Best of EVO 2018: Comebacks, Upsets, Pop-offs and more

EVO 2018 is in the books and that’s wrap for the world’s biggest fighting game tournament.
There were moments that gave us all goosebumps, ones that made us stand up and scream, and ones that made us laugh.
So from the insane pop-offs to the mind-melting improbable comebacks to the filthiest combos, here is the Best of EVO 2018.
Hosted by: Colin McNeil (@McNeilColin)
Edited by: Alex Debets (@ajdebets)
Filmed by: Simmy Fong (@sifolyy)
Support by: Daniel Rosen (@Daniel_rosen) & Sean Wetslaar (@SeanWetslaar)
Footage courtesy of: EVO, Capcom Fighters, GameGoons, darkandark
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
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[@blackkimchi5111]

If you were at the venue when everyone yelled with Cell it was I N S A N E EVENT WAS AMAZING.

[@skyMcWeeds]

DBFZ hype AF, the crowd getting into it with Cell's intro, lots of comebacks and the Go1 vs SonicFox match. Tekken 7 Lil Majin's King made it worth the watch

[@zxcvbnmllk]

OBG Jay that another thing I loved about watching top 8 dbfz was the chat counting the amount of bardock 3 bars used, ended up being 53 or something around that

[@chibifirestorm]

what about lost soul in Guilty Gear, dude put western Guilty Gear on the map

[@Vclox]

Armada losing to someone outside the top 6 for the first time in 10 years. So insane.

[@Kuating]

TheDragonDAFan It was all for this moment.

[@carson5441]

It's about 8.5 years. Doesn't really matter as nobody will reach even close to that ever again

[@brandonkleinglos6896]

Carson it literally just got broken..

[@carson5441]

Brandon Kleinglos I meant someone else having as long of a streak like that won't ever happen anyway so it didn't really matter that he was off 1.5 years

[@treydiesel3902]

Shenron: I gave this man two wishes...

[@moey193]

Trey Diesel He should've picked sparking both times

[@AlwaysRetr0]

Lil Majin was for me the biggest highlight of the entire tournament. His match against JDCR was the most intense and funnest match in a fighting game I think I've ever had the privilege of watching live. Aris' reaction was pure gold. Also in that same set, the round comeback from JDCR that you included at 11:20 was INSAAAANE. Great video.

[@nelozk1860]

LOOK AT THE TIIIIMEEEE!

[@treydiesel3902]

Fighting game is something so great

[@emmbeesea]

Good stuff to Leffen, showing that even though he was focusing on a different game for the majority of this year, he is still one of the best Melee players ever.

[@Kuating]

Emm Bee Sea And he can get the biggest win of his life

[@darkhorseash4337]

Maybe not EVER, I think thats debatable, but he's certainly up there

[@WeIrdWsdom]

Yeah leffen's fox was solid af

[@Saint_BullCaptain]

Ashton Stansel omg lol ur so stupid

[@gentlewhiskers1191]

NK Ozpectro Shut the fuck up. Someone has a different opinion and it's insults.

[@dorkasaurus_rex]

This EVO was INSANE across every game. Can't believe they manage to top the hype EVERY YEAR

[@ennisshabab9557]

dork_rex except smash 4 lol (almost everything but grands was hype tho)

[@jinsujoung2496]

a happy pineapple MVD vs Raito and Nietono vs Mistake was nuts

[@ennisshabab9557]

Calling it from now elegent will save smash

[@sonriku7331]

I am more concerned about the fact that Nairo scored 33th in Smash 4 tourney

[@dragonball570]

The cell scream never gets old

[@ergastolo4281]

dbzdavis That part with the crowd screaming along with him was the absolute best! 😂 So much hype!

[@dane17eduard]

this channel is responsible for adding a new thing to watch every year (EVO that is) to my life after TI, Worlds, and BlizzCon

[@JamalFreeman]

What is TI?

[@dorkasaurus_rex]

@@JamalFreeman The International, premier DOTA tournament

[@NhBleker]

11:38 I think we witnessed the EVO moment 37 of Tekken 7 with that amazing comeback by JDCR.

[@kennythekid130]

3:40 its crazy seeing Fizzi here now that he's more well known for giving melee rollback netcode

[@krooked7631]

I wish non melee players knew how huge of an upset Swedish delight was over armada. Armada is the GOAT and hadn’t lost a set to anyone outside the top six in 10 years. Swedish delight is in the high top 20 and has had a pretty tame 2018 so far

[@andrerodriguez3705]

SkillMentor I mean I get what you mean by the motivation issue, but getting 2nd place in one of the biggest majors isn’t close to dropping off.

[@freddiewompton]

It is dropping off when Armada was at one point the near/if not undisputed best in the game.

[@mistabimbims6198]

Nice neil peart pfp

[@BookOfEclipse]

Problem X still can't believe he won.

[@PrezNev]

Anthony Ruiz I really wanted Tokido to win ;-;

[@Theonecamcam123321]

K-Redwolf why? Japanese players always win and tokido won last year

[@stardustdraaaagon]

its good to see someone that isn't from the east winning EVO. Its good for the game. I was hoping Tokido would come out on top but Problem X had nerves of steel and came out on top. It was a good showing.

[@BookOfEclipse]

I wanted Tokido to win just so he can have his back to back Evo wins. Tokido had his come back ready after the reset but Problem X just wanted it more. I was happy though it wasn't a complete one sided stomp.

[@Zetsuuga]

Kids wanted Tokido to win. Real men wanted The Cool Kid93 to win.

[@JoeCrush_]

Lil majin made tekken top 8 10 times better. MAJIN THE KING 👑

[@funakiexpressV2]

TheOriginalCrush his run deserves its own video, the crowd reactions to his games were amazing

[@willn8664]

Because he's the only American to make it that far?

[@callummullac1]

yes he was only american make top 8

[@funakiexpressV2]

The Hollanesian beat out jeondding noroma and jdcr is pretty sick

[@callummullac1]

he also beat pekos the best geese player in japan that i know off

[@tonythepenguin8752]

I cant believe Leffen actually won an Evo. Finally. Honestly, he deserves it and it gives me hope that, one day, M2K can win one too (i know it wont happen, but let me believe). This was my first time watching Evo and it was pretty cool :) By the way, please make a video about Leffen now that he won please please please

[@Diedie98]

Tony Thepenguin I know it's not a REAL EVO but Mew2king won EVO West and East 2007 AND EVO 2009 Brawl, so that counts for something I guess?

[@McNasty_0]

Tony Thepenguin Slush has a pretty good documentary of Leffen if you’re interested

[@tonythepenguin8752]

Paul Dan Tran yeah ive seen the thumbnail before. Is it any good? I dont wanna watch a really lazy and crappy video honestly, which is what im afraid of whenever i see it

[@jacobwhite8617]

Tony Thepenguin it’s really well made

[@willn8664]

M2K already has EVO titles.

[@Shirohige4yonko]

You guys should do a video about the young rivalry between SonicFox and GO1. Those guys made DBFZ have a great evo debut

[@jdillard36]

Bryan Rios great idea

[@tjhunter9787]

Awesome idea but I can't help but feel like this is only the beginning. Should prolly wait until round the end of the pro tour. Then we got a whole movie on our hands.

[@bananafish6980]

Wow, I can't believe some DBFZ player won the melee tournament Edit: Yes this is a joke in case you think I'm a dumbass

[@saysay7191]

Bananafish Well believe it Also, Leffen played melee before dbfz

[@RB38Smash]

Not sure if this is a joke 🤔

[@cheef825]

for all you confused hombres this man is obviously joking

[@Spaceboi318]

its not only a joke, its a meme now lol. Ive seen it on Leffen's IRL stream earlier, twitter and reddit

[@swatteam93]

Stealthblazer Games r/woosh

[@paulespino4207]

Man tekken was insane!!

[@MIIthasav]

Paul Espino yeah it was! And I don't even necessarily like Tekken

[@ItsJustAGuy]

Oh my god, the whole crowd doing the cell shout, that's amazing.

[@notoriousthief]

23:16 I don't even watch DBZ, and the crowd still gives me chills when they hype it up

[@TheXalkos]

23:15 goosebumps all over!

[@benmangerere358]

Do y'all understand how poetic that moment was 23:17? Those collective yells were the sound of all the people cell has absorbed.😲

[@miniyodadude6604]

I want to point put that armada hasnt lost to a non top 6 player since 2012 by silentspectre. This is probably the biggest upset of the year for the fgc

[@LeoxSevered]

Lowhigh won the first evo hes ever been to, through winners bracket....with a pretty rare char (not for long)

[@bigevilshark1958]

miniyodadude I am hearing conflicting stories with SS. First, I hear that Amsah was the last one to beat him in 2010, and now I keep hearing it was SS. What tournament did SS beat Armada at? I am not questioning if he did(I know he did), but I am trying to figure out when

[@doomgu544]

Bigevilshark armada lost to amsah and silent specter at the same tournament in 2010, pound 4. Silent spectre sent him to losers and then amsah eliminated him. So yeah technically amsah was the last

[@sinosleep007]

Lil Majin was the first American IN TEKKEN 7 HISTORY to make winners final. That takes the cake. That he beat arguably the best Tekken player of the last 5 years or so to do it makes it that much more insane.

[@Yepmyaccount]

Imagine having such a small frame of reference for fighting games that you think that single match was the biggest upset of the year for all of fighting games. Smash players, everyone.

[@wakenabe99]

>23:21 'This should be entertaining' > Gets dunked My sides LMAO

[@bryan_phan]

It's so fun to watch and see one of your favorite fighting games but also seeing other people's favorites, it sounds like jibbersish to you and you don't know what's going on and vise versa when their looking at your game. I just have so much respect for other fighting games, good video

[@colelegante]

SFV was unbelievable this year. Had me screaming left and right

[@OhRichard]

But can someone tell us why Woshige stood up?

[@treydiesel3902]

OhRichard HE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER

[@reeverlanze9868]

WHAT WAS HE STANDING UP FOR

[@SpeedDemonPowerage98]

OhRichard seriously Woshige popped off prematurely again??

[@amranSK55]

wolfkrone knows why 👌

[@Zmargo702]

WOSHIGE THINKS ITS OVER

[@FerokNuva]

This video was phenomenal thank you

[@greaterdog601]

Kayane's run on Soulcalibur was a hell of a good one, especially since she hasn't play at a competitive level for years.

[@TakaComics]

Lil Majin’s T7 run is just as massive as Qudans’. JDCR has had some real tough competition these past few EVOs. Lil Majin really deserved this win.

[@nashCDN]

Love the videos keep em coming, waiting on evo part 2

[@xxstrider3188]

Now to wait for Evo 2019.

[@Embermaine]

I loved the part when cell popped off.

[@sergio7D]

I love your evo coverage

[@Jagoryu]

16:39 "NO Shampoo!!" Gotta

[@Capstfu]

The black fighters had the most personality lost soul, sonic fox, doune, lil Majin, problem x

[@user-lf7nc4ub6i]

Majority of the Tekken clips are Majin... and I love it 👁👄👁👌

[@bungholethrombosis]

HUGE HEJELTE

[@zeterzero4356]

7:42 16 is still the hypest fighter in DBF. For the birds!

[@zxcvbnmllk]

This year was my first time watching evo and I only watched tekken dbfz and sf5 top 8's and omg I felt the hype, definiatly will watch more next year. And as a big dragon ball fan the crowd shouting with cell powering up was always a pleasure to listen too.

[@OnlineFightingGames]

thank you

[@lyconxero457]

I still think my favorite match as well as my favorite pop-off goes to Sonic Fox when he won grand finals for Dragon Ball Fighterz. Just the brilliance that he used to somehow unbalance his opponents laser focus and come back from straight losses to straight-up win it all.

[@cutsceneenjoyerzz]

"download complete" still gives me chills

[@huanquatro]

This was the first evo i’ve payed attention to and honestly it was quite a show. DBFZ being The biggest game there really upped the hype

[@nowonprzn7442]

This evo was crazy hypea

[@boyikaruz8415]

fighting game community is one of the best gaming community of all time

[@novathefallenstarwarrior]

And on this very day smash 4 officially died

[@imoutofwater]

QuantumNoVa all we can do is wait for ultimate, but I certainly enjoyed sm4sh while it lasted, it holds a place I like the my heart

[@novathefallenstarwarrior]

Sammy The Seal Fully agree. I had my fun times with smash 4 but it's time to move on

[@imoutofwater]

QuantumNoVa I'm glad we see eye to eye

[@novathefallenstarwarrior]

Sammy The Seal I'm glad too

[@robby8841]

Smash con is on the 9th there’s still a few big tournaments

[@Hollowdude15]

This video of the best of evo so interesting and awesome to watch and have a good day everybody :]

[@negrimaru]

Yo! The Comebacks that keep' giving! -- Toss it BACK!

[@coachmcguirk6297]

Why do you show half of the clips twice? Im confused.

[@victikirby15]

RIP Smash 4, tho

[@Adrian-ty7pc]

victikirby15 Now its time for ultimate

[@gilgamesh5796]

Adrian Steven Din Can imagine if Ultimate played just like Melee, but with a balanced roster and a ton of characters? That would truly be the greatest game of all time, but Im not complaining, the game will be fun regardless, life isn't perfect.

[@gigabasedpilled5824]

Pichu and Juggs will still be bottom tier

[@sirdinomang]

Smash 4 grand finals better be in the fails vid.

[@2PacPRNDL]

sirdino what happened

[@grotn_]

2PacPRNDL the players didn't take it seriously and on the first game of a bracket reset they stalled for 2 minutes until someone had to go up to them and tell them stalling is banned and that they had to play

[@toxronin3971]

As someone who is part of the smash 4 community I would like to apologize for some of my “comrades” actions and I promise that in ultimate us and the rest of the fgc community will get there act together.

[@chameleoncham3911]

Exo Xd Yea, if Bayo gets fixed. This wouldn't have happened if she got banned. If the community is questioning whether a character should be banned or not then you know something ain't right about the character.

[@freddiewompton]

How about banning a character from a game is not a real solution. It's absurd to punish the players because of the devs own inadequacies at the time of development.

[@god_lushen8128]

Seasoned fgc member: "Ya'know man I've seen it all in my time here." Evo: *Hold my bracket*

[@xXSonTJXx]

11:47 Had me screaming yo!!!!

[@sorubro2193]

There is nothing like EVO in gaming, nothing comes close.

[@Skinskinable]

My guy Meik Russ coming back from the jaws of hell getting 13th at EVO like a monster! Looking like Childish Gambino!

[@smithly-fgc]

Big D’s run in Injustice 2 was so exciting... he went from unranked to top 20 in the IPS

[@OtsdarvaOS]

Nice seeing my friend Cool Kid in EVO. Im hyped. He didn't even tell me he went.

[@J3ryMack]

Lil Majin was the best part of Evo 2018 cant wait to see him try and win next year!

[@Carisma1005]

Sinapore, Uk, London, Japan a hundred times. America was so strong last year, we need an EVO win. Congrats to Problem, the king of the sitting popoff.

[@AcidGlow]

*Hype moments* ✅🙂

[@bigdemi]

8:23 Sickest moment of Evo 2018

[@triswagatops2802]

it's amazing how Leffen can go from the person in smash I hate the most to literally my favorite at evo

[@justinreyes5042]

The glory

[@kristopherhirabara6167]

You just called Alex valle an unknown LOL

[@michaelgower6016]

My boy mvd with the comeback

[@zakki9491]

Trashbox vs Nemo was hype The best Urien vs the n.1 ranked player by a landslide

[@levi6241]

is that a monster hunter r mika skin?

[@zxcvbnmllk]

Levi Lim yes it is

[@MforMovesets]

And an Abigail skin that doesn't look like utter trash.

[@GlyntTheCat]

What did we do to deserve Lil Majin? Absolutely brilliant xD

[@prismsage3957]

Evo was the best thing for us gamers

[@Legendofderp26]

Not nearly enough Blazblue Cross Tag Battle. Probably the second best game to watch in the FGC right now, after Tekken 7. Also where were all the Tekken clips? All we got was Lil Majin and nothing else. Nothing about Rangchu making top 8 with a bear or Qudans and Lowhigh freaking out during grand finals? Or even Mike Ross returning as Waxl and making top 32 in Guilty Gear? I get the feeling this was made by someone who only watches Evo and isn't a part of the FGC

[@ispsagel50]

Legendofderp26 Yeah, no Panda highlights?!? That was nuts to see that character rock in Top 8.

[@malefictoonmaster510]

16:12 I began screaming sooo damn loud at this!!! Death at 100%!!!

[@Hollowdude15]

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@Pegasisbey]

SMASH 4 OMEGALUL

[@isaiahrashadfan387]

Exdee TWITCH EMOTES OUTSIDE OF TWITCH CHAT haHAA

[@luisgiacinti9880]

haHAA "haHAA" haHAA

[@Siepher83]

12:36 of all the moments Goku Black looking up with the dash during this combo was Godlike visually.

[@TheJoystickmonkey]

OH MY DAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

[@shawnoconnor8649]

I just came here to see if Majin's insane EVO run made it. Was not disappointed...

[@marcusperez5195]

Uncle Valle still taking names lmao

[@ItsPandatory]

8:05 I've watched/listened to seth killian's call here about 100 times

[@firehawk128]

Tokido got stopped finally!

[@negrimaru]

oh so THAT's Gojita! I never seen him before...until just tadaee! wow

[@gtphizz9190]

*Problem X performs an advanced and frame perfect combo* Me: Damn that's crazy *random Dedede player in sm4sh sucks someone up while fall to his death* Me: Holy shit, that combo was insane. How many inputs was that? 1 maybe 2? Anyway, better put that one in the Evo highlights.

[@rumfordc]

dont forget that instant replay

[@Essey001]

It was in cause it's funny and mostly inviable

[@mcprol2467]

I'm a smash player, but SFV combos aren't that hard. Especially compared to 3rd strike or sf4. SFV is still a fun game though.

[@dorkasaurus_rex]

@@mcprol2467 there are some pretty tough ones in the game, people over state how easy it is especially for the average fighting gamer

[@kingmanmillenia]

I was waiting for the spotting of a wild Mike Ross playing an anime fighter. That was how just because we got to see him as a hermit.

[@Marcusjnmc]

& that moment in that comeback @12:17

[@yeahyah11]

looks like no one could solve for x

[@destroyhistory6392]

I got to say fighterz was probs my favorite part of evo besides maybe tekken very close because of that amazing king player but man fighterz was amazing especially in the grand finals when the first match between sonic fox and goi just because the crowd screaming got me so hyped to see the matches

[@vonnallencortez8686]

OOH MY DAYZZ!

[@smoov22_sonic]

The fact that half of this video is MVD pleases me

[@trukimai9293]

The Tekken players are probably less worried about drowning in pools than they are about drowning in Lil Majin's waves.

[@MforMovesets]

When you zero HP comeback and also earn a trophy while doing it. Also, when you do rolling death gator in an actual match.

[@RB38Smash]

Surprised that MVD beating Nairo wasn’t on there. One of the sets of the tournament

[@AbdullahDakhaikh]

To be honest... I like the fact that all Tekken videos are by Lil Majin... he was the true event this EVO!!!

[@sini4589]

13:26 sakoメナトのコンボやばすぎやろ

[@xenoroach9729]

The white dude at 00:30 is like " pls guys let me in"

[@tashi32_]

can we just take a moment to appreciate that lowhide pop off at 22:34 lmaoooooo that was the best

[@DarttheLegend]

I just want to say something. Fighting game is a really great thing.

[@ganjatrooper7193]

LOOKS AT THE TIME!!! LOOK ATTT ITTTT!!!!!!! man Aris knows how to hype matches up.

[@y.y.4088]

Were the hypest moments of the crowd lil majins run and the cell scream or did I miss anything?

[@Laertes00]

22:13 Lost Soul with the Bedman-level pop-off.