PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johans Belforte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Brian (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.

Belforte
vs
Brian

165 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johans Belforte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Brian!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belforte drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Brian wants to sweep here but Belforte controlling him for the moment.
Brian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Belforte drops back looking for a leg! Brian is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brian manages to kick Belforte off! Belforte jumps back into Brian's guard.
Belforte not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Brian pushes Belforte off and scrambles back to his feet.

Belforte bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Brian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Belforte. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brian trying to remain calm as Belforte controls from the top position.
Belforte tries to advance to mount but Brian denies him.

Belforte looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Belforte throws a strike aimed at the side of Brian's head but Brian avoids it well.
Brian wants to get back to his feet.
An elbow from Belforte crashes against the mat.
Brian tries to bench press Belforte off him but Belforte keeps the position.
Brian can't do much from the bottom here.
Brian is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Brian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Belforte trying to control but Brian is working from the bottom.
Belforte showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Belforte postures up.
Belforte sitting in guard here, content to control.
Belforte won't allow Brian to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brian is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Brian looks gassed!
Belforte trying to control but Brian is working from the bottom.

Belforte decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Brian, up you get!

Belforte closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Belforte wants to control but Brian is keeping him busy.
Belforte throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Belforte tries to move into full mount but can't pass Brian's legs.

Belforte decides to stand back up. Belforte steps back and let's Brian get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brian with a lazy takedown attempt

and Belforte counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Brian keeping moving, preventing Belforte from controlling successfully.
Brian is trying to keep Belforte in close.
Brian wants to control the position but Belforte says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Belforte is working for a submission of some sort.
Belforte is thwarting Brian's attempts to control the position.
Belforte is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johans Belforte dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brian keeps the fight on the outside.
Johans Belforte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Belforte drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Brian wants to get back to his feet but Belforte is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Belforte throwing strikes but missing.
Belforte sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belforte wants to stand but Brian is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brian wants to stand and escape but Belforte is having none of it.
Belforte forces his way into half guard.
Belforte controlling the action here.

Brian actively working from the bottom here.
Belforte is controlling the pace.

Belforte is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Belforte controlling the action here.
Belforte trying to control the action but Brian is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Johans Belforte just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Belforte doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Brian counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belforte wants to clinch but Brian slips to the side

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brian won't allow Belforte to sweep him here.

Belforte escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Brian gets to his feet - Belforte follows without any prompting.
Belforte falls off balance throwing a combination

and Brian counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Brian.
Belforte lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brian!
Belforte thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Brian reaches up to try and control the position but Belforte seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Brian rolls and tries to escape and now Belforte has his back!
Brian looking very determined here, making life difficult for Belforte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brian trying to control the hands but Belforte won't let him.
Belforte doesn't have the hooks in and Brian manages to turn into his guard.
Brian wants to control from the top but Belforte keeps moving.
Belforte throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Belforte wants to stand but Brian is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belforte looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brian is fending him off so far but Belforte persists. Nope, Brian circles away and we're back to standing.

Brian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Brian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Brian moves in looking to clinch but Belforte pushes him off.
Belforte looks to clinch

and Brian counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Brian.
Belforte controlling Brian's posture.
Brian stopping the sweep attempt from Belforte.
Brian looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belforte working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brian passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Belforte is trying to control Brian's posture but Brian avoids it.

Brian tries for a kimura but Belforte is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belforte tries to clinch but Brian moves away
and Brian counters with a one-two to the body.
Belforte tries to clinch up

and Brian counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Belforte!
Belforte wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Brian is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belforte is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Brian shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Belforte's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Belforte wants to stand but Brian is controlling the position.
Belforte wants to sweep here but Brian controlling him for the moment.
Belforte is pulling down on Brian's head. It's preventing any offense from Brian, at least for the moment.
Belforte looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belforte keeping moving, preventing Brian from controlling successfully.
Belforte pulls Brian in close to his closed guard and prevents Brian from doing any damage or advancing position.

Brian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Belforte throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johans Belforte overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Belforte is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Belforte has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Brian postures up and lands a big shot to Belforte's brow.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belforte is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Belforte decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Brian shoots for a takedown but Belforte saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Brian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Brian has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Brian!