PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pepe Reina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitor Belfort has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Belfort
vs
Reina

170 cm
24
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

160 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pepe Reina!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Pepe Reina has been cut.
Reina closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
Belfort throws a jab but it's blocked by Reina.
Belfort throws a hook but Reina blocks it.
Belfort avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reina staying out of range there.
Belfort misses with a straight left.

Reina feints and as Belfort raises his hands in defense, Reina changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belfort wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Reina slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Belfort looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reina is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reina trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Reina is now in half guard.

Reina stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Belfort to get to his feet.
Belfort waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Reina.
Vitor Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two 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 misses with a hook.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Belfort lands an overhand right.
Belfort throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
The fighters circling - Belfort throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Reina moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Reina closes the distance and clinches.

Reina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Belfort dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort throws the left hand but Reina avoids the punch easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reina.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepe Reina.

Belfort gets caught flat footed, as Reina shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reina sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Reina trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reina sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reina tries to free his leg and advance position but Belfort is retaining full guard.
Reina slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pepe Reina dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pepe Reina's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Belfort throws a hook but Reina blocks it.
Belfort is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reina.

Reina gets a takedown into half guard.
Belfort is trying is best to control the position here.
Reina slows the pace down in half guard.
Belfort on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Belfort tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reina sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belfort defending well though.
Reina seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pepe Reina just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reina fails with a takedown attempt.

Reina has taken the fight to the clinch.
Reina lands a right hand.

Reina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belfort misses with a looping right.

Reina gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Belfort's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Reina fails to pull guard.
Belfort wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reina has him pressed against the cage.
Belfort is trying to break the clinch but Reina has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reina breaks from the clinch.
Pepe Reina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort throws a hook but Reina blocks it.
Belfort takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Belfort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reina lands a jab.

Reina pushes Belfort up against the cage in a clinch.
Reina is struggling to control the position.
Reina tries for a takedown but Belfort manages to get underhooks.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepe Reina.

Reina breaks from the clinch.
Belfort swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Belfort misses.
Reina looks for a takedown but Belfort sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reina shoots for a takedown but Belfort saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reina moves out of range as Belfort strikes.
Belfort is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reina looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reina.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reina.
Reina shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Reina keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Reina counters with a one-two to the body.
Reina shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reina gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pepe Reina showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pepe Reina's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Reina shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reina lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Reina goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Reina lands a head kick!
Belfort comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Reina defending well as Belfort loads up on a big left hand.
Reina uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belfort.
Belfort paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Reina tries to clinch up but Belfort circles away and keeps his distance.
Reina throws a head kick that Belfort semi-blocks.
Belfort connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Belfort gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Reina to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Reina's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort has Reina pulled in close to control his posture.
Reina pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.
Reina passes Belfort's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two 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 trying to control but Reina postures up.
Reina controlling the action here.

Reina is looking for a kimura here.
Reina thows a huge punch but Belfort dodges it nicely.
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.
Reina moves into full mount! Belfort won't be happy about that!
Poor strikes thrown by Reina there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Reina controlling from mount.

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.
Reina landing strikes from the mount and Belfort is in trouble!
Reina looking to control and managing it successfully.

Reina stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pepe Reina is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Reina closes the distance and pushes Belfort back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pepe Reina comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Reina winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pepe Reina!