PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrik Daniels told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Belfort
vs
Daniels

175 cm
26
165 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

175 cm
25
167 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marco Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henrik Daniels!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort throws a body punch but Daniels moves out of range.
Belfort moves out of range of the body kick from Daniels.
Daniels shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Belfort is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Daniels.
Daniels doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Daniels blocks the leg kick.
Belfort connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Daniels slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Belfort changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Belfort.

Daniels has managed to clinch.
Belfort swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Daniels has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Belfort is trying to keep an underhook but Daniels manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Daniels prevents Belfort from improving his position.
It looks like Daniels is going to stand back up.
Daniels tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belfort knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Daniels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belfort's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort is looking for a sweep. Daniels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belfort is staying active underneath Daniels, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Belfort is trying to stand.
Daniels seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Belfort does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Daniels drives through and clinches with Belfort against the cage.

Belfort breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Daniels blocks the leg kick.
Daniels displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Belfort throws out the jab.
Belfort takes one to the chin there.
Belfort avoids the body shot from Daniels.
Daniels misses with a looping left.
Belfort scores with a hook to the body. Daniels takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Daniels rushes Belfort and presses him up against the cage.
Daniels looks gassed!
Belfort content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Daniels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Daniels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels slips a jab from Belfort.
Belfort tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Daniels was well out of range. Poor timing from Belfort.
Daniels misses with a hook. Belfort ducked under it nicely.
Daniels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Daniels uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belfort.
Belfort misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daniels.
Daniels takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Henrik Daniels has been cut.
Daniels takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marco Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort jabs Daniels right on the nose. Daniels blinks but takes it well.

Daniels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Daniels has clasped his hands together around Belfort's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Belfort is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Belfort regains half guard.
Belfort is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Daniels is thwarting Belfort's attempts to control the position.

Belfort actively working from the bottom here.
Daniels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belfort's head.
Daniels seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marco Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Daniels.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Daniels moves out of range.
Belfort connects with a looping right hand.
Belfort with a body punch. A glancing blow.

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.
Belfort swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Belfort moves into range and connects with a jab.
Belfort takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Daniels moves into the clinch.
Daniels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belfort avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Belfort fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Belfort has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Daniels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Belfort tries to break free but Daniels pushes him back against the cage.
Daniels tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belfort's elbow.
Daniels has Belfort pressed against the cage, preventing Belfort from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Belfort looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Belfort tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort wants to break the clinch but can't.
Belfort wants to break the clinch but can't.
Daniels throws a head punch that misses.

Daniels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Daniels shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Daniels 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marco Belfort will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henrik Daniels'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.

Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Daniels throws a jab but it's blocked by Belfort.
Belfort lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Belfort tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Daniels was well out of range. Poor timing from Belfort.
A slow jab from Belfort misses its intended target.
Daniels looks to land a left hand but Belfort moved out of range nicely.

Daniels has taken the fight to the clinch.

Daniels is trying to trip Belfort. He has hold of a leg but Belfort is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Daniels persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Daniels stops Belfort from standing up.

Daniels decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Daniels is breathing heavily.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Daniels avoids them all with ease.
Belfort lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Daniels takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels is looking to clinch.
Belfort throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Belfort misses with a looping right.
A bone on bone clash there as Belfort blocks the leg kick.
Belfort uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Daniels.
Belfort thumps Daniels with a low kick.
Daniels misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Belfort counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab lands there for Belfort.
Belfort connects with a good right hand that stumbles Daniels. Daniels circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Belfort scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort throws a shot from downtown. Daniels moves away and avoids it.
Belfort connects with a solid leg kick.
Belfort avoids the body shot from Daniels.
Belfort throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Daniels sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Belfort gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Daniels to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Daniels isn't so interested in that idea.
Daniels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.

Belfort has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daniels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Daniels wanted to stand there but Belfort had control of the position.
Belfort working a defensive guard here.
Daniels pushes down on Belfort's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is looking to control Daniels's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Belfort avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Belfort manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Belfort looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
Daniels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Daniels landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belfort is on top in guard.
Daniels wants to stand up but Belfort is controlling him.

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 stopping the sweep attempt from Daniels.
Belfort stops Daniels from standing up.
Belfort throwing strikes but missing.
Daniels looking to control.
Belfort looking to pass the guard.
Daniels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Daniels throws a leg kick
and Belfort counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Belfort dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henrik Daniels's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.
Daniels is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belfort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belfort scores with a punch to the head.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belfort throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Belfort dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Daniels. That did some damage!
Daniels is looking to clinch.
Belfort slips under a jab.
Some wild striking there from Belfort.
Daniels doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Belfort counters with a straight right hand.
Belfort scores with a hook.
Marco Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daniels ducks right into an uppercut from Belfort.
Daniels finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice shot lands for Belfort.
Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Daniels.
Belfort swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Daniels.
Belfort lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Belfort misses with a low kick.
Belfort takes a swing at Daniels's ribcage but misses.
Daniels throws the left hand but Belfort avoids the punch easily.
Belfort changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort scores with a sloppy right hand. Daniels should have avoided that one.
Belfort scores with a jab to the head.
Daniels closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Daniels throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Daniels is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Belfort.
Belfort misses with a looping right.
Belfort takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Belfort throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Daniels wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Daniels.
Marco Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Daniels.
A punch lands to the side of Daniels 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Daniels walks into a straight right hand from Belfort.
Belfort lands a with a good body shot.
Belfort swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Daniels throws out a loose jab but Belfort uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belfort connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Daniels closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Belfort did well to prevent Daniels getting side control.
Daniels is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Daniels wants to stand but Belfort has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Belfort looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound attempt from Daniels.
Marco Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Daniels there.
Daniels wants to pass the guard but Belfort is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniels passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belfort is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Daniels is controlling him well.
Henrik Daniels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Daniels landing strikes.
Belfort sneaks back into half guard.
Daniels working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Belfort is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daniels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Daniels is nestled in close to Belfort, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Belfort wants to control but Daniels is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Belfort showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belfort, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

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