PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Liam Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vayle Belval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam Fitzpatrick had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Fitzpatrick
vs
Belval

165 cm
27
138 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

157 cm
25
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Fitzpatrick!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vayle Belval!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belval connects with a single shot there.
Fitzpatrick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belval misses with an uppercut.
An inside leg kick from Belval misses.
Fitzpatrick ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Belval moves away.
Fitzpatrick shoots in but Belval avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Belval throws a leg kick

and Fitzpatrick counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick throwing strikes from guard but Belval blocks nicely.
Fitzpatrick 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fitzpatrick's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belval working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fitzpatrick.
Belval wants to stand up but Fitzpatrick is controlling him.
Belval working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick tries to free his leg and advance position but Belval is retaining full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Belval can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fitzpatrick missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of digs.
Fitzpatrick's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fitzpatrick pushing down on Belval's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick is looking for a kimura but Belval is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fitzpatrick to get the leverage.
Belval keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Fitzpatrick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fitzpatrick missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fitzpatrick moves into full mount! Belval won't be happy about that!
Fitzpatrick thowing shots but they're missing.
Fitzpatrick throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick looking to finish with strikes here!
Fitzpatrick punching from mount but Belval doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Fitzpatrick throwing strikes here but Belval is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Fitzpatrick looking to ground and pound but Belval is blocking nicely.
Fitzpatrick looking to finish with strikes here!
Fitzpatrick punching from mount but Belval doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Fitzpatrick misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The referee warns Belval that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belval is squirming around, avoiding Fitzpatrick's attempts to control the action.
Fitzpatrick looking to ground and pound but Belval is blocking nicely.
Belval blocking the ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Fitzpatrick's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Fitzpatrick controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzpatrick tries to control but Belval wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Fitzpatrick dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice uppercut lands for Belval. That snapped Fitzpatrick's head back.
Fitzpatrick staying out of range there.
Fitzpatrick ducks under a wild hook from Belval.
Fitzpatrick appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Belval punishes Fitzpatrick's body with a nice straight punch.
Fitzpatrick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Belval can do to turn this around?
Fitzpatrick fails with a takedown attempt.
A low kick from Belval misses

and Fitzpatrick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belval won't be happy with that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes there by Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Belval is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Liam Fitzpatrick!
Liam Fitzpatrick retains his bantamweight title!
Liam Fitzpatrick bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.