PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shunsuke Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Shunsuke Yamamoto enters the cage!

Belfort
vs
Yamamoto

185 cm
20
205 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

194 cm
21
223 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Average Joes FC Smashwear clothing (CBK)

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamamoto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belfort somewhat.
A jab lands there for Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Belfort ducks under and follows up with a left that Belfort also avoids with ease.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Belfort avoids nicely.
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.
Belfort shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto defends it nicely.
Yamamoto leaves Belfort with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Belfort avoids nicely.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort shoots in and bounces Yamamoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Belfort throws a strike but Yamamoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Belfort wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
Belfort lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Belfort is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Belfort misses with a head shot. Yamamoto uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belfort throwing strikes but missing.
Belfort postures up in Yamamoto's guard and throws a big left but Yamamoto blocks it.
Yamamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Belfort.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab.
Yamamoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A big right from Yamamoto misses.
Belfort shoots in looking for a takedown. Yamamoto tries to sprawl out of it but Belfort keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yamamoto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Belfort decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to kick Belfort off but Belfort keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Belfort missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yamamoto looks gassed!
Belfort not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Belfort prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.
Belfort missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yamamoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belfort.
Belfort has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yamamoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belfort.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamamoto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Belfort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yamamoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belfort circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vitor Belfort will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yamamoto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belfort.
Yamamoto is trying to stand up here but Belfort is controlling him well.

Yamamoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Belfort.

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

Belfort is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yamamoto defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto pushes Belfort off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Yamamoto misses.
Yamamoto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Yamamoto misses with a two punch combination.
Belfort slips a straight right by Yamamoto.
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.
Yamamoto leaves Belfort with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Belfort moves out of range as Yamamoto strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Yamamoto misses.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Belfort looking to ground and pound but Yamamoto is blocking nicely.

Belfort looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Belfort with good strikes from the mount here!
Belfort with a couple of short strikes.
Belfort scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Yamamoto?
Belfort with a couple of short strikes.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Belfort.
Yamamoto takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.

Belfort has control of Yamamoto's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Yamamoto regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Belfort unloads with some shots from mount but Yamamoto bucks and avoids them well.

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 scoring with strikes but Yamamoto is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort punching from mount but Yamamoto doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Belfort with shots to the head and body - Yamamoto looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yamamoto is trying to stand.
Yamamoto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Belfort.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Belfort cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Belfort throwing strikes here but Yamamoto is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yamamoto tries to bum rush Belfort with a series of wild strikes but Belfort uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Belfort avoids them all with ease.
Shunsuke Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.
Yamamoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belfort circles away quickly and effectively.

Belfort looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Belfort lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Belfort throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Belfort throwing strikes from guard but Yamamoto blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort cracks Yamamoto with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Belfort with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belfort throwing strikes but missing.
Belfort throwing strikes but missing.
Belfort landing with the ground and pound.
Belfort distracts Yamamoto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shunsuke Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitor Belfort overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belfort postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yamamoto trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Belfort missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Belfort postures up in Yamamoto's guard and throws a big left but Yamamoto blocks it.
Belfort throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belfort's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!
Yamamoto won't allow Belfort to sweep him here.
Belfort manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Yamamoto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Belfort.

Belfort is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Yamamoto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Yamamoto!
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belfort manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yamamoto manages to get himself to full guard.
Belfort throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belfort content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Yamamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Belfort.
Belfort keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamamoto's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet but Belfort is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Belfort drops back looking for a leg! Yamamoto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yamamoto manages to kick Belfort off! Belfort jumps back into Yamamoto's guard.

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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

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