PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Calavera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes to the cage accompanied by Bate Pesadão. Calavera has chosen Swanky Maximino as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Belfort
vs
Calavera

183 cm
23
202 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

188 cm
24
195 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Calavera!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calavera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Belfort looks to land a right hand but Calavera moved out of range.
Calavera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Calavera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Calavera.
Calavera slips under a jab.
Calavera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Belfort cracks Calavera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Manuel Calavera has been cut.
Belfort looks to land a right hand but Calavera moved out of range.

Calavera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!
Belfort tries to buck Calavera off but he can't manage it.
Calavera controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Belfort really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Calavera controlling from mount.
Belfort working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Calavera avoids the attempt from Belfort to control.
Calavera controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Calavera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four 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.
Belfort tries to hold on but Calavera pushes him away.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Belfort has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Belfort tries to roll but Calavera sticks to his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Belfort manages to stand up with Calavera still on his back. Eventually Calavera drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
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 cut man is working on Manuel Calavera's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Calavera fails with a takedown attempt.
Calavera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belfort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Calavera moves out of range.
Calavera shoots in but no luck this time.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Calavera.
Calavera fails with the takedown.
Belfort misses with a double jab.
Belfort jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Calavera takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Calavera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Calavera or perhaps it was just good defense by Belfort which made him look bad.
A slow jab from Belfort misses its intended target.
Calavera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Calavera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calavera shoots in for a double leg but Belfort sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Calavera shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Belfort's guard.
Calavera is breathing heavily.
Belfort controlling Calavera's posture.
Belfort keeping full guard, as Calavera tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calavera prevents Belfort from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calavera won't allow Belfort to sweep him here.
Calavera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Calavera isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Calavera takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calavera shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Calavera shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.
Calavera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
Calavera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
A swing and a miss from Belfort.
A shot to the liver by Belfort. Beautiful body shot.
Belfort misses with an uppercut. Calavera saw that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Belfort.
Calavera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Calavera defending well as Belfort loads up on a big left hand.
Belfort misses with a body shot.
Calavera dives in and grabs Belfort's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes down on Calavera's head and hops out.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Belfort gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Belfort misses with a hook to the ribs.
Calavera taking a breather.
A right hand to the body from Belfort.
Belfort tries to work over Calavera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calavera looking to slow down the pace here.
A shot in the inside from Belfort.
Belfort lands a body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Belfort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Belfort misses with a punch on the inside.
Calavera jumps guard but Belfort stands there with Calavera around his waist. Calavera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Belfort presses Calavera against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Belfort misses with a body punch.
Belfort struggles to land a body shot inside as Calavera controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Belfort scores with a nice short uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Belfort.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Belfort.
Calavera blocks an uppercut.
Calavera blocks a body shot from Belfort.
Belfort lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Calavera backwards.
Belfort blocks the elbow strike.
Calavera is trying to break the clinch but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.
Calavera prevents a body shot from Belfort.
Calavera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Calavera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Manuel Calavera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Calavera ducks under a wild hook from Belfort.
Calavera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Calavera shoots in looking for a takedown but Belfort manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Calavera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Calavera shoots in for a double leg but Belfort sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Calavera.
Calavera avoids the body shot from Belfort.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Calavera. Calavera gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort looks to land a right hand but Calavera moved out of range.
Belfort misses the jab.
Calavera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters circle momentarily. Belfort darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Belfort swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Calavera.
A telegraphed right hand from Belfort misses the target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calavera shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belfort but Belfort pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calavera.
Calavera drops his hands momentarily and Belfort takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Calavera. Calavera gets slowly back to his feet.
Calavera takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Calavera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belfort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belfort throws a jab but it's blocked by Calavera.

Belfort moves into range and clinches up with Calavera.
Belfort gets through Calavera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Calavera prevents a body shot from Belfort.

Calavera gets control of Belfort's arms and successfully pulls guard. Calavera will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Calavera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Calavera's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calavera is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calavera preventing the sweep.
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 looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calavera is trying is best to control the position here.
Belfort wants to pass to mount but Calavera is defending the position.
Calavera is looking to improve his position.
Belfort seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Calavera is refusing to be controlled, as Belfort sits in half guard.
Manuel Calavera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

We're going to have a standup here because Vitor Belfort wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Calavera clobbers Belfort with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Calavera shoots for a takedown but Belfort saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horrible takedown by Calavera or perhaps it was just good defense by Belfort which made him look bad.

Belfort moves into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Belfort.
Calavera throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right from Belfort on the inside.

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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

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