PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yudi Tuji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Belfort has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Belfort
vs
Tuji

183 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 18 - 0

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 2 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yudi Tuji!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuji shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Belfort looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Belfort tries to clinch up.
Tuji shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Belfort slaps away a takedown attempt from Tuji, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Victor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yudi Tuji.
Belfort displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tuji.
Belfort looks for a takedown but Tuji sprawls well.

Tuji clinches up against the cage.

Tuji breaks from the clinch.
Belfort wants to clinch

and Tuji moves into the clinch.
Belfort is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Belfort tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tuji smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Tuji rushes Belfort and presses him up against the cage.
Belfort tries a knee to the head but Tuji blocks it.

Tuji breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tuji plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tuji with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a two punch combo.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tuji but Tuji pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belfort takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tuji closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Tuji pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belfort throws a head kick that misses

and Tuji moves into the clinch.
Tuji is trying to force a seperation but Belfort has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tuji breaks from the clinch.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Belfort leaves Tuji with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tuji as he avoids it easily.
Belfort lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tuji scores with a one two! Belfort had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Tuji with a poor takedown

so Belfort counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tuji manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tuji wants to control the pace but Belfort is squirming around nicely.
Tuji really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Belfort. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuji controlling his opponent.
Belfort is looking to improve his position but Tuji isn't that keen on the idea.
Tuji working Belfort over with strikes here.
Tuji unloading with bombs!
Belfort wants to hold on but Tuji pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tuji lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Belfort is in all sorts of trouble here.
Belfort is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Tuji tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Belfort tries to reverse the position but Tuji maintains control.
Belfort slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tuji is thwarting Belfort's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belfort wants to clinch.
Tuji will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Victor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tuji tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily
and Belfort counters with a series of strikes. Tuji will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tuji throws a series of punches but Belfort moves out of range.
Tuji tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuji fails with a takedown attempt.
Victor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yudi Tuji.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tuji fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Belfort, pushing him back against the cage.
Tuji is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Belfort gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Belfort tightens his grip and picks Tuji up, before dumping him to the ground. Tuji manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuji has a closed guard, preventing Belfort from standing up.
Belfort trying to control but Tuji is working from the bottom.
Belfort distracts Tuji with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort stops Tuji from standing up.
Tuji is trying to hold Belfort in close to prevent damage but Belfort has managed to pass into half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Tuji is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tuji tries to roll over but Belfort keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belfort misses with a double jab.
Tuji looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belfort darts in trying to clinch
and Tuji counters with a head kick. That will keep Belfort thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tuji pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Belfort shoots for a double leg takedown but Tuji sprawls well. He's pushed Belfort's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tuji slaps away a takedown attempt from Belfort, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tuji.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuji tries to stand but Belfort controls the position and pulls Tuji into his guard.
Belfort avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Belfort working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tuji doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tuji manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tuji postures up.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Tuji isn't so interested in that idea.

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.

Tuji stands up from Belfort's guard - Tuji perhaps looking for a knockout.
Belfort with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tuji counters by clinching up.
Belfort effectively controlling the action here.

Belfort has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tuji uses from the top position.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Tuji isn't so interested in that idea.
Belfort is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Tuji from controlling successfully.
Tuji pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Victor Belfort will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tuji is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belfort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tuji pushes Belfort up against the cage in a clinch.
Tuji changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Belfort fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Belfort tries to clinch up
and Tuji cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Belfort throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick from Tuji lands but Belfort takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuji avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice combination there by Tuji.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Tuji is avoiding it.
Tuji lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belfort circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuji swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Tuji shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Victor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yudi Tuji.

Tuji moves into range and clinches up with Belfort.
Belfort blocks an uppercut.
Tuji tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
Tuji defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
Tuji has his takedown stuffed

and Belfort counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tuji!

Belfort is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tuji is surviving well by controlling Belfort's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuji wants to control but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort controlling from mount.
Belfort working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Belfort pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Belfort thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuji wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort cracks Tuji with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Belfort has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tuji's face.
Belfort in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Victor Belfort overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tuji looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Tuji breaks Belfort's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Belfort is trying to keep Tuji in close.

That's four 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.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Tuji is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Tuji must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Belfort is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tuji!
Belfort pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Yudi Tuji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tuji is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Belfort showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belfort, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

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