PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fredric Sama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fedor Belfort has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belfort
vs
Sama

185 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
198 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fedor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fredric Sama!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sama slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
Sama loads up on a big right hand but Belfort slips the punch.
Sama shoots in but Belfort avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sama throws a head kick but Belfort moves out of range.

Belfort shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sama is trying to defend but Belfort finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sama wants to control but Belfort is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Belfort is trying to control. Sama wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Belfort wants to free his trapped foot but Sama is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sama preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Belfort is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Belfort wants to work for an arm triangle but Sama is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sama.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Sama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort is really struggling to control Sama but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two 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.
Sama wants to sweep but no luck.
Belfort trying to control but Sama is working from the bottom.
Sama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belfort is one step ahead there.
Belfort content to stall in guard here.
Sama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belfort's guard.
Belfort bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sama's guard.
Sama wants to get back to his feet but Belfort is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Sama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sama 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.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
Belfort sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fedor Belfort.
Sama moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Sama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort moves out of range as Sama strikes.
Belfort will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belfort keeps the fight on the outside.
Belfort moves forwards but Sama connects with a nice, crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fredric Sama will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belfort shoots in for a double leg but Sama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

It looks like Fedor Belfort has been cut.
Belfort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Sama misses.
Sama jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sama throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sama missing with a left hand there. Belfort was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Sama misses.

Belfort drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sama, who protects the arm well.
Sama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belfort wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Belfort wants to control but Sama is keeping him busy.

Belfort working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sama is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Belfort off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Belfort tries to roll but Sama sticks to his back.
Sama doesn't have the hooks in and Belfort manages to turn into his guard.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort postures up.
Sama keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Belfort tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sama thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sama.
Sama sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Belfort is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sama misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sama looking to finish with strikes here!
Poor strikes thrown by Sama there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Belfort holds on for dear life.
Belfort is trying to escape the mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Sama there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four 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.
Belfort tries to reverse the position but Sama maintains control.
Sama throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sama prevents Belfort from getting the reversal.
Sama cracks Belfort with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sama avoids the attempt from Belfort to control.
Poor strikes thrown by Sama there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Belfort tries to hold on but Sama postures up.
Belfort avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sama.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sama lands with some strikes.
Sama looking to finish with strikes here!
Belfort regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fredric Sama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fedor Belfort's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Belfort throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sama's waist but Sama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Belfort off to one side.
Sama tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.
Sama throws a combination that misses

and Belfort counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Belfort.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sama is on top in guard.
Belfort working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sama.
Belfort looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belfort is trying to control the position but Sama postures up.
Belfort wants to sweep but no luck.
Sama thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belfort looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sama darts in trying to clinch

and Belfort counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sama's guard now.
Belfort trying to control but Sama is working from the bottom.
Fedor Belfort overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belfort preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sama 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 blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sama.
Belfort is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Belfort is refusing to be controlled, as Sama sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.
Belfort is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Belfort avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sama.
Belfort wants to improve his position but Sama is controlling well.
Belfort is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sama's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sama's back!
Belfort trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Belfort is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sama is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Belfort working for the choke.

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.
Sama looking very determined here, making life difficult for Belfort.
Sama manages to reverse the position and now he's in Belfort's guard. Nice work there by Sama.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fedor Belfort.
Sama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fedor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belfort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Belfort showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sama 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Fredric Sama!