PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Acelino Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Belfort's choice of entrance music: Bate Pesadao. Acelino Popo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Popo
vs
Belfort

185 cm
23
182 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
199 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Acelino Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popo moves into range and clinches up with Belfort.
Belfort working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Belfort.
Popo lands a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Belfort - that landed with a thud.
Popo working aggressively here.
Belfort works on Popo's body with a couple of short punches.
Good body shot from Belfort.
Popo is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Belfort stops a takedown attempt from Popo.
A short right from Belfort.
Belfort lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Belfort gets through Popo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Belfort is working Popo over against the cage.
Belfort lands a shoulder strike.

It looks like Acelino Popo has been cut.
Belfort gets through Popo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Belfort lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Belfort has picked Popo up - he's going for a ride! Belfort dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Belfort is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Popo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Belfort is working for a kimura but Popo is defending it quite comfortably.

Belfort is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Popo defend it? Belfort steps over the head and cranks it - Popo is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Belfort!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:12 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Vitor Belfort!