PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Davenport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better comes into the arena with Mother by Danzig blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Better
vs
Davenport

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evan Better!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Davenport!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Better moves in looking to clinch but Davenport pushes him off.

Davenport looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Better wants to control but Davenport is keeping busy.
Davenport takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Davenport trying to mount his opponent but Better defends it.
Better avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Davenport.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davenport perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Davenport wants to control but Better is keeping him busy.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jim Davenport hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Davenport avoids the head kick by Better.

Davenport closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Better quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Davenport manages to mount him!
Better is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davenport misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Davenport sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Davenport looking for a guillotine from mount but Better is having none of it.
Davenport tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Better tries to kick Davenport off but Davenport keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Well, if Davenport is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Better regains full guard. Nicely done.
Davenport must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davenport won't allow Better to get back to his feet.
Davenport stands and throws Better's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Davenport tries to stand but Better is controlling his head.

Davenport is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Better knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Better is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Davenport asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davenport tries to advance to mount but can't.
Davenport wants to stand but Better has his arm trapped.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Better's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Davenport dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Better shoots in for a double leg but Davenport sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Better has Davenport up against the cage in a clinch.
Davenport goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Better is trying to pull guard but Davenport has him pressed against the cage.
Davenport doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Davenport is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Better can't fight it off and eventually Davenport manages to take the fight to the floor. Better looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Davenport sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Davenport prevents Better from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davenport slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Davenport tries to free his leg and advance position but Better is retaining full guard.
Davenport not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Jim Davenport has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Better gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Davenport moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davenport tries for a takedown but Better manages to get underhooks.
Better wants a takedown but no success here.
Better is trying to drag Davenport to the mat but Davenport just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Davenport is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Better gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davenport tries for a takedown but Better manages to get underhooks.
Davenport is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Better pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Better gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Davenport is looking to escape.
Davenport is breathing heavily.
Better is keen to just control but Davenport is a slippery customer.
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!
Davenport is pressing down on Better's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Davenport looking to hit a scissor sweep but Better is one step ahead there.
Davenport keeping moving, preventing Better from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davenport looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Davenport is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Davenport is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Evan Better wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Davenport has taken the fight to the clinch.
Better throws a knee to the head but misses.
Davenport is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davenport pulls guard successfully.
Davenport pulls Better in to control the position.
Better tries to stand but Davenport is controlling from the bottom.
Davenport manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Better manages to get himself to full guard.
Jim Davenport has got the better of the ground game so far.
Better wants to sweep here but Davenport controlling him for the moment.
Better can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Davenport controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davenport trying to control but Better is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Davenport showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Better's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Davenport looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Better is fending him off so far but Davenport persists. Nope, Better circles away and we're back to standing.
Better throws a chopping leg kick but Davenport manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Better tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Davenport swivels and escapes.
Better throws a sloppy head kick and Davenport moves out of range easily.
Better tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Davenport swivels and escapes.

Davenport feints and as Better raises his hands in defense, Davenport changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Davenport's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Davenport would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Davenport postures up and lands a big shot to Better's brow.

Davenport drops back, looking for a kneebar! Better looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Better looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Better!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davenport keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davenport holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Davenport gets back to half guard.

Davenport actively working from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Davenport can do anything to dispel that myth.
Better passes to full mount!
Davenport keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better tries to control but Davenport wriggling away.

Better is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Better misses with a two punch combination.
Davenport circles away from the clinch attempt.
Better has his takedown stuffed

and Davenport decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Better's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Better is looking to stand up but Davenport isn't so interested in that idea.
Davenport pushing down on Better's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davenport controlling the action here.
Better wants to control but Davenport is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Better is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Better is working hard here to advance position.
Evan Better has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davenport is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Davenport prevents Better from improving his position.
Davenport working over Better with some ground and pound. Better looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davenport takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jim Davenport is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Better looking for a kimura from the bottom but Davenport passes into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Davenport comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Davenport 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Davenport!