PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marius Cepulis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Belanger has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marius Cepulis's chin.

Cepulis
vs
Belanger

190 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
24
193 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Cobra Kai Nutrition (St. Pete's Best)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marius Cepulis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Belanger!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belanger closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Belanger tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Belanger controlling the position from side mount.
Cepulis is pushing Belanger's head away, looking to escape. Belanger manages to hold on to the position though.
Belanger working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Cepulis is trying to control Belanger's posture but Belanger avoids it.
Belanger wants to control for a moment but Cepulis uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Belanger is looking to pass Cepulis's guard but actually Cepulis recovers to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger throws and elbow that misses. Cepulis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belanger's guard. Nice move by Cepulis!
Belanger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Belanger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two 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.

Cepulis stands up and waves to Belanger to follow him.
Belanger pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cepulis misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Belanger misses.
Belanger tries to land a leg kick but Cepulis saw it coming and moves away.
Joe Belanger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belanger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Marius Cepulis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belanger moves in looking to clinch but Cepulis pushes him off.
Cepulis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cepulis is breathing heavily.
Cepulis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cepulis throws a sloppy head kick and Belanger moves out of range easily.
Belanger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cepulis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belanger.
Cepulis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Belanger looks to land a right hand but Cepulis moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cepulis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Marius Cepulis has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belanger throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cepulis ducks under a wild hook from Belanger.
Belanger misses the jab.
Belanger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Belanger lands a nice hook to Cepulis's body. Cepulis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Belanger circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Cepulis drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Belanger follows Cepulis to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Belanger!