PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mertsi Svart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Svart is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Muistoissani kuljen tietä mustalaisen. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Belanger
vs
Svart

187 cm
23
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Belanger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mertsi Svart!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svart throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Belanger.

It looks like Joe Belanger has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Belanger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Svart sprawls well. Svart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belanger gets slowly back to his feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Svart blocks the leg kick.
Belanger throws a series of punches but Svart avoids them all with ease.
Svart lands a head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A thudding body kick lands there by Svart!

Svart connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Belanger to the floor! Svart dives in looking for the finish!

Belanger is rocked!
Svart missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Oh Belanger is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Belanger controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Belanger seems to have got his legs back now.
Belanger is trying to maintain the position but Svart is very close to passing his half guard.

Svart is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Belanger doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Svart.
Svart is keen to just control but Belanger is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger moves into full guard.
Svart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Svart postures up.
Svart wants to control from the top but Belanger keeps moving.
Svart wants to stand but Belanger has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Belanger might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Belanger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Svart is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger wants to control but Svart is keeping him busy.
Svart really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Belanger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Belanger frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Belanger thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Svart blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belanger controlling his opponent.
Svart is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Belanger controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svart is looking to get to half guard.
Svart is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Belanger trying to control but Svart is having none of it.
Belanger punching from mount but Svart doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Belanger 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.
Belanger controlling the position easily from mount.

Belanger has hold of Svart's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Svart manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

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.
Belanger working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Belanger wants to control the pace but Svart is squirming around nicely.
Svart tries to lock up and control but Belanger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Svart holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Belanger tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svart is looking to improve his position but Belanger isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mertsi Svart dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Belanger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Belanger misses with a wild body shot.
Svart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mertsi Svart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Svart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good work by Belanger as he checks the leg kick.
Svart blocks a jab.
Belanger avoids the head kick by Svart.
Svart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Belanger blocks a head kick by Svart.
Belanger blocks a head kick by Svart.
Belanger digs a good hook to Svart's body.
Belanger shoots for a takedown but Svart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Belanger has a takedown stuffed.
Belanger is looking to slow Svart down with leg kicks.
Belanger swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick misses from Svart.
Belanger throws an overhand right that lands on Svart's shoulder, as Svart tries to avoid the shot.
Belanger loads up on a big right hand but Svart slips the punch.
Decent striking displayed by Belanger there.
Svart is breathing heavily.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Svart sprawls well. Svart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belanger gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Belanger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svart pinned against the cage. Svart gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Svart 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Belanger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belanger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belanger throws a hook to the side of Svart's head but Svart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Belanger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svart pinned against the cage. Svart gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Svart misses with a head kick.
A good leg kick by Belanger.
Svart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Svart throws a head kick that misses.
Belanger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Belanger dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Svart. That did some damage!
Svart moves away from the strike by Belanger.
Svart keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Belanger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svart pinned against the cage. Svart gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Svart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Belanger.
Joe Belanger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svart lands with a slapping head kick.
Belanger throws an overhand right that lands on Svart's shoulder, as Svart tries to avoid the shot.

Belanger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Svart manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belanger advances position into side control!
Belanger is looking to take a break and control but Svart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Svart being controlled for a moment.
Belanger is looking to take a break and control but Svart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger in side control, throwing shots but Svart defends.
Svart is looking for a sweep.
Belanger wants to control but Svart is keeping him busy.
Svart tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belanger wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Svart but Svart pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.
Svart throws a sloppy head kick and Belanger moves out of range easily.
Belanger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Belanger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Svart manages to avoid it.
Svart uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Belanger.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown but Svart shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Belanger sizes up Svart with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belanger is defended easily by Svart.
Svart throws a head kick that half lands.

Joe Belanger's cut is getting worse.
Svart connects with a high kick.
Svart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger throws a quick inside leg kick.
Svart misses with a head kick.
No luck for Belanger with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Svart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger throws a right hand that Svart ducks under and follows up with a left that Svart also avoids with ease.
Belanger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svart pinned against the cage. Svart gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Belanger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Belanger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Belanger's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Svart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Svart throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Belanger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Svart throws a sloppy head kick and Belanger moves out of range easily.
Belanger throws a nice looking combination but Svart bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belanger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Svart moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Belanger misses with a head kick.
Svart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Svart defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belanger.
Svart takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Belanger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Svart was well out of range. Poor timing from Belanger.
Belanger thows a body shot but no joy.
Svart throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Left hook, right uppercut from Belanger.
Svart scores with a head kick.
Belanger blocks a head kick by Svart.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belanger.
Svart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belanger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Svart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belanger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Belanger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Svart slips a jab from Belanger.
Belanger takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Belanger shoots for a takedown but Svart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Belanger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belanger dives in and grabs Svart's left leg, looking for a takedown. Svart pushes down on Belanger's head and hops out.
Svart throws a head kick that misses.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Svart as he jumps to the side.
Svart lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Belanger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Belanger avoids the head kick by Svart.
Svart takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Belanger ducks under a wild hook from Svart.
A punch combination from Belanger misses.
Belanger lands with an uppercut that bounces Svart off the cage and back into rage.
Svart throws a head kick that misses.
Belanger misses with a looping right.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown but Svart shows good takedown defense.
Belanger avoids the head kick by Svart.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger shoots in for a double leg but Svart sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Svart throws a front kick that sends Belanger stumbling back into the cage.
Belanger tries to bum rush Svart with a series of wild strikes but Svart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Svart delivers a nice body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Belanger darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mertsi Svart seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Svart throws a head kick that misses.
Belanger looks to land a combination but Svart avoids it well.
Svart throws a head kick that half lands.
Belanger fails with the takedown.
Svart scoring well with a low kick there.
Svart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Svart misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mertsi Svart is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belanger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belanger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Svart can pounce on him.
Svart tests Belanger's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Belanger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Belanger moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Svart tries to avoid it but Belanger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Svart to the ground. Svart escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Svart scores with a head kick.
Svart lands a head kick. Belanger smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Belanger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Belanger is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Svart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Svart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belanger is defended easily by Svart.
Belanger throws a nice looking combination but Svart bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belanger moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Belanger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Svart lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Svart misses with a head kick.
Belanger throws a hook but Svart avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Svart.
Belanger swinging wilding here.
Belanger looks to throw the jab but Svart is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svart thows a body kick. Belanger tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Belanger throws a hook to the side of Svart's head but Svart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Svart moves out of range of the body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Svart, right into the meat.
Belanger throws the left hand but Svart avoids the punch easily.
Svart misses with a head kick.
Belanger lands an overhand right.
Svart avoids the body shot from Belanger.
Svart pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Svart displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Belanger throws out the jab.
Belanger shoots in looking for a takedown. Svart tries to sprawl out of it but Belanger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Svart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Svart.
Svart misses with a head kick.
Belanger connects with a nice looking jab.
Svart shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Belanger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Svart sprawls well. Svart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belanger gets slowly back to his feet.
Svart throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mertsi Svart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Svart 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Mertsi Svart!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Mertsi Svart!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Mertsi Svart!

Mertsi Svart wins by unanimous decision!