PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gina Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vevrin Betlach (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.

Carano
vs
Betlach

173 cm
25
141 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

176 cm
24
148 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gina Carano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vevrin Betlach!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Betlach takes a swing at Carano's ribcage but misses.
Betlach swings for the body but Carano moves out of range.
Betlach takes a swing at Carano's ribcage but misses.
Carano connects with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Carano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A combination from Betlach does no damage.
Carano thows a body shot but no joy.
Carano throws a hook but Betlach avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Carano.
Carano misses with a head kick.
A swing and a miss from Betlach.
Betlach slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Betlach misses with a body shot.
Carano takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Betlach lands a really nice looking cross but Carano seems unphased.
Carano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Betlach throws out the jab.
Carano connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betlach connects with a jab.
Carano connects with a body shot that sends Betlach's belly button to the back.
A head kick misses from Carano.
Betlach chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Carano can pounce on him.
Carano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Carano throws a big shot that misses.
Betlach throws a sloppy body shot
and Carano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Betlach's knee momentarily.
Betlach clobbers Carano with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Carano throws a leg kick but Betlach sees it coming and moves out of range.
Carano is looking to chop away at Betlach's legs.
Betlach lands a jab to Carano's midsection.
Betlach takes one to the side of the head.
Betlach ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Betlach takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betlach slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A cross from Carano lands.
Betlach avoids the head kick by Carano.
Betlach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carano.
Betlach misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Betlach. Carano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carano staying out of range there.
Betlach fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
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!
Carano looks to throw the jab but Betlach is out of range.
Carano thuds his shin into the meat of Betlach's side.
Carano throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Carano throws a head kick that Betlach semi-blocks.
Vevrin Betlach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left lands for Carano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid body kick from Carano.
Betlach looks gassed!
That kick from Carano tenderised Betlach's leg. Betlach is trying to keep his angry face on.
Betlach comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Carano pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Carano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Betlach.
Carano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Betlach.
Betlach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Carano throws a head kick that misses.
Betlach throws an overhand right that lands on Carano's shoulder, as Carano tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Betlach throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab, jab by Carano - just one landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano tries a low kick but Betlach avoids it.
Nice uppercut lands for Carano. That snapped Betlach's head back.
Carano defending well as Betlach loads up on a big left hand.
Carano defending well as Betlach loads up on a big left hand.
Betlach throws out a loose jab but Carano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Betlach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carano was well out of range. Poor timing from Betlach.
Carano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Betlach.
Betlach circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Betlach is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Carano.
Carano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Betlach misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Carano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Betlach's knee momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Carano. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Carano.
Carano scores with a spinning back kick!
Carano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Betlach.
Betlach throws a hook but Carano avoids it easily.
Carano lands a glancing blow to the side of Betlach's head.
Betlach swats away the attempt to clinch by Carano.
Carano thows a body kick. Betlach tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Carano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Betlach.
Carano scores with a jab to the body.
Betlach is breathing heavily.
Carano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carano throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A nice inside leg kick there by Carano. That's going to slow Betlach down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano scores with a head kick. Betlach tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Carano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Betlach.
Carano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Betlach is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Carano scores with a leg kick.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Betlach might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Carano has got the better of the exchanges.
Betlach takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Carano throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Betlach takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Betlach walks forward, straight into a front kick from Carano.
Good leg kick by Carano there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Carano misses with a body shot.
Betlach takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Carano defending well as Betlach loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Carano does it's job there.
Carano connects with a leg kick. Betlach looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Carano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Carano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice jab there from Carano.
Betlach walks into a jab.
Betlach takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Betlach takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Betlach takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Carano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carano works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gina Carano is winning the standup battle so far.
Betlach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carano was well out of range. Poor timing from Betlach.
Nice jab there from Carano.
Betlach has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Carano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carano.
Carano throws a head kick that half lands.

Betlach is rocked!
Carano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Betlach is still on wobbly legs! Can Carano finish him?
Carano misses with a head kick.

Carano pushes Betlach up against the cage in a clinch.
Betlach seems to have recovered his senses.
Carano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Carano scores with a knee to the head.
Betlach blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Betlach's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A short right from Carano on the inside.
Carano is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Carano looking to throw knees to the head but Betlach is blocking nicely.
Carano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Betlach can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Carano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Betlach trying to control the position but instead, Carano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Betlach into the cage.
Carano working aggressively here.
Carano tries to throw a body punch but Betlach avoids it by throwing Carano back against the cage.
Betlach working hard to break the clinch.
Carano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Betlach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carano prevents Betlach from breaking the clinch.
Betlach can't break the clinch.
Carano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Betlach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano 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.

Carano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Carano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Betlach.
A big right from Carano misses.
Betlach waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Carano.
Betlach waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Carano.
Betlach needs to keep his hands up - Carano had a free shot at his head there.
Carano throws a body kick that misses.
Betlach just misses with a punch to the body.
Carano thumps Betlach with a low kick.
Betlach's jab looks to have found its range, popping Carano under the eye.
Betlach takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Carano clinches up against the cage.
Carano lands a hook to the side of the head.
Carano lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano tries to land a knee to the head but Betlach blocks with his arms.
Carano throws a knee to the head but misses.
Carano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Carano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Carano breaks the clinch.
Betlach checks the leg kick nicely there.
A swing and a miss from Betlach.
Betlach throws a shot from downtown. Carano moves away and avoids it.
Carano staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Betlach throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good leg kick by Carano there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

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.
Carano takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Betlach swings for the body but Carano moves out of range.
Carano throws a head kick that misses.
Betlach misses with a looping left.
Betlach misses with a straight right.
Carano is looking to slow Betlach down with leg kicks.
Betlach misses with a body punch
and Carano counters with a nice kick to the body.
Carano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Carano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Carano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Betlach.
Carano throws a sloppy head kick and Betlach moves out of range easily.
Carano connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach checks a leg kick.
Carano lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carano delivers a nice body kick.
Betlach misses with a jab to the body
and Carano counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carano, as that shot connected.
Carano lunges at Betlach with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Betlach's hand.
Nice defenses there by Carano.
Betlach takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Carano scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A jab lands there for Carano.
Carano fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Betlach.
Carano scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betlach misses with a wild body shot.
Carano is looking to clinch but Betlach is avoiding it.
Carano lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Carano tries to land a front kick but Betlach steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Betlach has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Carano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A cross from Carano lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carano throws a head kick that half lands.
Carano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Betlach.
Carano throws a sloppy head kick and Betlach moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carano lands with a kick to the temple. Betlach shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Carano lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Carano tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Betlach is able to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Betlach throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Carano tries a head kick but it misses.
Carano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carano ducks under a wild hook from Betlach.
Betlach misses with an uppercut. Carano saw that one coming.
Betlach thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Betlach has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Betlach swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Betlach throws a sloppy body shot
and Carano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carano is looking to slow Betlach down with leg kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Betlach is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Carano throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano lands a head kick. Betlach smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Carano tries a head kick but it misses.
Betlach throws a big shot that misses.
Betlach ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Carano moves away.
Betlach takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Carano throws a nice head kick!
Carano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Betlach.
Carano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Carano throws a sloppy head kick and Betlach moves out of range easily.
Betlach throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A good leg kick by Carano.
Carano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano throws a front kick that sends Betlach stumbling back into the cage.
Carano pushes Betlach away with a front kick.
Good leg kick by Carano there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Betlach avoids the head kick by Carano.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carano fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Betlach on the side of the head.
Carano misses with a body shot.
Betlach throws a predictable looking body shot
and Carano counters with a good low kick that Betlach was not able to check.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Carano.
Carano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Betlach checks a leg kick.
Betlach misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach misses with an uppercut.
A head kick misses from Carano.
Carano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Carano slips a straight right by Betlach.
Betlach thows a body shot but no joy.
Betlach lands a nice looking body shot.
Betlach avoids the head kick by Carano.
Carano cracks the inside of Betlach's front leg.
Betlach ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carano tries a head kick but it misses.
Betlach missing with a left hand there. Carano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Betlach throws a combination that misses
and Carano counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Betlach lands an impressive looking overhand right. Carano doesn't seem phased though.
Carano wants to clinch.
Betlach ducks under a wild hook from Carano.
Carano moves out of range as Betlach strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Betlach misses the target.
Betlach walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Carano tries to score with a low kick but Betlach moves his leg out of the way.
Carano throws a front kick aimed at Betlach's knee but Betlach avoids it well.
Carano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano had his way with Vevrin Betlach in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Betlach throws a predictable looking body shot
and Carano counters with an outside leg kick.
Betlach misses with a body shot
and Carano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carano moves away from the strike by Betlach.
Carano swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Betlach counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Carano throws a head kick but Betlach moves out of range.
Betlach stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carano.
Betlach changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Betlach misses with a looping left.
Nice defenses there by Betlach.
Carano feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Betlach's calf.
Betlach is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Carano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Betlach.
Carano throws a body kick that misses.
Carano tries a low kick but Betlach avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betlach slips under a jab.
Carano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Betlach listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Carano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Betlach.
Carano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Betlach.
Betlach throws a looping overhand right but Carano ducks down to avoid it.
Betlach lands a slapping body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Betlach misses the target.
Betlach throws a body punch but Carano moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Carano.
Carano fakes the leg kick and cracks Betlach in the body.
Betlach has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Carano.
Gina Carano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Carano lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Betlach avoids the head kick by Carano.
Carano delivers a nice body kick.
Betlach circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to the liver by Carano. Beautiful body shot.
Carano needs to keep his hands up - Betlach had a free shot at his head there.
Betlach looks to score with a jab to the body but Carano is just out of range.
Carano connects with a jab.
Carano is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Betlach takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Carano bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Betlach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Carano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Betlach misses the body punch
and Carano counters with a straight right hand.
Carano scores with a sloppy right hand. Betlach should have avoided that one.
Betlach throws a sloppy body shot
and Carano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Carano connects with a right hand. Betlach shakes it off.
Carano fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Betlach.
Betlach misses with a shot to the body
and Carano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Carano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Betlach. That did some damage!
Betlach misses with a jab to the body
and Carano counters with a head kick. That will keep Betlach thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Carano delivers a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Betlach on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Carano. Carano obviously looking to wear him down.
Carano misses with a head kick.
Betlach takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Carano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Carano.
Carano scores with a body shot.
Vevrin Betlach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Betlach looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carano lands with a kick to the temple. Betlach shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Betlach stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carano.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Betlach throws an overhand right that lands on Carano's shoulder, as Carano tries to avoid the shot.
Carano scores with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gina Carano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Carano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 50:44
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 50:43
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gina Carano!
Gina Carano retains his bantamweight title!