PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Wickleby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort's entrance music is Burn It To The Ground. A fine choice. 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.

Belfort
vs
Wickleby

185 cm
27
187 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

173 cm
28
195 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Hellbent, Inc.™

Fight Club Clothing™
Milwaukee's Best 160 - Go Pack Go

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Wickleby!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wickleby throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wickleby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wickleby lands a jab to Belfort's midsection.

Belfort looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Belfort thows a huge punch but Wickleby dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort wants to pass to mount but Wickleby is defending the position.
Wickleby has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belfort is working away from the top position though.
Wickleby is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Belfort with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Belfort has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Belfort avoids the attempt from Wickleby to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wickleby is wriggling around trying to escape.
Belfort scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Belfort trying to control but Wickleby is having none of it.
Wickleby tries to reverse the position but Belfort maintains control.
Belfort landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort landing strikes, looking to finish!
Belfort tries to control but Wickleby wriggling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wickleby is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wickleby taking shots to the head.
Wickleby tries to hold on but Belfort postures up.
Belfort with shots to the head and body - Wickleby looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wickleby is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.
Wickleby is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Belfort punishing his opponent with strikes.
Belfort looking to finish Wickleby with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wickleby!

Wickleby is rocked!
Belfort has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Belfort looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Belfort tries to control but Wickleby wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort lands a heavy elbow.
Wickleby is still in real trouble! Can Belfort finish him?

Belfort jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Wickleby manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wickleby seems to have recovered his senses.
Wickleby is not content to let Belfort control the position.
Wickleby is looking to reverse the position.
Belfort trying to control the position but Wickleby is working away.
Belfort in side control lands a decent elbow.
Belfort tries to score with some ground and pound. Wickleby controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wickleby is not content to let Belfort control the position.
Belfort in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Wickleby regains half guard.
Belfort moves nicely into side control.
Belfort just content to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wickleby stops Belfort from passing to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Belfort lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Belfort trying to control the position but Wickleby is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A slapping leg kick lands for Belfort.
A good leg kick by Belfort.
Wickleby throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Belfort sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wickleby takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Wickleby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Wickleby.
Belfort uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wickleby.

Belfort is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wickleby's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Belfort there.
Wickleby looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wickleby trying to control here.
Belfort wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wickleby keeps working.
Wickleby gets full guard.
Wickleby wants to sweep but no luck.
Wickleby keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wickleby is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort connects with a couple of short punches.

Wickleby looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Belfort is working Wickleby over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort trying to control but Wickleby is working from the bottom.
Wickleby has his hands on Belfort's head, controlling the position.
Belfort looking to sit in guard and control but Wickleby gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is pulling down on Wickleby's head to control his posture.
Belfort working a defensive guard here.

Belfort working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wickleby doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wickleby manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wickleby lands a couple of digs.
Wickleby trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wickleby lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort controls Wickleby momentarily but Wickleby frees himself.
Wickleby trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Belfort escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wickleby gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wickleby throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wickleby stands up and waves to Belfort to follow him.
Fedor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wickleby stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Belfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice combination there by Wickleby.
Wickleby checks a leg kick nicely.
Belfort misses with a few strikes there.
Wickleby misses with a double jab.
Belfort lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Wickleby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wickleby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Belfort counters with a nice uppercut.
Wickleby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wickleby throws a nice looking combination but Belfort bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belfort slips a straight right by Wickleby.
Belfort cracks Wickleby with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wickleby tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Belfort looks to land a left hand but Wickleby moved out of range nicely.
Belfort changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wickleby tries to avoid it but Belfort manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wickleby to the ground. Wickleby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belfort throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wickleby throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wickleby drops his hands momentarily and Belfort takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Belfort throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Wickleby drives through with a takedown into Belfort's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Belfort looking to control.
Wickleby stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belfort swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wickleby looking to sit in guard and control but Belfort gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ray Wickleby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort postures up and lands a big shot to Wickleby's brow.
Belfort looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Belfort pushes down on Wickleby's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belfort trying to control from half guard but Wickleby is working away.
Belfort performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Belfort thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is looking to advance position but Wickleby won't allow it.
Wickleby tries to roll over but Belfort keeps him under control.
Belfort slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Belfort is looking for a kimura but Wickleby is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Belfort to get the leverage.
Belfort wants to pass to mount but Wickleby is defending the position.
Wickleby is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wickleby is refusing to be controlled, as Belfort sits in half guard.
Belfort lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wickleby wants to get back to full guard.
Belfort thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wickleby's head.
Wickleby works his way to full guard. Good work.
Belfort will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wickleby wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.
Wickleby trying to keep a closed guard but Belfort is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wickleby manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belfort manages to get himself to full guard.
Fedor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort is trying to hold Wickleby in close to prevent damage but Wickleby has managed to pass into half guard.

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 Fedor 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

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