PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Lashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitor Belfort is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bobby Lashley
vs
Belfort

199 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bobby Lashley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Belfort misses the target.
Lashley misses with the combination.

Lashley looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!
Lashley lands a heavy elbow.
Lashley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belfort is trying to stand.
Lashley trying to control but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort tries to hold on but Lashley postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lashley working for a submission but Belfort is keeping him at bay.
Belfort is trying desperately to improve position.
Belfort tries to hold on but Lashley pushes him away.
Belfort is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lashley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Belfort working to try and regain half guard.
Lashley with good strikes from the mount here!

Lashley is going olschool here, as he tries to force Belfort to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Belfort shrugs it off.
Belfort tries to lock up and control but Lashley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lashley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to lock up and control but Lashley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Belfort is trying desperately to improve position.
Belfort tries to hold on but Lashley pushes him away.
Belfort wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lashley.
Lashley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.

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.

Lashley is going olschool here, as he tries to force Belfort to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Belfort shrugs it off.
Lashley is breathing heavily.
Belfort tries to reverse the position but Lashley maintains control.

Lashley is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Belfort has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Belfort!
Belfort would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Lashley 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.

Lashley clinches.

Lashley breaks the clinch.
Lashley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belfort sprawls well. Belfort wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet.
Good shot there by Belfort.
Belfort ducks under a wild hook from Lashley.
Belfort displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lashley.
Belfort throws a left that rocks Lashley and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Belfort dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Lashley regain composure!

Lashley is rocked!

It looks like Bobby Lashley has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Belfort stands up and beckons Lashley to his feet.
Oh Lashley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Belfort throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lashley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lashley seems to have got his legs back now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Belfort can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lashley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Lashley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort pulls Lashley in close to prevent any damage.
Belfort looking to control.

Lashley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belfort lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lashley closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Belfort throws a good cross that connects.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Belfort looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lashley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Belfort cracks Lashley with an open hand slap.
Lashley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Belfort thuds his shin into the meat of Lashley's side.
Lashley checks the leg kick.
Belfort throws out a powerful jab.
Belfort dips to his left and cracks Lashley with an uppercut!
Belfort misses with an uppercut. Lashley saw that one coming.
Vitor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lashley drops his hands momentarily and Belfort takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lashley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belfort paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Belfort.
Belfort throws a looping overhand right but Lashley ducks down to avoid it.
Belfort throws out a loose jab but Lashley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belfort has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Belfort punishes Lashley's body with a nice straight punch.
Bobby Lashley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Lashley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley throws a left and a right that both miss
and Belfort counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belfort throws a looping overhand right but Lashley ducks down to avoid it.
A shot to de liver by Belfort. Beautiful body shot.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Belfort throws a right and a left that Lashley avoids nicely.
Belfort misses with a combination
and Lashley counters with a straight right hand.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A decent looking cross lands there for Belfort.
Belfort misses with a low kick.
Lashley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Belfort counter with a right hand.
Lashley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.

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.
Lashley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belfort moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Belfort scores with a nice head shot.
Lashley lands the left hand.
Belfort throws out a leg kick but Lashley moves out of range and Belfort only half commits.
Belfort lands a with a good body shot.
Lashley moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Belfort is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lashley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lashley tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.
Belfort throws and low kick but Lashley moves out of range easily.
Lashley closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Belfort slaps away a takedown attempt from Lashley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lashley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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 cut man is working on Bobby Lashley's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Belfort slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lashley shoots in for a double leg but Belfort sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Lashley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A low kick from Belfort misses

so Lashley counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lashley trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Lashley won't allow Belfort to sweep him here.
Lashley trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Lashley wanted to stand there but Belfort had control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Belfort utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Lashley isn't so interested in that idea.

Lashley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Belfort is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lashley, into his guard.

Lashley throws his legs up looking for a submission but Belfort uses it to pass to side control.
Belfort really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lashley. 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 two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lashley is looking to regain half guard here but Belfort keeps moving and retains side control.
Lashley being controlled for a moment.
Belfort prevents Lashley from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belfort wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Belfort staying calm.
Lashley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Lashley is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort lands a glancing blow to the side of Lashley's head.
Belfort lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Belfort throws a leg kick but Lashley sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Belfort, right into the meat.
Belfort lands a nice shot that snaps Lashley's head back.
Vitor Belfort seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Belfort connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vitor Belfort.
I think Belfort has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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