PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oraine Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raoni Belfort (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.

Shaw
vs
Belfort

194 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 Rio de Janeiro, Oraine Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raoni Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raoni Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaw misses with a wild body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Belfort is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Belfort is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shaw is looking to stall here but Belfort recovers full guard.
Shaw throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belfort is trying to keep Shaw in close.
Shaw passes Belfort's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Belfort keeping hold of Shaw's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are battling for position here. Belfort manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort wants to stand up but Shaw is controlling him.
Belfort working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaw.

Shaw has gone for a leg lock! Belfort slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shaw's guard.
Shaw keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Shaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shaw 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.
Shaw has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Belfort has passed into side control.
Shaw is looking for a sweep.

Belfort stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belfort's guard.
Belfort working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaw postures up in Belfort's guard and throws a big left but Belfort blocks it.
Shaw trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Shaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belfort swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.

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

and Belfort counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Belfort is nestled in close to Shaw, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Belfort blocks the strikes from Shaw.
Shaw works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shaw is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Shaw is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shaw trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaw is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shaw striking from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shaw escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Belfort gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Belfort trying to control but Shaw is working from the bottom.
Shaw will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaw is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shaw will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belfort trying to control here.
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 Oraine Shaw will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shaw fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belfort sprawls well initially but Shaw persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Belfort is trying to stand.
Belfort is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.
Belfort is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Shaw not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Belfort pushes Shaw off and gets back to his feet.

Belfort looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shaw!
Belfort takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaw wants to control but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort with shots to the head and body - Shaw looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shaw tries to hold on but Belfort postures up.
Belfort tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Belfort has hold of Shaw's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Shaw manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Belfort takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Belfort fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
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!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Belfort throws a right hand that Shaw ducks under and follows up with a left that Shaw also avoids with ease.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt

so Belfort counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Belfort controlling from the top position.
Shaw striking off his back but it's not causing Belfort any problems.
Shaw working a defensive guard here.
Belfort won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.

Shaw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaw trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Shaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw wants to stand up but Belfort is controlling him.
Shaw controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.

Shaw looking for a guillotine here but Belfort defends easily.
Shaw manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belfort manages to get himself to full guard.
Shaw 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 cracks Shaw with a solid left hand.
Shaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belfort's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.
Belfort is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Shaw is fighting to break Belfort's control of his arms but Belfort is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belfort swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belfort avoids a kick to the body.
Belfort closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shaw circles away.
Shaw is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raoni Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Shaw with a poor takedown

and Belfort counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shaw's guard now.
Belfort wants to stand but Shaw has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shaw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Belfort gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaw shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Belfort counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shaw!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaw is working to get back to half guard.
Shaw is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw tries to lock up and control but Belfort gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Belfort prevents Shaw from getting the reversal.
Belfort fails to advance to Shaw's back.
Shaw tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shaw wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Belfort.
Shaw wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Shaw rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shaw makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shaw.

Belfort avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shaw is trying to keep Belfort in close.
Belfort wanted to stand there but Shaw had control of the position.
Shaw throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Belfort slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Raoni Belfort has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Belfort has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shaw has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belfort avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oraine Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaw fails to pull guard.

Belfort jumps guard and drags Shaw to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shaw passes Belfort's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shaw seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but Belfort defending well.

Belfort has one foot on Shaw's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaw avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belfort.
Shaw tries to get to full guard but Belfort has control of the leg.
Belfort perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Shaw is pressing down on Belfort's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shaw wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.

Shaw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shaw trying to keep a closed guard but Belfort is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaw is really struggling to control Belfort but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Shaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belfort's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raoni Belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Belfort has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

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