The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word OUTPLAYS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
O
U
T
P
L
A
Y
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Performs better than" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case performs better than = outplays.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OUTPLAYS mean?
OUTPLAYS verb- To excel or defeat in a game; to play better than.