PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Loshkarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better has chosen Mother by Danzig as his entrance music. Alexandr Loshkarev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Evan Better's chin.

Loshkarev
vs
Better

165 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

188 cm
25
183 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexandr Loshkarev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evan Better!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Loshkarev or perhaps it was just good defense by Better, which made it look bad.
Alexandr Loshkarev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Better fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Loshkarev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Loshkarev shoots for a double leg takedown but Better sprawls well. He's pushed Loshkarev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Loshkarev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Better tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Better wants to slow Loshkarev down by chopping away at his legs.
Better swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Loshkarev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Loshkarev is defended easily by Better.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Loshkarev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Better ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Loshkarev moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Loshkarev tries for a takedown but Better sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Loshkarev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Better as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better misses with a body shot.
Loshkarev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Loshkarev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Loshkarev shoots for a takedown but Better saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Better leaves Loshkarev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Better has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Better closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Loshkarev to the mat! Loshkarev manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better stands and throws Loshkarev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Loshkarev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Better wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Loshkarev stops Better from passing to mount.
Better working the ground and pound from side control.
Better in side control lands a decent elbow.
Loshkarev's coaches at VENDETTA Elite Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
A lull in the action here as Better stalls from top position.
Better tries to move into full mount but can't pass Loshkarev's legs.
Loshkarev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Better thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev manages to get back to half guard.
Better is trying to control the action in half guard but Loshkarev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Loshkarev tries to roll over but Better keeps him under control.
Better is controlling the pace.

Loshkarev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Better is looking to take a break and control but Loshkarev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Better is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better tries to pass to full mount but Loshkarev defends it.

Loshkarev actively working from the bottom here.
Loshkarev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Better scoring with some ground and pound.
Loshkarev keeping moving, preventing Better from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Better might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Loshkarev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Loshkarev working for a triangle but Better defends it easily.
Loshkarev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Better wants to control from the top but Loshkarev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Better wants to get up but he can't break Loshkarev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Loshkarev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Better defends well.
Better cracks Loshkarev with a solid left hand.

Loshkarev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Better is aware though and is defending well.
Better slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Better wants to control from the top but Loshkarev keeps moving.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Better dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Better shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Loshkarev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Loshkarev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Loshkarev looking for a guillotine here but Better defends easily.
Better pushes down on Loshkarev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Loshkarev regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Loshkarev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Better doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Better manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Better has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Better got a little sloppy there for a moment and Loshkarev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Better has managed to get both his arms back between Loshkarev's legs - danger averted.
Loshkarev has momentary wrist control but Better slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Better landing with the ground and pound.
Better wants to control from the top but Loshkarev keeps moving.

Loshkarev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Loshkarev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Better passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Loshkarev is not content to let Better control the position.
Loshkarev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Loshkarev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Better's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Better there.
Loshkarev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Loshkarev looking for submissions off his back.
Loshkarev is trying to get back to full guard.
Better wants to take a breather but Loshkarev is having none of it.

Better wants to work for an arm triangle but Loshkarev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Better controlling the action here.
Better passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Loshkarev!
Loshkarev slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev is not content to let Better control the position.
Better slows the pace down in half guard.
Loshkarev wants to get back to full guard.
Better is taking a breather. Loshkarev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Loshkarev works his way to full guard. Good work.

Loshkarev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Loshkarev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Better defends well.

Better avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Better landing with the ground and pound.
Better keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Loshkarev's head.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Loshkarev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better passes Loshkarev's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Loshkarev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Better is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Loshkarev defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Loshkarev is not content to let Better control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Better showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Better pivots, looking for a leg kick but Loshkarev is out of range and Better settles back down.
Better scores with a crisp jab that stopped Loshkarev in his tracks.
Better stuffs the takedown attempt from Loshkarev. Loshkarev gets slowly back to his feet.
Better cracks the inside of Loshkarev's front leg.
Better throws out a powerful jab.
Nice takedown defense from Better. No joy for Loshkarev on that attempt.
Better is looking to land body kicks.
Loshkarev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Better counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Loshkarev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Better looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Loshkarev!
Loshkarev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Better thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Better tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Better has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loshkarev is not content to let Better control the position.

Better working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Better tries to advance to mount but can't.
Better wants to lay and pray for a moment but Loshkarev keeps working.
Loshkarev is looking for a sweep.
Alexandr Loshkarev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Better trying to control the position but Loshkarev is working away.
Better happy to just control the position for now.
Better wants to lay and pray for a moment but Loshkarev keeps working.
Better scoring with punches from side control.
Evan Better has got the better of the ground game so far.
Loshkarev tries to bench press Better off him but Better keeps the position.
Loshkarev tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Better presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Better wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Better trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better lands a nice shot to the head.
Loshkarev is squirming around, avoiding Better's attempts to control the action.
Loshkarev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Better with shots to the head and body - Loshkarev looks very uncomfortable down there.
Loshkarev bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Better trying to keep a closed guard but Loshkarev is proving a slippery customer.
Better looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Better is trying to keep Loshkarev in close.

Loshkarev 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!

Evan Better is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev is looking to regain half guard here but Better keeps moving and retains side control.

Better is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Loshkarev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Better is staying tight to Loshkarev's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Loshkarev is looking to regain half guard here but Better keeps moving and retains side control.
Loshkarev throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Better tries for a kimura but Loshkarev is defending well.
Better advances nicely into full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Better comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Better has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Better!
Evan Better tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.