PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Belafonte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belafonte has chosen Harry Belafonte - Banana Boat as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Masters
vs
Belafonte

196 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Belafonte!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masters tests Belafonte's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Masters takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masters tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Belafonte was well out of range. Poor timing from Masters.
Masters dives in and grabs Belafonte's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belafonte pushes down on Masters's head and hops out.
Masters tries for a takedown but Belafonte sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Masters does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Masters shoots in for a double leg but Belafonte sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters looks to land a left hand but Belafonte moved out of range nicely.
Belafonte doesn't manage to clinch there - Masters circles away.
Daniel Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masters shoots in but no luck this time.
Belafonte is looking to clinch.
Belafonte leaves Masters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belafonte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed right hand from Masters misses the target.

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.
Masters lands a two punch combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Belafonte.
Victor Belafonte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masters closes the distance and clinches up with Belafonte, looking for a takedown. Masters pushes Belafonte against the cage but Belafonte circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Masters.
Masters is breathing heavily.
Belafonte tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters misses with a double jab.

Belafonte rushes Masters and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Belafonte holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Belafonte receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Masters tries to score a body lock takedown but Belafonte shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Belafonte leaning his opponent against the cage.
Masters tries to break the clinch but Belafonte is controlling the position.
Masters takes an elbow to the forehead.

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.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belafonte is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masters wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Belafonte has him pressed against the cage.
Belafonte stalling against the cage.
Belafonte continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Victor Belafonte.

Belafonte rushes Masters and presses him up against the cage.
Masters goes for a takedown in the clinch but Belafonte prevents it.
Masters looking for a takedown.
Masters is trying to drag Belafonte to the mat but Belafonte just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Masters takes an elbow to the forehead.
A bit of stalling here from Belafonte.
The crowd are getting on Belafonte's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Belafonte dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Belafonte closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Belafonte lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Belafonte has Masters pressed against the cage.
Masters has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Belafonte is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Masters leaning against his opponent.
Masters is working for takedown but Belafonte is calmly controlling the position for now.
Masters is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Belafonte pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Belafonte lands an elbow inside.
Belafonte lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belafonte is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belafonte is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Belafonte avoiding damage.
Belafonte lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belafonte lands an elbow just above Masters 's eye.
Belafonte is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Belafonte comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belafonte lands an elbow that stopped Masters in his tracks for a moment.
Belafonte holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Victor Belafonte.
Belafonte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masters avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belafonte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belafonte throws a head kick that Masters semi-blocks.

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.
Masters lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belafonte circles away quickly and effectively.
Belafonte tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masters paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masters avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belafonte doesn't manage to clinch there - Masters circles away.
Masters shoots in for a takedown but Belafonte shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belafonte tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masters swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Belafonte doesn't manage to clinch there - Masters circles away.
Belafonte dodges the punch combination from Masters.
No luck for Masters with that takedown attempt.
Masters circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belafonte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Belafonte closes the distance and clinches.
A knee to the head by Belafonte.
Belafonte slowing the pace effectively.
Masters is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Belafonte pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Belafonte scores a nice knee to the body.
Belafonte lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Masters working hard to break the clinch.
Masters letting Belafonte take a breather here.
Belafonte working Masters over with knees to the body.
Belafonte lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Belafonte creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Masters's defenses.
Belafonte stalls.
Belafonte lands a damaging elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Belafonte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Belafonte tries to close the distance and clinch but Masters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masters tries for a takedown but Belafonte sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belafonte tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masters paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belafonte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belafonte fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masters tries to land a body kick

and Belafonte counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The referee calls for Belafonte to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belafonte lands a knee to the body.
Masters wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Belafonte creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Masters's defenses.
Belafonte is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Masters wants a takedown but no success here.
Belafonte lands a nice knee to the body.
Belafonte taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Victor Belafonte.
Belafonte thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Masters if he has to take too many more of those.
Masters with a poor takedown
and Belafonte counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters keeps the fight on the outside.

Belafonte rushes Masters and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belafonte connects with a nasty looking knee right to Masters's face.
Stalling in the clinch from Belafonte.
Belafonte landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Belafonte gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Belafonte creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Masters's defenses.
Belafonte lands an elbow that stopped Masters in his tracks for a moment.
Belafonte scores with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Belafonte obliges.
Belafonte gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Masters tries to score a body lock takedown but Belafonte shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Belafonte stops a takedown attempt from Masters.
Masters takes an elbow to the temple.
Masters takes an elbow to the forehead.
Belafonte landing knees to the head.
Belafonte stalls.
Nice elbow from Belafonte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belafonte is pushing Masters up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Masters has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Belafonte is trying to keep an underhook but Masters manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Masters stalling away here and it's allowed Belafonte to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Masters looking to pass the guard.

Belafonte kicks Masters off and gets to his feet.
Masters tries for a takedown but Belafonte circles away easily

and Belafonte moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Masters misses with a knee to the head.
Masters takes an elbow to the temple.
Belafonte lands an elbow just above Masters 's eye.
Belafonte scores a nice knee to the body.
Belafonte with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Belafonte comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Masters wants to get back to striking at distance but Belafonte won't allow it.
Belafonte just leaning against Masters, taking a breather.
Masters tries a body shot but Belafonte blocks it.
Masters is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Belafonte is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Belafonte keeps control of Masters as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Masters drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daniel Masters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belafonte using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Belafonte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Belafonte 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Belafonte!