PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Hugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hugo comes to the cage accompanied by Yvan & Dan Daniel - Enjoy The Silence. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hugo
vs
Belfort

200 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Hugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Belfort, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown by Hugo or perhaps it was just good defense by Belfort which made him look bad.
Belfort throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hugo.

Hugo scores a takedown into full mount!
Belfort tries to buck Hugo off but he can't manage it.
Hugo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hugo'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 manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Belfort, under a barage of strikes from Hugo.
Hugo not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hugo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hugo is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Belfort reverses the position - he's now on top in Hugo's guard.
Hugo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belfort controls the pace.
Belfort throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hugo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
Hugo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hugo tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugo managing to control the position.
Hugo is breathing heavily.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Victor Hugo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belfort!
Belfort drops Hugo with a right and a left! Belfort comes rushing in but Hugo regains his composure and manages to keep Belfort in guard.

Hugo is rocked!

It looks like Victor Hugo has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hugo has control of Belfort's left arm, preventing Belfort from doing any damage.
Hugo keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Hugo has his hands on Belfort's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort content to stall in guard here.
Belfort wanted to stand there but Hugo had control of the position.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Hugo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Belfort dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Hugo's cut.
That's time! Hugo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belfort misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort swinging wilding here.
Belfort looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hugo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Belfort to the mat! Belfort manages to get full guard.
Hugo stays in close to Belfort's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hugo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Belfort's guard.
Hugo stays in close to Belfort's body and controls the position.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but Hugo is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hugo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Belfort throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hugo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hugo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hugo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.
Hugo trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hugo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hugo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Belfort.
Some wild striking there from Belfort.

Hugo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hugo showed some decent athleticism there.
Hugo wants to free his trapped foot but Belfort is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hugo content to control rather than advance.
Hugo stops Belfort from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hugo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Belfort tries to kick Hugo off but Hugo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hugo not doing much here.
Hugo misses with a head shot. Belfort uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Hugo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Victor Hugo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Belfort throws a sloppy head kick and Hugo moves out of range easily.

Hugo has managed to clinch.
Belfort pushes Hugo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hugo fails to pull guard.
Belfort wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Belfort wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hugo jumps guard.
Belfort wants to get up but he can't break Hugo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hugo holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hugo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hugo wants to stand and escape but Belfort is having none of it.
Hugo pulls Belfort in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hugo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice uppercut there from Belfort.
Hugo has a takedown stuffed.
Luiz Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hugo but Hugo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A jab from Belfort misses.
Belfort chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hugo can pounce on him.
Hugo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Hugo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Hugo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hugo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Belfort misses with a two punch combination.
Hugo shoots for a double leg takedown but Belfort sprawls well. He's pushed Hugo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Belfort tries to bum rush Hugo with a series of wild strikes but Hugo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Belfort shoots and misses
and Hugo counters with a straight right hand.
Belfort falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hugo counters with a shoot takedown. Belfort fights it but they end up in guard.
Hugo won't allow Belfort to get back to his feet.
Hugo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hugo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Hugo isn't so interested in that idea.
Hugo is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hugo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hugo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Victor Hugo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hugo won't allow Belfort to sweep him here.
Hugo trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hugo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Hugo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hugo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Hugo!