PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Negreanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes to the cage accompanied by Delinquent Habits - Tres Delinquentes . Daniel Negreanu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Belfort
vs
Negreanu

183 cm
25
223 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

184 cm
28
215 lbs
16 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Zentrope Fighting Universe

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Negreanu!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Negreanu is keeping the position.
Negreanu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Negreanu 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.
Negreanu trying to keep a closed guard but Belfort is proving a slippery customer.

Belfort drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belfort jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Negreanu keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.
Negreanu working a defensive guard here.
Belfort stopping the sweep attempt from Negreanu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negreanu keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.
Belfort is working hard here to advance position.
Negreanu pulls Belfort in close to his closed guard and prevents Belfort from doing any damage or advancing position.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Negreanu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Negreanu working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Negreanu throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Belfort escapes and throws Negreanu's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Negreanu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Negreanu wants to get back to full guard.

Belfort is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Negreanu is just riding it out for now. Belfort eventually gives up the hold.

Belfort is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Negreanu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belfort is working away from the top position though.

Belfort is working for a kimura but Negreanu is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort wants to work for an arm triangle but Negreanu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Belfort is thwarting Negreanu's attempts to control the position.
Negreanu is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Belfort is staying active.
Belfort is pressing down on Negreanu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Negreanu is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu is looking to improve his position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Daniel Negreanu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Belfort checks a leg kick nicely.
Belfort misses with a low kick as Negreanu jumps back.
Belfort attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Negreanu moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Belfort blocks a leg kick.
Negreanu takes a swing at Belfort's ribcage but misses.
Negreanu moves away from the strike by Belfort.
Negreanu throws a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Negreanu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Belfort's sensitive parts.
Negreanu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Negreanu 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.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Negreanu.
A good leg kick by Negreanu.
Negreanu throws a leg kick but Belfort checks it.
Negreanu is looking to clinch.

Belfort shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Negreanu is trying to defend but Belfort finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Negreanu keeping control of the position.
Negreanu trying to hold on to Belfort's head to control him but Belfort postures up.

Belfort seems to be looking for submissions.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but Negreanu defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort is working for a kimura but Negreanu is defending it quite comfortably.

Belfort is looking for a kimura here.
Belfort is looking to pass Negreanu's guard but actually Negreanu recovers to full guard.
Negreanu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Negreanu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Negreanu working a defensive guard but Belfort manages to pass into side control anyway.

Belfort is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Negreanu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Negreanu is looking to regain half guard here but Belfort keeps moving and retains side control.

Belfort is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Negreanu has escaped the position, nice work there.
Negreanu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Negreanu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Negreanu is trying to control Belfort's posture but Belfort avoids it.

Belfort is trying to get an arm triangle but Negreanu is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Negreanu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Belfort tries to move to mount but Negreanu blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu wants to control but Belfort postures up.
Belfort tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Negreanu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Belfort is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Negreanu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Negreanu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Belfort got a little sloppy there for a moment and Negreanu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Belfort has managed to get both his arms back between Negreanu's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Negreanu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Belfort swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Belfort throws a body punch but Negreanu moves out of range.
Negreanu leaves Belfort with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Belfort wants to land a leg kick but Negreanu is out of range.

Negreanu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Belfort keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Belfort looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Negreanu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belfort's head.
Negreanu is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Negreanu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negreanu wants to stand but Belfort has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Negreanu slips a nice elbow through Belfort's hands, connecting with Belfort's forehead.
The fighters are battling for position here. Belfort manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Negreanu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Negreanu stays in close to Belfort's body and controls the position.
Negreanu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Negreanu stands and throws Belfort's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Negreanu takes a little break here. Belfort wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu trying to control the position but Belfort is working away.
Negreanu lands a nice forearm strike.
Belfort managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Negreanu.
Belfort is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Negreanu off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Negreanu manages to reverse the position and now he's in Belfort's guard. Nice work there by Negreanu.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.

Belfort working for submissions but it's allowed Negreanu to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Negreanu thows a huge punch but Belfort dodges it nicely.
Negreanu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Negreanu wants to take a breather but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Negreanu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Negreanu's back!
Belfort avoiding Negreanu 's attempts to control his hands.
Negreanu is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Belfort off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Belfort doesn't have the hooks in and Negreanu manages to turn into his guard.
Negreanu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Negreanu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vitor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to improve his position but instead Negreanu has moved into half guard.
Negreanu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.
Nice strikes from Negreanu there.
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 tries to get to full guard but Negreanu has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Negreanu trying to control from half guard but Belfort is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Negreanu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Negreanu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Negreanu!
Daniel Negreanu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.