PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Verginelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Verginelli
vs
Belfort

184 cm
20
189 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Verginelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort closes the distance and clinches.
Belfort tries to land knees in the clinch but Verginelli avoids the damage to the body.
Verginelli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Belfort pulls guard.
Verginelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Verginelli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Verginelli postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Belfort is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Verginelli, into his guard.
Verginelli keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Belfort tries to stand but Verginelli is controlling from the bottom.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Verginelli is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verginelli looking for a guillotine here but Belfort defends easily.

Verginelli working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.

Verginelli has an active guard here but Belfort has managed to pass into half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Verginelli is keeping him busy.
Verginelli is trying to get back to full guard.
Verginelli moves into full guard.
Belfort looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Verginelli is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belfort defends well.
Verginelli is breathing heavily.

Belfort gets to his feet - Verginelli follows without any prompting.
No luck for Verginelli with that takedown attempt.
Verginelli misses with a wild combination.
Verginelli throws a series of punches but Belfort moves out of range.
Belfort showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Verginelli.
Belfort goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Belfort looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verginelli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Belfort postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Verginelli to stand up.

Belfort has Verginelli up against the cage in a clinch.

Belfort wants the takedown. Verginelli is fighting it off but Belfort persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Verginelli's guard against the cage.
Belfort is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Belfort drops back looking for a leg! Verginelli is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Verginelli manages to kick Belfort off! Belfort jumps back into Verginelli's guard.
Belfort postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Verginelli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Belfort stands up from Verginelli's guard - Belfort perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort moves out of range of the leg kick from Verginelli.
Belfort tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verginelli moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Belfort bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Verginelli's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Verginelli tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belfort wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Verginelli's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Belfort dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Belfort shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Verginelli's guard.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Verginelli keeps moving.

Verginelli working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.

Verginelli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Belfort slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Verginelli keeps moving.

Belfort gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort clinches.
Belfort stalling in the clinch.

Belfort ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Belfort no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Belfort wants to stand but Verginelli is controlling the position.
Belfort is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Verginelli thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Verginelli from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Verginelli is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Belfort is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Belfort has escaped and now he's on top!
Verginelli working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort landing some decent shots from guard.

Belfort drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belfort jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Belfort trying to control but Verginelli is working from the bottom.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Verginelli is keeping the position.
Verginelli keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.

Belfort has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Verginelli to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Belfort is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Verginelli pulls down on the head and he's put Belfort to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mike Verginelli!