PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes to the cage accompanied by Bate Pesadão. Vitor Belfort has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belfort
vs
Hanayama

183 cm
27
197 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

187 cm
29
199 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Valhalla Clothing

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 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kaoru Hanayama!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanayama misses with a body kick.
Belfort throws a big shot that misses.
Hanayama misses with a leg kick.
Belfort listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Belfort digs a good body shot into Hanayama's ribs.
Hanayama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Hanayama shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Belfort is trying to defend but Hanayama finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Belfort is looking for a sweep. Hanayama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belfort is staying active underneath Hanayama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hanayama throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Belfort to regain full guard.
Hanayama preventing the sweep.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but Hanayama is having none of it.
Hanayama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort is looking to regain half guard here but Hanayama keeps moving and retains side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanayama thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Belfort is letting Hanayama control him for a moment.
Hanayama fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hanayama wants to control but Belfort is keeping him busy.
Belfort is trying to control Hanayama's posture but Hanayama avoids it.
Hanayama scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanayama working the ground and pound but Belfort is defending the strikes.
Hanayama is putting a hurting on Belfort here, landing some big shots from side control.

It looks like Vitor Belfort has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanayama looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Belfort is avoiding damage well.
Belfort is not content to let Hanayama control the position.
Belfort is looking for a sweep.
Hanayama landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Belfort tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hanayama wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hanayama trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hanayama on the ground.
Hanayama in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanayama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Belfort knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Belfort is looking to reverse the position.
Hanayama lands a nice forearm strike.
Hanayama controlling from side mount.
Belfort can't do much from the bottom here.
Hanayama scoring with punches and elbows.
Belfort struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hanayama scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hanayama in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Belfort is pushing Hanayama's head away, looking to escape. Hanayama manages to hold on to the position though.
Hanayama working the head with strikes.
Hanayama scoring with punches from side control.
Belfort taking punishment in the form of punches.

Belfort is rocked!

Vitor Belfort's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanayama in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Belfort looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Hanayama turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaoru Hanayama!
Kaoru Hanayama thanked the fans post fight for their support.