PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Rockwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rockwell kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Voices. Vitor Belfort has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rockwell
vs
Belfort

188 cm
22
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Simon Rockwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Belfort. Rockwell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rockwell connects with a looping right hand.
Rockwell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Belfort drives through and clinches with Rockwell against the cage.
Rockwell lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Vitor Belfort has been cut.

Belfort pulls Rockwell into guard.
Belfort looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rockwell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rockwell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rockwell wanted to stand there but Belfort had control of the position.
Rockwell prevents Belfort from getting back to his feet.
Rockwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rockwell throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort trying to keep a closed guard but Rockwell is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Belfort decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rockwell tries to roll over but Belfort keeps him under control.
Rockwell is staying active underneath Belfort, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockwell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Belfort's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Belfort's back!
Belfort is covering up but some of the strikes from Rockwell are getting through and doing damage.
Belfort wants to escape the position.
Belfort looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockwell trying to control but Belfort is having none of it.

Rockwell working for a submission but Belfort is keeping him at bay.
Belfort tries to hold on but Rockwell pushes him away.
Belfort is desperately trying to improve his position but Rockwell has a good base and remains in mount.
Rockwell lands a nice shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rockwell breaks from Belfort's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Belfort is squirming around, avoiding Rockwell's attempts to control the action.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rockwell has hold of Belfort's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Belfort manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockwell lands a heavy elbow.
Belfort is in all sorts of trouble here.

Rockwell is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Belfort closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Belfort looks gassed!
Rockwell manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Belfort gets full guard.
Rockwell tries to free his leg and advance position but Belfort is retaining full guard.

Rockwell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Belfort manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort controlling from mount.
Belfort misses with a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rockwell is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Rockwell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Belfort's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rockwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belfort as he avoids it easily.
Belfort fails with the takedown

and Rockwell counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rockwell.

Rockwell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Belfort looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Belfort looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Belfort!
Rockwell taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rockwell is pushing Belfort's head away, looking to escape. Belfort manages to hold on to the position though.
Rockwell is not content to let Belfort control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockwell throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Belfort gets to mount! Rockwell was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Belfort is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rockwell has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rockwell!
Rockwell trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockwell is trying to get back to full guard.

Rockwell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Belfort wants to control but Rockwell is keeping him busy.
Belfort not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort wants to work for an arm triangle but Rockwell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Rockwell is staying active underneath Belfort, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rockwell misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rockwell is refusing to be controlled, as Belfort sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rockwell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockwell is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Belfort is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rockwell off and has taken his back!

Belfort is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rockwell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rockwell holding both Belfort 's hands and preventing any damage.
Rockwell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Rockwell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Belfort's cut.
That's time! Rockwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Belfort shoots in but Rockwell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rockwell dives in and grabs Belfort's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes down on Rockwell's head and hops out.
Rockwell looks for a takedown but Belfort sprawls well.
Belfort wants to clinch but Rockwell slips to the side

and Rockwell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rockwell trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Simon Rockwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belfort is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rockwell throws a strike but Belfort avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rockwell trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.

Belfort is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rockwell defends well.
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rockwell has gone for a leg lock! Belfort slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rockwell's guard.
Rockwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Belfort stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Belfort swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockwell digs a good hook to Belfort's body.

Rockwell darts in and clinches Belfort up against the cage.
Belfort is pressed up against the cage. Rockwell 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Rockwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rockwell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rockwell shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.

Rockwell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rockwell showed some decent athleticism there.
Belfort won't allow Rockwell to pass to mount.

Rockwell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Rockwell wants to work for an arm triangle but Belfort is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to hold on to Rockwell's head to control him but Rockwell postures up.
Ground and pound from Rockwell.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rockwell throwing shots but Belfort is blocking nicely.
Rockwell working over Belfort with some ground and pound. Belfort looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Rockwell seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Belfort is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Simon Rockwell!