if Evans is unable to escape!


The fighters are clinching.
Shogun Rua's corner is turning out to be his worst enemy! Evans is throwing a flurry of punches!
Shogun ducks under and circles out of the corner.


A bad move from Rashad Evans
almost puts his head in the path of Shogun's kick.
Poorly executed technique. Rashad Evans looks to counter!
Rashad Evans shoots for a double leg takedown!
Shogun Rua sprawls and manages to stay on his feet.


Brilliant combination from Shogun Rua
that forces Evans to try and defend better.
There is a small laceration on Rashad Evans's Mouth


Shogun grabs his opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Great takedown by Shogun Rua


The clock says 3:55 in the 1 round
Shogun Rua is in open guard over Evans
Shogun moves on the ground
Shogun Rua moves to side mount


Shogun Rua is in side mount over Rashad Evans
Shogun delivers a few accurate elbows!
Evans is being hit hard and trys to escape! He has to give his back!
Evans's Forehead is bruised after the punishement he's received!
Evans has a small cut in his Forehead


The clock says 4:10 in the 1 round
Shogun is in rear mount over Evans
Shogun tries to get a hook in!
Things get worse for Evans! Shogun has one hook in and keeps working!


Shogun is in rear mount over Evans with one hook in
Evans tries to stand up!
Shogun doesn't allow him!


Shogun is in rear mount over Evans with one hook in
Shogun Rua hovers above Evans
Good punches to Evans's body.


Shogun is in rear mount over Evans with one hook in
Shogun has one hook in and is trying to get the second one! If he succeed things are goint to get very bad for Evans.
Nicely done! Shogun now has two hooks in! The end may be near!


Shogun is in rear mount over Evans with two hooks in
Evans launches a few weak punches
Shogun blocks them effectively.
The ref stops the action. The round is over.
That round was a toss up.



=========================================
Round 2
=========================================



The clock says 0:10 in the 2 round
Solid kick to the leg from Shogun Rua
that visibly pains Evans.


Good front kick from Shogun!
Evans stumbles backwards after that one!
Hard blow to Evans's mid-section, he seems hurt
That punishment by Shogun Rua has left Evans staggered! Shogun Rua should try push forward now and finish this!


Pulverizing punch to Evans's head!
Ouch, that had to hurt!
That punishment by Shogun Rua has left Evans staggered! Shogun Rua should try push forward now and finish this!


Evans stumbles backwards staggered and Shogun Rua launches aggressively over his opponent throwing some wild punches!
Evans is knocked down after a couple of punches, hitting the mat hard! Is he out?
Josh Rosenthal has seen enough! The fight is over! Evans was not intelligently defending himself!

Winner is Shogun Rua by TKO (Punches) at 0:44 Round 2

Statistics: Rashad Evans
Punches 3/9 (33%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/5 (0%)
Takedowns 0/2 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/3 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 70 s

Statistics: Shogun Rua
Punches 15/21 (71%)
Kicks 3/6 (50%)
Clinch strikes 11/18 (61%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 7/9 (78%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 1/1 (100%)
Time on the ground 70 s


Shogun Rua wins the Middleweight title!


Rashad got overconfident, and Shogun was ALL over this one. He takes the title home and took so little damage he could probably defend it today if he wanted to. But he doesn't. Therefore #AndNew.