PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Choke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Choke comes to the cage accompanied by Birdman - 4 My Town Instrumental. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Choke
vs
Belfort

185 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Choke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Choke swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.

Belfort gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Belfort is working an open guard so Choke takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Choke with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Belfort looks gassed!

Choke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Choke content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort tries to get to full guard but Choke has control of the leg.
Choke trying to control the pace.

Choke is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Belfort defends it well.
Choke wants to pass the guard but Belfort is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Choke working the head and body with strikes.

Choke postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Belfort to stand up.

Choke drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Choke sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Belfort's guard.
Choke is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

Choke is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort looking for submissions off his back.
Choke prevents Belfort from improving his position.
Choke is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Belfort!
Belfort tries to hold on but Choke pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Choke with a couple of short strikes.
Choke looking to control but Belfort is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Choke controlling from the full mount.
Choke with shots to the head and body - Belfort looks very uncomfortable down there.
Choke content just to control the position here.
Choke wants to control the pace but Belfort is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Choke dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Choke closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Belfort did well to prevent Choke getting side control.

Choke decides to stand up.

Choke shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rico Choke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Choke is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Choke closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Belfort gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Belfort is trying to maintain the position but Choke is very close to passing his half guard.
Belfort looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort tries to get to full guard but Choke has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Choke is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Choke sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Choke connects with a nice short shot to Belfort's temple.
Choke winds up and cracks Belfort with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.

Choke decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Belfort tries to keep at a distance but Choke has taken the fight into the clinch.
Belfort tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Choke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belfort's elbow.
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Choke just stands there and leans against the cage.

Choke has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Belfort is trying to keep an underhook but Choke manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choke performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Belfort trying to hold on to Choke's head to control him but Choke postures up.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Belfort wants to control but Choke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Choke with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Belfort trying to control but Choke postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Choke trying to control from half guard but Belfort is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Choke swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Choke feints and as Belfort raises his hands in defense, Choke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belfort keeping full guard, as Choke tries to pass.
Belfort throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Belfort looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Choke dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Choke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Choke is avoiding it.
Belfort wants to clinch but Choke slips to the side

and Choke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Belfort's guard.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Choke from controlling successfully.
Choke prevents Belfort from getting back to his feet.
Choke works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Choke is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Belfort wants to control but Choke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Choke is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Belfort is trying to control but can't.

Choke is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Belfort is just riding it out for now. Choke eventually gives up the hold.
Belfort tries to kick Choke off but Choke keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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.
Choke is keen to just control but Belfort is a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belfort tries a head kick but it misses.

Choke shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Choke is keeping busy.
Choke prevents Belfort from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Choke in particular looking to stall.
Choke is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Choke is trying to control. Belfort wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Choke is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Belfort has managed to free his arm - good work.
Choke looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Choke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Belfort does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.

Choke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Belfort doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Choke.
Belfort wants to improve his position but Choke is controlling well.
Victor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Choke throws a head kick but Belfort moves out of range.
Rico Choke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Choke moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Choke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Choke 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Choke!