PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Ashworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Belfort
vs
Ashworth

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Belfort!
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, Pete Ashworth!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Ashworth.
Belfort tries to clinch but Ashworth moves out of range.
Ashworth closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
Nice body punch from Ashworth.
Belfort wants to clinch.
Good leg kick by Ashworth there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ashworth swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ashworth swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ashworth moves into the clinch.

Ashworth pulls guard.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Ashworth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort stops Ashworth from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ashworth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort wanted to stand there but Ashworth had control of the position.
Ashworth working a defensive guard here.

Ashworth is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ashworth is on top in guard.

That's two 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 working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ashworth.
Ashworth wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
Ashworth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashworth throwing strikes from guard but Belfort blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort being controlled here, momentarily.
Ashworth trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Ashworth showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Belfort tries to clinch up

and Ashworth moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belfort wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Belfort misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ashworth.
Belfort throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ashworth blocks it with crossed arms.

Ashworth pulls Belfort into guard.

Ashworth pushes Belfort off and scrambles back to his feet.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.
Ashworth fails to land with a series of punches.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belfort as he avoids it easily.
Ashworth looks gassed!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belfort scores with a push kick.
Jose Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ashworth counters by moving into the clinch.
Belfort is pressed up against the cage. Ashworth has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Belfort down to the mat. Belfort avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jose Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pete Ashworth.
Belfort fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Ashworth dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ashworth tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ashworth is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Belfort pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ashworth drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belfort pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ashworth fails to land the takedown.
Jose Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pete Ashworth.
Ashworth misses with a double jab
and Belfort makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ashworth finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ashworth throws a nice looking combination but Belfort bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ashworth shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashworth is stalling in the full guard.
Ashworth is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashworth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belfort swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ashworth stopping the sweep attempt from Belfort.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Ashworth from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ashworth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ashworth lands a couple of digs.
Ashworth looking to sit in guard and control but Belfort gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Belfort wants to stand but Ashworth is controlling his posture from full guard.
Belfort trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashworth trying to keep a closed guard but Belfort is proving a slippery customer.
Ashworth throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ashworth's guard.
Belfort stops Ashworth from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belfort throws a sloppy head kick and Ashworth moves out of range easily.
Ashworth throws a jab but it's blocked by Belfort.
Ashworth misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belfort closes the distance but Ashworth moves to the side

and Ashworth counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Belfort!
Ashworth lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Ashworth stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Ashworth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ashworth.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ashworth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ashworth scores a takedown into full mount!
Ashworth misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ashworth throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ashworth tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.
Belfort wants to control but Ashworth is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashworth looking to finish with strikes here!
Poor strikes thrown by Ashworth there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ashworth wants to take Belfort's back but he can't do it this time.
Belfort is desperately trying to improve his position but Ashworth has a good base and remains in mount.
Ashworth content just to control the position here.
Ashworth can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Belfort is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ashworth working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Belfort tries to lock up and control but Ashworth gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ashworth 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.

Ashworth is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Belfort is surviving well by controlling Ashworth's body position as best he can.
Ashworth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ashworth thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashworth throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ashworth thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Ashworth looking to secure an arm triangle but Belfort defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Belfort regains half guard.
Ashworth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Belfort won't allow Ashworth to pass to mount.
Ashworth wants to take a breather but Belfort is having none of it.
Ashworth slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Pete Ashworth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ashworth 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pete Ashworth!