PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovani Sobrinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belfort
vs
Sobrinho

215 cm
25
234 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

192 cm
25
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giovani Sobrinho!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Belfort.
Sloppy strikes from Belfort. Those never looked like landing.
Belfort throws a series of strikes that have Sobrinho backpedaling.

It looks like Giovani Sobrinho has been cut.
Belfort will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belfort throws a leg kick but Sobrinho sees it coming and moves out of range.
Belfort misses with a shot to the body
and Sobrinho counters with a two punch combo.
Belfort scores with a nice head shot.
Sobrinho moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sobrinho throws a series of punches but Belfort moves out of range.
Sobrinho throws a right hand that Belfort ducks under and follows up with a left that Belfort also avoids with ease.
Belfort throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sobrinho.
A combination from Sobrinho does no damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobrinho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Belfort tries to clinch
and Sobrinho counters with a slapping leg kick.
Belfort wants to clinch.
Vitor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sobrinho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belfort throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Sobrinho moves out of range.
Sobrinho throws a series of punches but Belfort avoids them all with ease.
Belfort misses with a double jab
and Sobrinho counters with a two punch combo.
Sobrinho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Belfort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort throws a right hand that Sobrinho ducks under and follows up with a left that Sobrinho also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.

Sobrinho gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sobrinho throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sobrinho misses with a punch to the body.
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sobrinho just stands there and leans against the ropes.
A shot in the inside from Sobrinho.
Sobrinho throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Belfort on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Belfort tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sobrinho smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sobrinho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Belfort tries for a takedown but Sobrinho circles away easily
and Sobrinho counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to bum rush Sobrinho with a series of wild strikes but Sobrinho uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A left and a right from Belfort both land. Nice combination.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Belfort falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sobrinho counters with a shoot takedown. Belfort fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sobrinho is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sobrinho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Belfort looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sobrinho looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Giovani Sobrinho hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Belfort falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sobrinho counters with a nice uppercut.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Sobrinho avoids them all with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sobrinho moves out of range as Belfort strikes.
Belfort tries to land a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Belfort shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sobrinho pinned against the ropes. Sobrinho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sobrinho has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sobrinho.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Giovani Sobrinho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Giovani Sobrinho's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Belfort throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sobrinho.
Belfort thows a left - swing and a miss!
Belfort misses with a low kick as Sobrinho jumps back.
Vitor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
Belfort looks to land a combination but Sobrinho avoids it well.
Belfort tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sobrinho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Belfort tries to land a front kick but Sobrinho steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Belfort digs a good hook to Sobrinho's body.
Sobrinho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.
Sobrinho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort dodges the punch combination from Sobrinho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
The fighters circle momentarily. Belfort darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Belfort bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sobrinho's head.
Belfort wants to clinch
and Sobrinho counters with a good low kick that Belfort was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sobrinho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort looks to land a combination but Sobrinho avoids it well.
Sobrinho swinging wildly here.
Belfort falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sobrinho counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Belfort swings widly with a right hand
and Sobrinho counters with a three punch combo that has Belfort backing up. Belfort nods at Sobrinho to acknowledge the strikes.
Belfort throws a combination that misses
and Sobrinho counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belfort tries to clinch but Sobrinho is having none of it.
Belfort thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sobrinho moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sobrinho throws a sloppy head kick and Belfort moves out of range easily.
Belfort misses with the combination.
Belfort tries to clinch up but Sobrinho circles away and keeps his distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belfort scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Belfort getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sobrinho circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throws a half hearted mid kick.
Belfort throws a nice looking combination but Sobrinho bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sobrinho throws a series of punches but Belfort avoids them all with ease.
Sobrinho slips a straight right by Belfort.
Sobrinho dodges the punch combination from Belfort.
Sobrinho pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Belfort back to the ropes. Sobrinho follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Belfort wants to clinch up but Sobrinho keeps it at a distance.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sobrinho checks a leg kick.

Sobrinho gets the takedown into side control.
Sobrinho lands a nice forearm strike.
Sobrinho controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to escape but Sobrinho is in control.
Sobrinho lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Belfort tries to bench press Sobrinho off him but Sobrinho keeps the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belfort is trying to escape the position but Sobrinho is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sobrinho decides to stand up, so the ref orders Belfort to his feet.
Sobrinho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Giovani Sobrinho will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Giovani Sobrinho's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sobrinho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Belfort looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Sobrinho is avoiding it.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Sobrinho fails to land with a series of punches.
Belfort is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Belfort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sobrinho throws a series of punches but Belfort moves out of range.
Sobrinho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sobrinho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Belfort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Belfort.
Belfort tries to clinch there but Sobrinho circles away.
Belfort misses with a combination
and Sobrinho counters with a low kick, right behind Belfort 's knee.
Sobrinho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belfort looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort connects with a single shot there.
Belfort swings for the body but Sobrinho moves out of range.
Belfort looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sobrinho looks to land a combination. Belfort sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Belfort misses with a hook to the body

and Sobrinho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sobrinho has Belfort pushed against the ropes.
Sobrinho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Belfort backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobrinho scores with a nice hook to the head.
Belfort tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobrinho lands a shot to the body.
Sobrinho scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobrinho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Belfort prevents it.
Sobrinho lands an elbow just above Belfort 's eye.
Belfort is trying to break the clinch but Sobrinho has him pressed against the ropes.
Sobrinho struggles to land a body shot inside as Belfort controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Belfort tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sobrinho smiles and moves away.
A combination from Sobrinho does no damage.
Belfort misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sobrinho drives through with a takedown into Belfort's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sobrinho cracks Belfort with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sobrinho stands up from Belfort's guard - Sobrinho perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sobrinho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belfort is fending him off so far but Sobrinho persists. Nope, Belfort circles away and we're back to standing.

Sobrinho has managed to clinch.
Belfort wants to break free but Sobrinho has control.
A nice left hand lands by Sobrinho.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belfort tries to circle away but Sobrinho has him pinned against the ropes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort tries to work over Sobrinho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Belfort is trying to break the clinch but Sobrinho is controlling him.
Sobrinho content to slow the pace in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovani Sobrinho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sobrinho 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovani Sobrinho!
During a confident post fight interview, Giovani Sobrinho thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.