PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nelson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Don't Mean A Thing. The crowd seem to be enjoying Better's choice of entrance music: Mother by Danzig. Evan Better will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nelson
vs
Better

176 cm
28
183 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

188 cm
28
181 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
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 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roy Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evan Better!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson cracks Better with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.
Better takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Better's coach down at Bi-Polar Asylum LV's #1 Public Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Better's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nelson misses with a body kick.
Better misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nelson.
Better tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nelson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Better throws a leg kick which misses Nelson's front leg but catches the back leg as Nelson tries to avoid it.
Nelson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Better throws out the jab.
Nelson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nelson digs a good body shot into Better's ribs.
Better throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Better ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Better slips a jab and a cross from Nelson.
Nelson throws a body punch but Better moves out of range.
Roy Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Better tries to clinch but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson misses with a body shot
and Better counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Better tried to score with a low kick but Nelson checks it.
Nelson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Better thuds a left hand into Nelson's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Better cracks Nelson with a good jab.
Nelson blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nelson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Better.
Nelson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nelson shoots in but no luck this time.
Nelson looks to throw the jab but Better is out of range.
Better feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nelson's calf.
No joy there for Nelson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Better fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nelson sprawls well initially but Better persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nelson is looking to escape.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Better is pressing down on Nelson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nelson is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Better passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nelson can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Better swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nelson is now in Better's guard. A big mistake from Better there, giving up the dominant position!
We've been hearing that Nelson has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Nelson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nelson postures up.
Better looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Better wants to sweep but no luck.
Better is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nelson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better managing to control the position.
Better is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nelson 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.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Better keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Better is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Better not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Better is trying to control the action in half guard but Nelson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Better not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Better keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Better is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Better is working for a kimura but Nelson is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Better dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nelson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Better to the ground. Nelson is now in Better's guard.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Better is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Better.
Better controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson wants to get up but he can't break Better's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Better not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Better is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Better had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nelson defends it easily.
Nelson looking to pass the guard.
Better seems keen to control Nelson's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Better keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nelson.
Better bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nelson's head.
Better misses with a hook. Nelson ducked under it nicely.
Nelson is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Better's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Better takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Better throws a nice inside leg kick.
Better showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nelson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson checks a low kick from Better.
Better throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nelson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nelson misses with a two punch combination.
Nelson throws a right and a left that Better avoids nicely.
Nelson throws a right hand that Better ducks under and follows up with a left that Better also avoids with ease.
Better fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Better. Nelson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Better thumps Nelson with a low kick.
Better throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Better moves forwards but Nelson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Better stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Better wants it to stay on the feet.
Better blocks a jab.
Better misses the jab.
Nelson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nelson drops his hands momentarily and Better takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Evan Better seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Nelson misses the target.
Nelson misses with an uppercut. Better saw that one coming.
Nelson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Roy Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nelson moves out of range as Better strikes.
Better has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nelson throws a looping overhand right but Better ducks down to avoid it.
Nelson walks into a straight right hand from Better.
Nelson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Better backs up against the cage.
Nelson thuds a left hand into Better's body.
Nelson tries to score with a low kick but Better moves his leg out of the way.
Nelson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Better misses with a series of wild punches.
Nelson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nelson looks to throw the jab but Better is out of range.
Better lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson misses with a wild body shot.
Better is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nelson needs to keep his hands up - Better had a free shot at his head there.
Nelson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Better scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A chopping leg kick lands by Better.
Better misses the shot to the body.
Better wants to slow Nelson down by chopping away at his legs.
Nelson misses with a body shot.
Nelson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nelson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Better counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Better is looking to clinch but Nelson is avoiding it.
Nelson closes the distance and clinches up with Better, looking for a takedown. Nelson pushes Better against the cage but Better circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Better tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nelson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nelson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Better on the side of the head.
Nelson ducks under a wild hook from Better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roy Nelson will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Better jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nelson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Better circles away quickly and effectively.
Better misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Nelson to counter with a crisp jab.
Sloppy strikes from Nelson. Those never looked like landing.
Better appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nelson loads up on a big right hand but Better slips the punch.
A lazy left from Better finds it's target.
Nelson tries to move into range but Better moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nelson walks into a left hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Nelson as he connects with a hook.
Nelson ducks under a wild hook from Better.
Better throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Better turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nelson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Better.
Nelson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Better defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Nelson does no damage.
Nelson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Better.
Better misses the shot to the body.
Nelson misses with a hook.
Nelson misses with a wild body shot.
Better tried to score with a low kick but Nelson checks it.
Better avoids the body shot from Nelson.
Better lands with an overhand left.
Better throws a looping overhand right but Nelson ducks down to avoid it.
Better ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nelson throws a hook but Better avoids it easily.
Better connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nelson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Better circles away quickly and effectively.
Better lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A left lands for Better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better sizes up Nelson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Better scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Better fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nelson checks it well.
Nelson loads up on a big right hand but Better slips the punch.
Better connects with a single shot there.
Better keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Better is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nelson throws a poor cross that misses
and Better counters with a slapping leg kick.
Better uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nelson.
Better slips a straight right by Nelson.
Better was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nelson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Better circles away quickly and effectively.
Better swings for the body but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Better can pounce on him.
Better shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nelson eats them both and turns towards Better to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a jab but it's blocked by Better.
Better throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nelson throws a hook to the side of Better's head but Better sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nelson avoids the body shot from Better.
Better throws a front kick that sends Nelson stumbling back into the cage.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nelson checks a leg kick.
Better with a jab.
Better takes one on the button.
Better dips to his left and cracks Nelson with an uppercut!
Nelson misses with a straight right.
Better tries a low kick but Nelson avoids it.
Better misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick from Better misses
and Better takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nelson misses with a shot to the body
and Better counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson misses with a jab to the body
and Better counters with an outside leg kick.
Nelson checks a low kick from Better.
Better staying out of range there.
Nelson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Some wild striking there from Nelson.
Nelson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nelson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Better lands a right hook to the body.
Better throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nelson has his takedown stuffed
and Better counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Better avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nelson looks to score with a jab to the body but Better is just out of range.
Nelson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Better misses with a body shot.

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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Better!
An out of breath Evan Better thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.