PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brad Opie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Opie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Opie
vs
Belfort

180 cm
26
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
196 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brad Opie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belfort's waist but Belfort gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Opie off to one side.
Opie shoots in looking for a takedown but Belfort manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Opie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Opie scores with a takedown into Belfort's guard.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Belfort.
Belfort tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Belfort tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Opie is not content to let Belfort control the position.
Opie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opie wants to get back to his feet but Belfort drags him back down.

Opie explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Opie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Belfort drives through with a takedown into guard.
Opie pulls Belfort in to control the position.
Opie's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Belfort throws a big elbow that misses.
Opie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belfort is one step ahead there.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Opie manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opie prevents Belfort from breaking the clinch.
Belfort wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Opie has him pressed against the cage.

Belfort manages to pull guard.
Opie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Opie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Opie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.

Opie drops back looking for a leg! Belfort is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Belfort manages to kick Opie off! Opie jumps back into Belfort's guard.

Opie gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Opie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Belfort on his heels. He'll look to pass Belfort's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort controlling Opie's posture.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Opie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Opie decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Belfort, up you get!
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch but Opie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Opie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Belfort fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Opie to the ground. Belfort is now in Opie's guard.
Opie keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opie has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Belfort must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Belfort stopping the sweep attempt from Opie.
Opie trying to control the position here.
Opie continues to stall.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Opie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Opie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Opie avoids the body shot from Belfort.
Opie closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Opie pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Opie.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Opie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Belfort scores with a takedown into Opie's guard.
Opie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Opie scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opie looks to land a combination but Belfort avoids it well.

Belfort looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Opie!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort prevents Opie from escaping the position.
Opie trying to control but Belfort flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Belfort's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Belfort misses with a punch to the head.
Opie prevents Belfort from getting a body triangle.
Opie is trying to stand back up.
Opie staying busy and making it hard for Belfort to control.

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

Opie is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Belfort off. It looks like it's working - Belfort slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Opie displaying calm under pressure there.
Some wild striking there from Opie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
Belfort lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Opie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Opie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Opie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Opie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Belfort enables Opie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Belfort manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Belfort kicks Opie off and gets to his feet.
Opie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belfort tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opie pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Belfort back to the cage. Opie follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Brad Opie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Opie fails to land with a series of punches.

Belfort has Opie up against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Belfort - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Belfort is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Opie is stalling here.
Opie blocks an elbow strike from Belfort.
Opie wants to take the fight to the mat but Belfort manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Belfort breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort leaves Opie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Belfort stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Belfort wants it to stay on the feet.

Belfort fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Opie, pushing him back against the cage.
Opie leaning against his opponent.

Belfort pulls guard effortlessly.
Opie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Opie stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Opie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Opie fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vitor Belfort will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Opie tries to bum rush Belfort with a series of wild strikes but Belfort uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Opie darts in looking for a takedown but Belfort gets double underhooks and turns Opie into the cage.
Brad Opie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opie closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Opie pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Opie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Belfort makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Belfort gets the takedown into side control.
Belfort grinds an elbow into Opie's temple.
Opie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Brad Opie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belfort seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Belfort is looking for a kimura here.
Belfort trying to control from half guard but Opie is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opie pushes Belfort off looking to stand but Belfort dives back in and keeps control.

Belfort stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Opie to get to his feet.

Belfort drives through with a takedown into Opie's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Opie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belfort trying to control but Opie is working from the bottom.
Opie pulls Belfort in close to prevent any damage.
Belfort pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Opie is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opie managing to control the position.
Opie wants to get back to his feet but Belfort is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Opie pushes Belfort off and scrambles back to his feet.
Opie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Opie moves into range and clinches up with Belfort.

Belfort pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opie distracts Belfort with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Belfort not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belfort is pulling down on Opie's head. It's preventing any offense from Opie, at least for the moment.

Opie gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Opie with a poor takedown
and Belfort counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Opie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Opie with that takedown attempt.
Opie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belfort's waist but Belfort gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Opie off to one side.

Opie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Belfort napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Belfort is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Opie has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
No luck for Opie with that takedown attempt.

Belfort drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belfort is looking to take a break and control but Opie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Opie is pushing Belfort's head away, looking to escape. Belfort manages to hold on to the position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vitor Belfort.
I think Belfort 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

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