PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Margarito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Belfort
vs
Margarito

185 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Margarito!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Margarito closes the distance and clinches.
Belfort crunches a lovely knee into Margarito's ribcage.
Belfort wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Margarito has him pressed against the cage.
Belfort tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Margarito smiles and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Belfort.
Margarito is trying to improve his position.

Belfort wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Margarito, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Margarito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Margarito manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Margarito stops Belfort from getting back to his feet.
Margarito not doing much here.
Belfort is trying to stand back up but Margarito is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Belfort actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Margarito in particular looking to stall.
Belfort is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Margarito scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Margarito with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Margarito trying to control from half guard but Belfort is working away.
Margarito throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Margarito is looking to advance position but Belfort won't allow it.

Margarito is looking for a kimura here.
Margarito looks gassed!
Belfort is trying to stand up here but Margarito is controlling him well.
Margarito 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.
Margarito not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Belfort avoids a kick to the body.

Margarito closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Belfort did well to prevent Margarito getting side control.
Belfort tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is refusing to be controlled, as Margarito sits in half guard.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Margarito scores with a couple of nice shots.
Margarito moves into full mount! Belfort won't be happy about that!
Belfort really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Belfort that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Belfort defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Margarito.
Belfort regains half guard.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Margarito trying to pass the guard but Belfort defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Belfort tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Margarito seems to be looking for submissions.
Margarito is keen to just control but Belfort is a slippery customer.
Belfort lands a couple of sideways elbows.

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

Belfort scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Margarito is looking to control Belfort's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Margarito avoid being mounted?
Margarito is looking to escape.

Margarito is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Belfort pulls his head out easily.
Belfort prevents Margarito from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Margarito is looking to control Belfort's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Margarito avoid being mounted?
Belfort working over Margarito with some ground and pound. Margarito looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Belfort decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Margarito tries to clinch up.
Margarito stuffs the takedown.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Margarito decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Belfort is looking to escape.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.
Belfort is trying to stand up here but Margarito is controlling him well.
Margarito working over Belfort with some ground and pound. Belfort looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Belfort is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Margarito pulls his head out easily.
Margarito seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Margarito seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Margarito will probably get the nod.
That's time! Belfort's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Margarito throws a head kick but Belfort moves out of range.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Margarito closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Belfort did well to prevent Margarito getting side control.
Margarito wants to control but Belfort is keeping him busy.
Belfort tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Belfort actively working from the bottom here.

Margarito stands up from half guard.
Nice sprawl there from Belfort as Margarito shoots in.
Margarito throws a right and a left that both miss.

Margarito gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Belfort to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Margarito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Belfort gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belfort will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Margarito fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belfort sprawls well initially but Margarito persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Margarito there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort is trying to stand back up but Margarito is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Margarito is trying to control the action in half guard but Belfort is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Belfort pushes Margarito off and gets back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Belfort as Margarito shoots in.
Belfort fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Margarito avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Margarito rushes Belfort and presses him up against the cage.
Margarito takes an elbow to the temple.
Belfort tries for a takedown. No joy.

Margarito pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Margarito gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Margarito comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Margarito jumps guard but Belfort stands there with Margarito around his waist. Margarito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Margarito jumps guard.

Margarito looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort works over Margarito with some ground and pound from guard.

Margarito working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.
Belfort lands a couple of decent looking shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Margarito is on top in guard.

Belfort is looking to sinch up a triangle. Margarito throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Belfort's body to avoid the submission. Belfort has instead reached around Margarito's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Belfort arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Vitor Belfort!