PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes to the cage accompanied by Phenom. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Belfort
vs
Noel

183 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Noel!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch up but Noel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Noel as Belfort shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Noel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Belfort gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Noel tries to pull guard but Belfort won't allow it.
Belfort tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Belfort gets through Noel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Belfort working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Noel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Belfort gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short left from Belfort.
Belfort wants to break the clinch but can't.
Noel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Noel.
Belfort with a knee to the head.
Noel wants a takedown but no success here.

Belfort escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Belfort moves into range and clinches up with Noel.
Noel has Belfort pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Belfort manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Belfort pushes Noel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Belfort lands a right hand that snaps the head of Noel backwards.
Belfort tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Belfort lands a shoulder strike.
Noel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Noel looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belfort avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Noel jumps guard but Belfort stands there with Noel around his waist. Noel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Noel takes a shot to the head.
Noel has Belfort pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Belfort manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Noel looks gassed!
Belfort with a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Belfort as the two fighters clinch.
Noel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Belfort makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Belfort breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Belfort is looking to clinch.

Noel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Belfort is positioning himself well to prevent Noel advancing to mount.
Belfort tries to kick Noel off but Noel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Noel 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Noel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Noel prevents Belfort from improving his position.
Noel seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Noel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Noel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belfort defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Noel looks to clinch

and Belfort counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Belfort.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belfort preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Noel is proving hard to escape from.
Noel trying to control the position.
Noel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Belfort preventing the sweep.

Belfort is posturing up here but Noel has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Belfort tries to roll out but it's too tight and Belfort has to tap! Slick submission there by Noel!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryan Noel!