PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carter Martin (ranked 2624 p4p, 308 weight class) and Evan Better (ranked 1430 p4p, 186 weight class). Better has chosen Mother by Danzig as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Martin
vs
Better

190 cm
45
185 lbs
19 - 19 - 0

188 cm
38
181 lbs
30 - 24 - 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 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carter Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Better!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Better tenderised Martin's leg. Martin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Martin scores with the left hand. Better knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.
Martin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Better circles away quickly and effectively.
Better throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Better throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Martin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Better is in Martin's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martin keeping full guard, as Better tries to pass.
Martin working a defensive guard here.
Better postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better throwing strikes but missing.
Martin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Better throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better wants to pass the guard but Martin is keeping the position.
Martin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Better wants to control from the top but Martin keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Better goes for a double leg but Martin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Martin continues to drive forward.
Better lands a nice hook to Martin's body. Martin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Martin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Better lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martin's sensitive parts.
Better connects with the punch.
Better shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martin connects with a single shot there.
Martin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Better counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin misses with a combination
and Better cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martin tries to move into range but Better moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Better fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martin misses the shot to the body.
Martin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Better circles away quickly and effectively.
Better turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Martin throws a body shot but no joy.

Better closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Better lands with a left to the head.
Martin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short uppercut from Better.
Better scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Better escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Martin enables Better to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Martin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Better postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Better tries to free his leg and advance position but Martin is retaining full guard.
Better throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Better from controlling successfully.
Better trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Better trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Better working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Better pushes down on Martin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Better not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Better has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Better thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Better.
Better working over Martin with some ground and pound. Martin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Martin is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at K.O. Koala's, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Better tries to pass the half guard into mount. Martin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Martin wants to control but Better is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Better is pressing down on Martin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martin is holding on for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martin is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Martin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Better cracks Martin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Better throws a nice inside leg kick.
Martin missing with a left hand there. Better was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Better, as that shot connected.
Martin misses with the combination.
Better dips to his left and cracks Martin with an uppercut!
Martin shoots in for a takedown but Better shows good takedown defense.

Martin darts in and clinches Better up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Better pulls guard effortlessly.
Better is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Martin won't allow Better to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin is looking to work some ground and pound but Better has wrist control.
Martin wants to control from the top but Better keeps moving.

Better is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
Martin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Martin is looking to work some ground and pound but Better has wrist control.
Better bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martin's guard.

Evan Better has got the better of the ground game so far.
Better stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin controlling the position.
Martin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Better wants to control from the top but Martin keeps moving.
Better throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Better accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Better's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Better throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martin connects with a single shot there.
Martin misses with a leg kick
and Better counters with a nice low kick that buckles Martin's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Martin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Better.
Better jabs at Martin's body.
Martin throws a leg kick but Better sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Better has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Evan Better seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Better connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Better, right into the meat.
Better stuns Martin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Better scoring well with a low kick there.
Martin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Carter Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martin misses with a double jab
and Better counters with a nice uppercut.
Better misses with a wild body shot.
Martin throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Martin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Better looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Better shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Martin's guard.
Martin is wriggling around but Better manages to pass to half guard.

Better has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Better tries to pass to full mount but Martin defends it.
Martin is trying to maintain the position but Better is very close to passing his half guard.
Better performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Better scoring with strikes to the body and head.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Martin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Better tries a body shot but Martin blocks it.
Better has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Martin after a bit of a struggle.
Better lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Better pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Better.
Better throws a head kick that misses.
Martin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martin darts in trying to clinch

and Better counters with a shoot takedown. Martin fights it but they end up in guard.
Better wants to control from the top but Martin keeps moving.
Better is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Better trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Better trying to control but Martin is working from the bottom.
Better postures up in Martin's guard and throws a big left but Martin blocks it.
Better wants to pass the guard but Martin is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Martin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Martin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Martin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Martin loads up on a big right hand but Better slips the punch.
Martin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Better avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Better turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Better doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Martin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Better buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Martin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Better backs up against the cage.
Better throws a front kick aimed at Martin's knee but Martin avoids it well.
Carter Martin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Better instigates a clinch.
Better tries a knee to the head but Martin blocks it.
Martin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Better missing with knees to the body.
Better tries to pull guard but Martin holds him up against the cage and eventually Better drops back down to his feet.
Carter Martin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Better.
Martin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Martin avoiding damage as Better throws knees to the body.
Better tries to throw a body punch but Martin avoids it by throwing Better back against the cage.
Martin is trying to break the clinch but Better has him pressed against the cage.
Martin lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Better manages to break the clinch.
Carter Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Better digs a good body shot into Martin's ribs.
Martin wants to land a leg kick but Better is out of range.
A nice side step and Better releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Better misses with a takedown attempt
and Martin counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Better closes the distance and clinches.
Better looking to stall.
Better lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Martin.
Evan Better is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Better is trying to pull guard but Martin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Better letting Martin take a breather here.
Evan Better seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Martin is trying to break the clinch but Better has him pressed against the cage.
Martin is looking to break free of the clinch but Better has double underhooks.
Martin throws a head punch that misses.
Martin lands with a short head shot on the inside.

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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Better!
A relieved looking Evan Better thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.