PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Popescu (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
Popescu

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

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 Amsterdam, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Victor Popescu!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Popescu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Belfort to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Popescu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belfort tries to free his leg and advance position but Popescu is retaining full guard.
Belfort pushes down on Popescu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Popescu is looking to improve his position.
Belfort is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Popescu!

Belfort working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Popescu tries to lock up and control but Belfort gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Belfort working for a guillotine from mount but Popescu is in no mood to give up.

Belfort working for a submission but Popescu is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort has hold of Popescu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Popescu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Popescu is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Popescu is in all sorts of trouble here.
Belfort with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Belfort jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Popescu manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Popescu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Popescu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half 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.
Popescu is trying to control but can't.

Popescu is defending against the submission attempts here by Belfort.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Popescu connects with a solid leg kick.
Popescu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into side control. Popescu won't be happy with that.
Popescu is looking for a sweep.
Popescu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Belfort is looking to advance position but Popescu won't allow it.

Belfort seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
Popescu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Popescu trying to control here.

Popescu actively working from the bottom here.
Popescu wants to get back to his feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belfort stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Belfort wants it to stay on the feet.
Belfort with a lazy takedown attempt
and Popescu counters with a nice uppercut.
Popescu has a takedown stuffed.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Popescu.
Popescu tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.
Popescu throws a head kick that half lands.
Popescu shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.
Popescu fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that round.
That's time! Belfort's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belfort is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Popescu's half guard.

Belfort seems to be working for a kimura but Popescu defends the submission attempt.
Popescu tries to roll over but Belfort keeps him under control.
Belfort wants to pass to mount but Popescu is defending the position.

Belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
Popescu pushes Belfort off looking to stand but Belfort dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Belfort is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Popescu wants to control but Belfort is keeping busy and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Popescu thuds a left hand into Belfort's body.
Popescu misses with a takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Popescu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is trying to work for a kimura but Popescu is defending well.

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

Belfort seems to be working for a kimura but Popescu defends the submission attempt.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but Popescu defending well.

Belfort is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Belfort is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Popescu sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popescu is looking for a sweep. Belfort is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Popescu is defending well.

Belfort seems to be working for a kimura but Popescu defends the submission attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Popescu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Popescu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Popescu is looking to take a break and control but Belfort is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Popescu tries to stand but Belfort is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Belfort is trying to get back to half guard.
Popescu tries to advance to mount but can't.
Popescu controlling the position.
Belfort manages to get back to half guard.
Belfort tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Popescu wants to pass to mount but Belfort is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Popescu throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A nice combination there by Popescu.
Popescu tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Popescu.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Popescu tries to clinch up but Belfort circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but Popescu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Popescu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Belfort counters with a shoot takedown. Popescu fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Popescu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Popescu keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.
Belfort is working hard here to advance position.

Belfort postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Popescu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Belfort, into his guard.
Vitor Belfort overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Popescu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two 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.
Popescu wants to stand but Belfort has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Popescu from controlling successfully.

Belfort looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Belfort had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Popescu defends it easily.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Popescu from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort has his foot on Popescu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Popescu works his way back into a safe position though.

Belfort is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Popescu is aware though and is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Popescu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belfort paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popescu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Popescu.
Popescu shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.
Popescu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Popescu sprawls well. Popescu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.
Popescu stuffs the takedown attempt from Belfort. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Popescu tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily

so Belfort counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Popescu is trying to control the position but Belfort postures up.
Belfort pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popescu is keeping the position for now.

Belfort 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 slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vitor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Belfort thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Victor Popescu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Belfort tries for a kimura but Popescu is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

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