PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustaf Stenbeck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better comes to the cage accompanied by Mother by Danzig. Gustaf Stenbeck has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Better
vs
Stenbeck

188 cm
35
181 lbs
24 - 19 - 0

180 cm
28
192 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Evan Better!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gustaf Stenbeck!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Stenbeck misses

and Better counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Stenbeck!
Stenbeck is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Better working the body and head with strikes.
Stenbeck holds on to Better's head and controls the position momentarily.

Better tries for a kimura but Stenbeck is defending well.
Stenbeck avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better cracks Stenbeck with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenbeck is looking to reverse the position.
Better prevents Stenbeck from escaping the position.
You can see the frustration on Stenbeck's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Better scoring with punches from side control.
Better working the head with strikes.
Stenbeck is trying to buck Better off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Better cracks Stenbeck with a big right hand but Stenbeck just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better landing strikes.
Stenbeck wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Better wants to take a breather but Stenbeck manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Better.
Stenbeck trying to control the position.
Better throws a big elbow that misses.
Stenbeck keeping moving, preventing Better from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better preventing the sweep.
Stenbeck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stenbeck can't keep his opponent in guard - Better advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stenbeck wants to get back to full guard.
Better trying to control from half guard but Stenbeck is working away.
Better is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Better scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stenbeck tries to kick Better off but Better keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Better has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Stenbeck trying to control but Better postures up.
Stenbeck keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stenbeck trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Better with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Better checks a low kick from Stenbeck.
Better moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stenbeck takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Better swings for the body but Stenbeck moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Better dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stenbeck closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Better closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stenbeck to the mat! Stenbeck manages to get full guard.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Stenbeck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Better controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Better won't allow Stenbeck to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Stenbeck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better postures up and lands a big shot to Stenbeck's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenbeck wants to stand and escape but Better is having none of it.
Better chips away with some ground and pound.
Better passes Stenbeck's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Better is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Better missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Better seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stenbeck does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stenbeck tries to roll over but Better keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Better is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stenbeck has managed to free his arm - good work.
Better is trying to control. Stenbeck wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stenbeck trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Better manages to pass to mount!
Better raining down shots from the mount!
Better fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck is squirming around, avoiding Better's attempts to control the action.
Better working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Stenbeck can't escape the position.
Stenbeck slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Stenbeck has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Better wants to free his trapped foot but Stenbeck is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Better stops Stenbeck from getting back to his feet.
Stenbeck tries to roll over but Better keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck is holding on to half guard well.
Stenbeck is pressing down on Better's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stenbeck looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Stenbeck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stenbeck is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Better trying to control but Stenbeck is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Better moves out of range of the strikes.
Better shoots in and drives through. Stenbeck sprawls well.
Stenbeck avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stenbeck replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Better blocks it well.
Stenbeck throws out a loose jab but Better uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stenbeck throws an off balance right hand
enabling Better to counter with a crisp jab.
Stenbeck blocks a low kick nicely.
Better fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Better is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stenbeck can do to turn this around?
Stenbeck connects with a solid leg kick.
Stenbeck takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenbeck chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Better can pounce on him.
Stenbeck has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Better.
A shot to the body from Better misses
and Stenbeck counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.
Stenbeck moves out of range of the body kick from Better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Better misses its intended target.
Better misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stenbeck counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Better thinking.
Gustaf Stenbeck is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Better looks to score with a jab to the body but Stenbeck is just out of range.
Better is looking to wear down Stenbeck with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stenbeck misses with a jab, cross combination.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Better crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stenbeck - the referee stops the clock and Better gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stenbeck. Better manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Stenbeck throws a body kick that misses.
Stenbeck connects with a body shot that sends Better's belly button to the back.
Stenbeck tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Stenbeck as Better shoots in.
Stenbeck throws a low kick but Better avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck throws a half hearted mid kick.
Better tries for a takedown but Stenbeck sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Better is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stenbeck.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Better tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stenbeck was well out of range. Poor timing from Better.
Stenbeck misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gustaf Stenbeck seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stenbeck with a jab.
Good shot there by Better.
Better scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Better steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stenbeck.
Better with a body punch. A glancing blow.
An inside leg kick lands from Better.
Stenbeck throws out a loose jab but Better uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck connects with the punch.
Stenbeck moves away from the strike by Better.
Stenbeck throws out a counter right but Better avoids it with no problem.
A clash of legs there as Stenbeck blocks the low kick.
Stenbeck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Better stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stenbeck.
Stenbeck feints and then cracks Better's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Better down.
Stenbeck throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Better throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stenbeck scores with a nice body kick.
Better throws a shot from downtown. Stenbeck moves away and avoids it.
Stenbeck walks into a stiff left hand from Better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Better misses with a body shot.
Better wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Better takes a swing at Stenbeck's ribcage but misses.
Stenbeck dodges the punch combination from Better.
Stenbeck throws out a counter right but Better avoids it with no problem.
Better misses with a jab to the body
and Stenbeck counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Better throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Better shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Stenbeck has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Better is on him like a limpet, forcing Stenbeck back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Gustaf Stenbeck just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Better lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stenbeck's sensitive parts.
Better is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Better takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Good shot there by Stenbeck.
Better shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed right hand from Stenbeck misses the target.
Better throws a body punch but Stenbeck moves out of range.
Stenbeck looks to score with a jab to the body but Better is just out of range.
Better thinks about countering with a head kick.
Better lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Better does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Better gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stenbeck looks to land a right hand but Better moved out of range.
It looks like Better has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better moves out of range of the strikes.
Better uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stenbeck.
Better throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stenbeck takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Better.
Stenbeck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Stenbeck lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Stenbeck fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Better manages to avoid it.
Better staying out of range there.
Nice body kick there by Better.
Better fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Better. Stenbeck does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Stenbeck on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Better throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stenbeck appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Better connects with a crisp jab.
Better connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stenbeck momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Better. Stenbeck does a little dance to reset his feet.
Evan Better seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stenbeck has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Better.
Stenbeck takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stenbeck throws a wild body kick that Better sees coming a mile off.
Stenbeck lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Evan Better's cut is getting worse.
Better throws the left hand but Stenbeck avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Stenbeck misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better slips under a jab from Stenbeck.
Better throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stenbeck stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Better looks to land a combination but Stenbeck avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Stenbeck misses the target.
Better closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stenbeck circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Better checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Better uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stenbeck.
Good leg kick by Better there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A slow jab from Stenbeck misses its intended target.
Stenbeck bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Better's head.
Better tries to clinch but Stenbeck is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenbeck throws an overhand right that lands on Better's shoulder, as Better tries to avoid the shot.
Better looks to score with a jab to the body but Stenbeck is just out of range.
Stenbeck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Stenbeck with a nice cross.
Stenbeck scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Better lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Better misses
and Stenbeck counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Better thinking.
Better fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stenbeck slips a jab from Better.
Stenbeck tries a head kick but it misses.
Better throwing a counter right hand but Stenbeck manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Gustaf Stenbeck will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Stenbeck on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Better misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stenbeck on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Better. Better obviously looking to wear him down.
Better shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stenbeck as he avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Stenbeck throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Better fires out a quick counter leg kick but Stenbeck just manages to avoid it.
Better takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stenbeck takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stenbeck misses with the combination.
Better feinted with a counter takedown.
Better gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stenbeck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better missing with a left hand there. Stenbeck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Better.
Better lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Stenbeck checks a low kick from Better.
Better scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stenbeck doesn't seem bothered though.
Stenbeck avoids the head kick by Better.
It seemed like Stenbeck was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Better throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stenbeck throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Better stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stenbeck chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stenbeck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stenbeck counters with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better lands with a good body shot.
Stenbeck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Better cracks the inside of Stenbeck's front leg.
Good work by Better as he checks the leg kick.
Better closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stenbeck circles away.
Stenbeck throws out a counter right but Better avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Better. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stenbeck missing with a left hand there. Better was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stenbeck takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Better closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stenbeck lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stenbeck lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Stenbeck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better throws a body punch but Stenbeck moves out of range.
Stenbeck throws the kick towards the body but Better avoids it.
Better tries to counter with a takedown but Stenbeck is quick to defend against it.
A big right from Better misses.
A swing and a miss from Stenbeck.
Better half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Better takes one to the side of the head.
Stenbeck throws a lazy head kick
letting Better counter with a right hand.
Stenbeck tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Better paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Better jabs at Stenbeck's body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stenbeck checks a leg kick.
Stenbeck feints a counter leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stenbeck.
Stenbeck misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better lands a leg kick that knocks Stenbeck off balance momentarily.
Stenbeck misses with an attempted mid kick.
Better half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Stenbeck looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Better fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stenbeck.
Better bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Better uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stenbeck.
Stenbeck rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Better moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stenbeck avoids the body shot from Better.
Better slips a straight right by Stenbeck.
Nice sprawl there from Stenbeck as Better shoots in.
Better moves out of range as Stenbeck strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Evan Better.
I think Better has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 47:48
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 48:47
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Evan Better!
A victorious Evan Better thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.