PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Santos could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vitor Belfort's chin.

Santos
vs
Belfort

188 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Santos!
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, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Santos looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Belfort doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Santos counters with a takedown into side control.
Belfort tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Belfort is trying to control Santos's posture but Santos avoids it.
Belfort gets back to half guard.
Belfort punching from the bottom.
Santos prevents Belfort from improving his position.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.
Belfort is refusing to be controlled, as Santos sits in half guard.
Belfort is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belfort works over Santos's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Daniel Santos has been cut.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Belfort throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santos's waist but Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Belfort off to one side.
Belfort shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Santos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belfort won't be happy with that.
Daniel Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort is not content to let Santos control the position.
Belfort is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Santos off and has taken his back!
Belfort lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Santos hold on?!

Belfort is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Belfort is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Belfort manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Belfort throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Santos!
Belfort is looking to control Santos but Santos is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Belfort might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Santos kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santos trying to control the hands but Belfort won't let him.
Santos holding both Belfort 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Belfort looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Belfort can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santos is looking to escape.
Belfort controlling his opponent.
Belfort landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Santos is working hard here to advance position.
Belfort is landing with some decent strikes but Santos is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Santos is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Belfort cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort wants to control the pace but Santos is squirming around nicely.

Belfort swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Santos is now in Belfort's guard. A big mistake from Belfort there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Santos as Belfort shoots in.
Belfort swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Santos moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Belfort closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Belfort slips a nice elbow through Santos's hands, connecting with Santos's forehead.
Santos wants to improve his position but Belfort is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos tries to kick Belfort off but Belfort keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Santos is trying to control but can't.
Santos tries to get to full guard but Belfort has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belfort.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belfort tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Santos misses with a body kick.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santos misses with a combination

and Belfort counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Santos is trying to keep Belfort in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort gets to his feet - Santos follows without any prompting.

Santos shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Belfort manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Santos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Santos scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Belfort to see if he's OK.

Santos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belfort is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to control the position but Belfort is working away.
Santos misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Belfort struggling a bit here.

Santos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Belfort is looking to reverse the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Belfort swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santos with a lazy takedown attempt

and Belfort decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Santos's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Santos keeps moving.
Santos throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Santos is trying to keep Belfort in close.
Belfort trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Daniel Santos's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Belfort swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Belfort fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Santos sprawls well initially but Belfort persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Belfort tries to stand but can't do so whilst Santos controls his leg.
Belfort lands with a punch from half guard.

Belfort is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort is looking to stall here but Santos recovers full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort throwing strikes from guard but Santos blocks nicely.
Santos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belfort is aware though and is defending well.
Vitor Belfort has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santos striking off his back but it's not causing Belfort any problems.
Belfort is working Santos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Belfort trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos trying to control the position here.
Belfort wants to stand but Santos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Belfort cracks Santos with a solid left hand.
Santos keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries for a takedown but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt.

Santos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Santos passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Belfort!
Santos landing shots from mount.
Santos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Santos landing strikes from the mount and Belfort is in trouble!
Santos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Santos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Belfort's face.
Belfort is working to get back to half guard.
Santos controlling from mount.
Santos breaks from Belfort's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Belfort is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Santos is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Daniel Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santos breaks from Belfort's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Santos.
Well Belfort has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

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