PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juliano Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Preuss Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junior kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Soulfly - Brasil. Juliano Junior could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Preuss Belfort's chin.

Junior
vs
Belfort

185 cm
30
216 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

207 cm
26
279 lbs
10 - 16 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Springfield HW Nutrition
Springfield HW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juliano Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Preuss Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Junior was covering up waiting for the punch and Belfort finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Belfort drops back, looking for a kneebar! Junior looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Junior looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Junior!
Belfort prevents Junior from improving position.
Junior staying calm.
Junior seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Belfort for as long as he can get away with.
Junior working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Belfort squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Junior controlling his opponent.
Junior avoids the attempt from Belfort to control.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Junior tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to control but Junior is having none of it.
Junior controlling from mount.

Junior is working for a guillotine from mount but Belfort frees his head quite easily.
Junior tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Belfort wants to hold on but Junior pushes him away.
Junior content just to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juliano Junior wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior regains full guard. Nicely done.
Junior bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belfort's guard.

Junior drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Junior jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Junior slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Junior trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belfort drives through with a takedown into Junior's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Belfort throws a strike but Junior rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Belfort thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Junior might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Junior preventing the sweep.

Junior thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Belfort has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Junior is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Belfort.
Junior content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Junior is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belfort has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior controlling the position from side mount.
Junior advances to full mount.
Belfort is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort working to try and regain half guard.
Junior controlling the position easily from mount.
Belfort tries to lock up and control but Junior gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Junior takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juliano Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juliano Junior wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Junior closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Belfort did well to prevent Junior getting side control.
Belfort is trying to control but Junior manages to pass to mount!
Junior controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You get the feeling that Belfort really doesn't like being in this position too much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belfort shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Junior manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but instead Junior has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Junior's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Juliano Junior.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Junior is pressing down on Belfort's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but instead Junior has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Junior controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort 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 takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Belfort is trying to control the position but Junior postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Junior content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Preuss Belfort was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Belfort closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Junior to the mat! Junior manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Junior is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.

Belfort looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Junior stays in close to Belfort's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Juliano Junior wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Belfort shoots in and bounces Junior off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Belfort wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Junior's closed guard. He's half up but Junior has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Junior pivots and extends the arm, Belfort falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Junior! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Juliano Junior!