PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between josh thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (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.

thomson
vs
Belfort

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, josh thomson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort instigates a clinch.
Belfort wants a takedown.

Belfort ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Belfort no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Belfort bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in thomson's guard.
thomson is trying to keep Belfort in close.
thomson wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.
Belfort tries to free his leg and advance position but thomson is retaining full guard.
thomson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
thomson has Belfort pulled in close to control his posture.
Belfort is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but thomson is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomson trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
thomson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belfort is fending him off so far but thomson persists. Nope, Belfort circles away and we're back to standing.
thomson slaps away a takedown attempt from Belfort, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Belfort fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but thomson is out of range.
Belfort blocks a head kick by thomson.
thomson fails with a takedown attempt.
thomson throws an overhand right that lands on Belfort's shoulder, as Belfort tries to avoid the shot.
thomson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
thomson with a poor takedown

and Belfort counters with a shoot takedown. thomson fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh thomson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
thomson 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.
thomson wants to get back to his feet but Belfort is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
thomson working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort looks gassed!
thomson is pulling down on Belfort's head. It's preventing any offense from Belfort, at least for the moment.
Belfort stopping the sweep attempt from thomson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
thomson wants to control the position but Belfort says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
thomson wants to control but Belfort is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Belfort prevents thomson from standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
thomson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but thomson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
thomson doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
thomson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Belfort drives through with a takedown into guard.
thomson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belfort trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort scoring with some ground and pound.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
thomson wants to stand up but Belfort is controlling him.
thomson looking to control.
Belfort is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
thomson has his takedown stuffed

and Belfort counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Belfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Belfort takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
thomson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belfort blocks a head kick by thomson.
thomson tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.
A jab from thomson finds it's way through Belfort's defenses.
thomson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but thomson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belfort is looking to slow thomson down with leg kicks.
thomson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Belfort swats him away and circles back towards the center.
thomson doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown by Belfort or perhaps it was just good defense by thomson which made him look bad.
thomson tries to clinch there but Belfort circles away.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
thomson has a takedown stuffed.
josh thomson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomson fails in his attempt to clinch.
thomson throws a head kick that misses.
thomson tries to clinch up.
thomson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but thomson 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 josh thomson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Belfort moves into the clinch successfully.

Belfort breaks from the clinch.

Belfort closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Belfort displaying some good clinch control by pressing thomson up against the cage.
thomson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belfort just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belfort is pressed up against the cage. thomson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Belfort down to the mat. Belfort avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
thomson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
thomson trying to control from the bottom.
Belfort is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so thomson is just riding it out for now. Belfort eventually gives up the hold.
thomson wants to get back to full guard.
thomson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belfort is working away from the top position though.
thomson tries to kick Belfort off but Belfort keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
thomson wants to improve his position but Belfort is controlling well.
thomson looks like he's trying to stand up.
thomson gets back to full guard.
thomson wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
thomson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
thomson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
thomson wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
thomson fails to land the takedown.
thomson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
thomson misses with a head kick.
thomson fails to land the takedown.
thomson just misses with a punch to the body.

thomson drives through with a takedown into guard.
thomson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
thomson wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

thomson fails with a takedown attempt.
Belfort shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. thomson defends it nicely.
thomson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort tries to clinch but thomson moves out of range.
Belfort avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
thomson tries to clinch there but Belfort circles away.
thomson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh thomson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
thomson tries to clinch but Belfort moves away

and Belfort counters with a single leg into guard. thomson didn't expect that.
thomson controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.
Belfort prevents thomson from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
thomson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belfort manages to get himself to full guard.
thomson wants to stand but Belfort is controlling his posture from full guard.
thomson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
thomson trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
thomson passes Belfort's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to roll over but thomson keeps him under control.
thomson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Belfort avoiding damage under a succession of punches from thomson.
thomson is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

thomson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Belfort defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
thomson trying to mount his opponent but Belfort defends it.
thomson thows a huge punch but Belfort dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
thomson tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily

and Belfort moves into the clinch.
thomson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
josh thomson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
thomson just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belfort has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

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