PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carter Martin (ranked 1567 p4p, 208 weight class) and Evan Better (ranked 1402 p4p, 189 weight class). Better has chosen Mother by Danzig as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Carter Martin is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Martin
vs
Better

190 cm
45
185 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

188 cm
37
181 lbs
29 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

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 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carter Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Better!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Better throws a low kick but it's checked well by Martin.
Good leg kick by Better there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Martin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Martin walks into a straight right hand from Better.
Martin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Better counters with a good low kick that Martin was not able to check.
Better's corner calls for a 1-2. Better obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Better with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Martin scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.

Better closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Better lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Better missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Better controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Better throws an elbow that misses. Martin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Better's guard. Nice move by Martin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better has his hands on Martin's head, controlling the position.
Better has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
Better keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
Martin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Martin stands up over Better, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Better is looking to sweep but instead, Martin has passed into half guard.

Better actively working from the bottom here.
Martin misses with a head shot. Better uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Martin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Martin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Better pulls Martin in close to prevent any damage.
Martin postures up.

Better working for a triangle but Martin defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin lands a couple of digs.
Martin wants to stand but Better is controlling his posture from full guard.

Better working for a triangle but Martin defends it easily.
Martin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Better holds on and takes a little breather.
Better trying to control the position.
Martin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Better looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Better looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Martin throws an elbow that misses. Better uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Martin's guard. Nice move by Better!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Better missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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.

Better throws a combination that misses
and Martin counters with a one-two to the body.
Better connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A slow jab from Martin misses its intended target.
Martin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Martin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Better steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Martin.
Better with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice body punch from Better.
Better throws a head kick that half lands.
Better throws a quick inside leg kick.
Evan Better seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Martin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Better counters with a straight right hand.
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!

Martin tries to sprawl but Better drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Better scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Better in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better thows a huge punch but Martin dodges it nicely.
Better sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Martin defending well though.
Better is pressing down on Martin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martin is holding on for now.
Better missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Martin is looking to control Better's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Martin avoid being mounted?
Better is looking to stall here but Martin recovers full guard.
Better tries to free his leg and advance position but Martin is retaining full guard.
Evan Better has got the better of the ground game so far.

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 from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martin looking for a sweep. Not yet Martin, not yet.
Better sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Martin misses with a leg kick.
Better has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martin throws a poor cross that misses
and Better counters with a thumping low kick.
Better cracks the inside of Martin's front leg.
Martin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Better tries to clinch up but Martin circles away and keeps his distance.
Martin misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Better.
Better throws a leg kick but Martin checks it.
Better lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A good leg kick by Better.
Martin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Better moves out of range of the leg kick from Martin.
Better staying out of range there.
Better only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Better lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Better uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martin.
Martin misses with a combination
letting Better counter with a right hand.
Better has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Martin throws an off balance right hand
and Better connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Better uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Martin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Martin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Better counters with a low kick, right behind Martin 's knee.
Martin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Better.
Martin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Better counters with a nice double leg into side control. Martin won't be happy with that.

Martin sneaks out the side door and pushes Better away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Carter Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martin tries to bum rush Better with a series of wild strikes but Better uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Better keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martin throws a series of punches but Better avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Better throws a nice outside leg kick.
Better doesn't manage to clinch there - Martin circles away.
Better scores with a jab.
Martin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Better misses with the combination.
That kick from Better tenderised Martin's leg. Martin is trying to keep his angry face on.
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 cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Martin throws an overhand right that lands on Better's shoulder, as Better tries to avoid the shot.
Martin throws a right and a left that Better avoids nicely.
Martin swings widly with a right hand
and Better counters with a leg kick.
Martin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Martin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Better counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Martin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Better clinches with his opponent.
A knee to the head by Better.

Better breaks the clinch.
Martin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Better feints and then cracks Martin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Martin down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Better throws a nice outside leg kick.
Better scores with a decent looking hook.
A head kick misses from Better.
Martin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Better bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Martin's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better moves away from the strike by Martin.
Better uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martin.
Better ducks under a wild hook from Martin.
Better replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Martin blocks it well.
Better fails with a takedown attempt.
Better shoots in looking for a takedown. Martin tries to sprawl out of it but Better keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Better stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Better fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Better fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Martin manages to avoid it.
Martin checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a leg kick but Better moved away.
Martin throws a body shot but no joy.
Martin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Better fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Martin checks it well.
Martin looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Martin attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Better moves out of range as Martin strikes.
A leg kick checked by Martin.
Martin tries to bum rush Better with a series of wild strikes but Better uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Martin.
Better scores with a shot to the body.
Carter Martin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martin shoots in looking for a takedown. Better tries to sprawl out of it but Martin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Better manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Better counters with a slapping leg kick.
Better throws a leg kick which misses Martin's front leg but catches the back leg as Martin tries to avoid it.
Better scoring well with a low kick there.
Better cracks Martin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Better pushes Martin away with a front kick.
Better will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Carter Martin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Better.
Martin throws an off balance right hand
and Better counters with a thumping low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Better, right into the meat.
Martin throws a body punch but Better moves out of range.
Better moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Better closes the distance and clinches.
Martin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Better pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Martin misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Better connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Better looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Evan Better is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Better lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martin's sensitive parts.
Nice defenses there by Better.
Better takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Martin tries to bum rush Better with a series of wild strikes but Better uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Better misses with the combination.
Martin misses with a looping left.
Better lands a jab to Martin's midsection.

Better closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Martin seems a little lost for a moment, as Better dominates the positioning.

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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Better!
Evan Better seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.