PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Thunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thunders
vs
Belfort

186 cm
20
198 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Predator 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Thunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thunders shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thunders is in close to Belfort's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thunders wants to pass the guard but Belfort is keeping the position.
Belfort looking to control.

Thunders thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Belfort is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thunders defends well.
Belfort 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunders postures up in Belfort's guard and throws a big left but Belfort blocks it.
Thunders pushing down on Belfort's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thunders keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders works his way into side control.
Belfort takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Belfort stops Thunders from passing to mount.
Thunders scores with punches from side control.
Belfort is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Belfort lands with a few short shots to the body.
Thunders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thunders working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Belfort wants to control but Thunders is keeping busy.

Thunders is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thunders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belfort defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunders performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Belfort is not content to let Thunders control the position.
Thunders has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Belfort trying to control here.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Thunders looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunders working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Thunders looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thunders lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Belfort hang on?
Thunders is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Belfort tries to reverse the position but Thunders maintains control.
Belfort looks gassed!
Thunders connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thunders breaks from Belfort's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Thunders tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.
Belfort is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thunders postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Belfort looks a forlorn figure.
Thunders putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Thunders.
Thunders lands with some strikes.

Thunders looking to secure an arm triangle but Belfort defends it well.
Belfort is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thunders scoring with strikes but Belfort is staying in there.

Thunders has hold of Belfort's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Belfort manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Belfort tries to reverse the position but Thunders maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunders landing strikes from the mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thunders is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Belfort can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunders dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Belfort closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Belfort lands in his opponent's guard.
Thunders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thunders pulls Belfort in close to his closed guard and prevents Belfort from doing any damage or advancing position.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Thunders keeps moving.
Thunders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thunders is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thunders winds up and cracks Belfort with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thunders is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Thunders is keen to just control but Belfort is a slippery customer.
Belfort trying to control here.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Thunders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belfort defending well though.
Thunders works his foot free and advances to mount.
Belfort wants to control but Thunders is having none of it.
Thunders takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to hold on but Thunders postures up.
Thunders with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thunders cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thunders landing strikes from the mount.
Thunders landing strikes from the mount.
Belfort is squirming around, avoiding Thunders's attempts to control the action.
Thunders looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thunders controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thunders cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunders is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Belfort can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
A nice elbow there by Thunders.
Thunders with a couple of short strikes.
Belfort working to try and regain half guard.
Thunders with good strikes from the mount here!
Belfort wants to try and get back to his feet.

Thunders working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thunders controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunders lands a big elbow.
Belfort takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Belfort is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Belfort takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thunders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.
Thunders lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunders is landing with some decent strikes but Belfort is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunders dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Belfort doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thunders moves into the clinch.

Thunders turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thunders manages to end up in side control.
Thunders is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Belfort looks to move to half guard but instead Thunders has passed into mount! Damn!
Thunders postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Belfort looks a forlorn figure.
Belfort is squirming around, avoiding Thunders's attempts to control the action.
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Belfort throwing hammer fists to the chest of Thunders. What's that going to do exactly?
Thunders tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.
Belfort gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders passes to full mount!
Thunders content just to control the position here.
Belfort tries to hold on but Thunders postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thunders cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Belfort is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thunders tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.
Thunders landing strikes from the mount.
Thunders content just to control the position here.
Thunders can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.
Thunders is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Belfort can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunders goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Belfort turns into him and now he's in Thunders's guard.
Thunders is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Belfort can do to turn this around?

Thunders is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thunders is trying to control the position but Belfort postures up.

Thunders is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belfort is aware though and is defending well.
Thunders keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Belfort's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thunders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thunders's head.
Belfort looking to sit in guard and control but Thunders gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Belfort preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Belfort utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Thunders from controlling successfully.
Johnny Thunders overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belfort preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnny Thunders is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Belfort working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thunders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thunders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Belfort gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Belfort throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Thunders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thunders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Suge Night scores the fight for Johnny Thunders!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Johnny Thunders!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Johnny Thunders!

Johnny Thunders wins by unanimous decision!