PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jared Michael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better's entrance music is Mother by Danzig. A fine choice. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Better
vs
Michael

188 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
16
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

GREEN!

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 3 - 1 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jared Michael!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Better fails to land the takedown.
Crunch! Michael slams his shin into Better's torso.
Better checks a leg kick.
Michael motions for Better to come forward. Michael throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Better looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Better controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Michael is trying to keep Better in close.
Michael really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Better. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

We're going to have a standup here because Evan Better wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Better drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Michael tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Better content to stall in guard here.

Better is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Michael is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Michael has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Evan Better wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Michael. No joy for Better on that attempt.
Michael throws a leg kick but Better checks it.
Better fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better staying out of range there.
Michael tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Better paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Better has managed to clinch.
Michael throws a knee to the head but misses.
Michael throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Michael swings wildly with an uppercut but Better uses good head movement to avoid it.
Better has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Michael is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Better has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Michael avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Better fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Better wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Better tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Michael smiles and moves away.
Better shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michael as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael throws a leg kick but Better sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Michael throws a front kick aimed at Better's knee but Better avoids it well.
Michael misses with a leg kick
and Better counters with a right hand to the body.
Michael swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A leg kick checked by Better.
Better shoots in for a takedown but Michael shows good takedown defense.
Michael moves to clinch but Better breaks away
and Better counters with a three punch combo that has Michael backing up. Michael nods at Better to acknowledge the strikes.
Michael fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Better checks it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Michael misses

and Better counters by clinching up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Better's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Michael misses with a right hand
and Better counters with a slapping leg kick.
Jared Michael is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Michael throws the kick towards the body but Better avoids it.
Better ducks right into an uppercut from Michael.
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 Evan Better will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Better walks into a jab.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.
Better swats away the attempt to clinch by Michael.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Better.
Michael misses with a looping left.
Better shoots for a double leg takedown but Michael sprawls well. He's pushed Better's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michael is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice sprawl there from Michael as Better shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Better is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Michael takes a swing at Better's ribcage but misses.

Better scores with a takedown into Michael's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Better stopping the sweep attempt from Michael.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better wants to get up but he can't break Michael's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Better seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Better pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Michael is keeping the position for now.
Better seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Evan Better wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Michael throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Michael, right into the meat.
Michael throws a head kick but Better moves out of range.

Michael gets a clinch.
Better keeps control of Michael as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Better drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Michael gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Better blocks an elbow strike.

Michael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Better is out of range.
Michael is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
An inside leg kick from Michael misses.
Better shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Michael defends it nicely.

Michael gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Better is stalling in the full guard.
Michael 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Evan Better.
Michael throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michael throws a low kick but Better avoids it.
Better tries to clinch up
and Michael counters with a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Better moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Better shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Michael sprawls well. Michael wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Better gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Michael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Michael misses with a leg kick.
Better moves out of range as Michael throws a body kick.

Michael lands a big head kick that sends Better tumbling to the mat! Michael takes a step backwards and waves Better back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Better is rocked!
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!
Michael misses with a hook. Better ducked under it nicely.
Oh Better is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Michael thows a left - swing and a miss!
Michael wants to clinch up but Better keeps it at a distance.
Jared Michael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michael thows a body shot but no joy.
Better seems to have got his legs back now.
Michael tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Michael misses with a straight left.
Michael attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Better tries to clinch but Michael moves out of range.

Michael gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Better to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better wants to control from the top but Michael keeps moving.

Better gets to his feet. Michael looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Michael pivots, looking for a leg kick but Better is out of range and Michael settles back down.
Michael tries to bum rush Better with a series of wild strikes but Better uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jared Michael seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Better moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Michael fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Better checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Michael.
Michael avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Evan Better is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michael attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Better gets a clinch.
Michael tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Better avoids it.
Better jumps guard but Michael stands there with Better around his waist. Better gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Better blocks a body shot from Michael.
Michael fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Michael prevents a takedown attempt there.

Better gets control of Michael's arms and successfully pulls guard. Better will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Better keeping moving, preventing Michael from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jared Michael was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Michael leaves Better with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Better shoots in and bounces Michael off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Better throws a big right hand that misses.
Better stops Michael from standing up.
Better wants to control from the top but Michael keeps moving.
Michael controls Better momentarily but Better frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better preventing the sweep.

We're going to have a standup here because Evan Better wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Better shoots in for a double leg but Michael sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Better steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Michael.
Michael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Better will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Better takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Better avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Michael tries to score with a low kick but Better moves his leg out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jared Michael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Michael has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jared Michael!
Our winner, Jared Michael, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.