PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Vitor Belfort enters the cage!

Rutten
vs
Belfort

186 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bas Rutten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rutten circles away.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belfort paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belfort looks for a takedown but Rutten sprawls well.
Rutten throws a nice looking combination but Belfort bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rutten stuffs the takedown attempt from Belfort. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.
Belfort keeps the fight on the outside.
Rutten tries to clinch there but Belfort circles away.
Rutten stuffs the takedown attempt from Belfort. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Rutten is breathing heavily.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rutten as he avoids it easily.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt - Rutten sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Rutten manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutten changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Rutten manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belfort closes the distance and clinches up with Rutten, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes Rutten against the cage but Rutten circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Rutten as Belfort shoots in.
Belfort doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rutten counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Belfort!
Belfort is working to get back to half guard.
Belfort is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Belfort tries to hold on but Rutten pushes him away.

Rutten with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Belfort moves into full guard.
Belfort is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rutten is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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.
Belfort controls Rutten momentarily but Rutten frees himself.
Rutten looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rutten tries to clinch up but Belfort circles away and keeps his distance.
Rutten tries to close the distance and clinch up but Belfort swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Belfort with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Belfort. No joy for Rutten on that attempt.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rutten is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Rutten circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belfort fails with the takedown.
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.
Rutten misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort fails with the takedown

and Rutten counters with a single leg into guard. Belfort didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Belfort trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rutten is working to get back to half guard.
Belfort trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Belfort might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rutten kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort can't control as he wanted to and Rutten manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vitor Belfort just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rutten throws a sloppy head kick and Belfort moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belfort.
Rutten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rutten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rutten tries to avoid it but Belfort manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rutten to the ground. Rutten escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rutten stuffs the takedown attempt from Belfort. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.
Rutten tries for a takedown but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

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.
Belfort tries to clinch up

and Rutten counters by clinching up.
Rutten gets underhooks to prevent Belfort's takedown attempt.
Rutten with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rutten scores with a knee to the head.
Rutten lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rutten effectively controlling the action here.
Rutten goes for a takedown attempt but Belfort pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bas Rutten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rutten tries for a takedown but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rutten is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Rutten circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belfort has his takedown stuffed

and Rutten counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Belfort!
Bas Rutten has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.
Rutten working the ground and pound effectively.
Belfort wants to control but Rutten is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutten prevents Belfort from improving his position.
Rutten thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rutten stands up from half guard.
Rutten with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a left and a right that stings Rutten.
Rutten has a takedown stuffed.
Rutten fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Rutten is avoiding it.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rutten looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!
Belfort is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Belfort has given up his back here.
Belfort is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control the action but Rutten just sinks the hooks in.

Belfort showing good submission defense here.
Belfort tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Belfort is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Belfort wants to hold on but Rutten pushes him away.

Rutten stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Rutten will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belfort blocks a head kick by Rutten.
Rutten fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rutten avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bas Rutten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but Rutten shows good takedown defense.

Belfort gets caught flat footed, as Rutten shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bas Rutten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rutten has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Belfort is trying to keep Rutten in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Rutten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rutten has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas Rutten!