PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Balboa's choice of entrance music: Eye of the Tiger. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Belfort
vs
Balboa

184 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Best Nutrition

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort clinches.

Balboa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Belfort uses from the top position.
Belfort trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Belfort in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.

Belfort got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balboa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Belfort has managed to get both his arms back between Balboa's legs - danger averted.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Belfort is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Balboa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Balboa stops Belfort from getting back to his feet.

Belfort makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balboa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Belfort to the ground. Balboa is now in Belfort's guard.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Balboa isn't so interested in that idea.
Balboa trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Balboa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Belfort avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balboa prevents Belfort from getting back to his feet.
Balboa tries to stand but Belfort is controlling from the bottom.
Belfort is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Belfort is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Balboa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rocky Balboa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Belfort fails in his attempt to clinch.

Balboa moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort wants to get back to striking at distance but Balboa won't allow it.
Belfort swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balboa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Belfort swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belfort lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Belfort misses with the head strike.
Belfort tries to stall but Balboa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Belfort doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to land knees to the body.

Balboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belfort moves to clinch but Balboa breaks away

and Balboa counters with a shoot takedown. Belfort fights it but they end up in guard.
Balboa wants to pass the guard but Belfort is keeping the position.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Balboa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Balboa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balboa stops Belfort from standing up.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Balboa wants to stand but Belfort has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rocky Balboa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Balboa shoots in and gets a takedown into Belfort's guard.
Balboa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Balboa won't allow Belfort to get back to his feet.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Balboa isn't so interested in that idea.
Balboa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balboa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Belfort quickly recovers to half guard.
Balboa is trying to control the action in half guard but Belfort is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Balboa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balboa trying to mount his opponent but Belfort defends it.

Belfort pushes Balboa off and gets back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort tries to clinch up but Balboa circles away and keeps his distance.
Belfort is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Balboa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Balboa is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort bucks up and tries to throw Balboa off but instead Balboa has got his back!
Belfort trying to get back to his feet but Balboa is in full control for now.
Belfort staying busy and making it hard for Balboa to control.

Balboa working for the choke.

Balboa is persistently looking for the submission but Belfort is defending it well.

Balboa is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to get back to his feet but Balboa is in full control for now.
Balboa missing with strikes from the back.
Will Balboa go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Belfort fending off the submission attempt from Balboa.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Belfort has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balboa looking for the choke but no joy.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Balboa working for the choke.
Balboa trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is trying to stand back up.

Balboa patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Balboa struggling to keep hold of the position.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Balboa looking to break Belfort's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Belfort remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Balboa will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Belfort is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but Balboa has full control of the position and if anything, Belfort has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Balboa clinches up against the ropes.
Belfort is pressed up against the ropes. Balboa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Belfort down to the mat. Belfort avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belfort but Belfort pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belfort wants to clinch.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
Belfort moves to clinch but Balboa breaks away

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Belfort throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Balboa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Balboa is looking to break free of the clinch but Belfort has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort throws a head punch that misses.
Balboa slowing the pace effectively.
Belfort looking to throw knees to the head but Balboa is blocking nicely.
Balboa blocking some punches.
Balboa has Belfort pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Belfort manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Belfort throws a punch but it's blocked by Balboa.
A nice left hand lands by Belfort.
Belfort looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort prevents the takedown attempt.
Balboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Belfort trying to control the position but instead, Balboa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belfort into the ropes.
Belfort prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort drops down looking for an ankle pick but Balboa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Belfort tries to clinch
and Balboa counters with a nice leg kick.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Balboa shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Belfort swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Balboa doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belfort but Belfort pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belfort wants to clinch

so Balboa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Balboa passes into half guard.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Belfort avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balboa.
Belfort is looking to escape.
Balboa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balboa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belfort's head.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.

Balboa is working for a kimura but Belfort is defending it quite comfortably.
Balboa controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa prevents Belfort from standing back up.
Belfort won't allow Balboa to pass to mount.
Balboa wants to stand up but Belfort is controlling the position.
Balboa controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Rocky Balboa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Belfort stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Belfort wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Balboa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balboa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Balboa!