PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdemar Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Belfort
vs
Santos

170 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valdemar Santos!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.
Santos tries for a takedown but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belfort could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Belfort closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Horrible takedown by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Belfort which made him look bad.
Santos closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andre Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdemar Santos.
Santos dodges the punch combination from Belfort.
Belfort misses with a two punch combination.
Santos shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Valdemar Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Santos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Belfort scores with a one two! Santos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Belfort tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Santos looks gassed!
Santos shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Belfort lands a two punch combo.
Santos shoots in for a double leg but Belfort sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Belfort.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Belfort lands a right hook to the body.

Belfort fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos, pushing him back against the cage.

Belfort manages to break the clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Belfort.
Santos looks for a takedown but Belfort sprawls well.
Belfort misses with the combination.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort thuds his right hand into Santos's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Belfort stalks Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Santos's face. Santos staggers backwards, shaken.
Some wild striking there from Belfort.
Belfort scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belfort sprawls well. Belfort wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Belfort misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belfort!
Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
Santos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Belfort is working the combinations to good effect here.
Belfort lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Belfort throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice body punch from Belfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Belfort dominated that 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.

Belfort takes the fight into the clinch.
Santos is working Belfort over against the cage.

Belfort breaks from the clinch.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Belfort closes the distance and clinches.

Belfort pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andre Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdemar Santos.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Danga de danga de dang - Belfort scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belfort!
Belfort lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Belfort.
Santos shoots in for a double leg but Belfort sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Belfort feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Belfort gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belfort jabs at Santos's body.
Belfort lands a jab-cross combination.
Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.
Santos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Belfort counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santos tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily
and Belfort counters with a low kick, right behind Santos 's knee.
Belfort cracks Santos with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.

Belfort forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.

Belfort's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santos.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belfort!
Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Belfort decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santos's guard.

Belfort gets to his feet - Santos follows without any prompting.
Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
Santos misses with a takedown
and Belfort counters with a two punch combo.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Santos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Santos has his takedown stuffed
and Belfort counters with a stiff right hand.
Belfort lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santos fails with the takedown

and Belfort counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Santos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Belfort wants to get back to striking at distance but Santos won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Belfort dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Santos has his takedown stuffed
and Belfort counters with a series of strikes. Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.

Belfort has closed the distance and engaged Santos in a clinch.

Belfort breaks the clinch.
Santos looks to clinch
and Belfort counters with a series of strikes. Santos will be more careful next time no doubt.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santos won't be happy with that.
Belfort working the head with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort wants to control but Santos is keeping him busy.
Santos gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is working to get back to half guard.
Belfort controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort looking to finish with strikes here!
Belfort knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.
Belfort pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Santos is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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.

Santos bucks up and throws Belfort to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Belfort throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.

Santos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Belfort's guard.
Santos postures up in Belfort's guard and throws a big left but Belfort blocks it.
Santos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Santos lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Belfort trying to keep a closed guard but Santos is proving a slippery customer.
Belfort wants to stand up but Santos is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Belfort decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santos's guard.
Andre Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdemar Santos.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Santos controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort won't allow Santos to sweep him here.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Belfort wants to stand but Santos is controlling his posture from full guard.

Santos pushes Belfort off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Santos shoots and misses

and Belfort counters by clinching up.

Belfort breaks the clinch.
Valdemar Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andre Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort is looking to wear down Santos with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Santos throws a predictable looking body shot
and Belfort counters with a three punch combo that has Santos backing up. Santos nods at Belfort to acknowledge the 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 Andre Belfort.
Well Belfort has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Belfort!