PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Alavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes into the arena with Burn It To The Ground blaring out of the sound system. On his way into the cage it seems that Fedor Belfort has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Fedor Belfort seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Belfort
vs
Alavaara

185 cm
29
180 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

188 cm
31
185 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MMA's Best Nutrition - Pit Inc
TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauri Alavaara!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alavaara doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.

Alavaara clinches up against the cage.
Alavaara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Belfort escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alavaara looks to land a combination but Belfort avoids it well.
Alavaara throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Belfort closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Alavaara quickly recovers to half guard.
Alavaara is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Belfort scores with a couple of nice shots.
Belfort seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alavaara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belfort.
Belfort is looking to take a break and control but Alavaara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alavaara gets full guard.
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!
Alavaara trying to control the position.
Alavaara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alavaara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort throws an elbow that misses. Alavaara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belfort's guard. Nice move by Alavaara!
Belfort not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Alavaara wants to pass the guard but Belfort is keeping the position.
Belfort seems keen to control Alavaara's posture.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Alavaara from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mauri Alavaara.
Belfort throws a leg kick but Alavaara sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alavaara throws out a leg kick but Belfort moves out of range and Alavaara only half commits.
Alavaara tries a low kick but Belfort avoids it.
Alavaara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort connects with a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Alavaara. That's going to slow Belfort down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort cracks Alavaara with a right hand to the side of the head.
Alavaara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Belfort moves away.
Alavaara throws out a loose jab but Belfort uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belfort throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mauri Alavaara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alavaara throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort digs a good body shot into Alavaara's ribs.
Alavaara walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Belfort checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Belfort changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alavaara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alavaara is looking for a sweep.
Belfort tries to score with some ground and pound. Alavaara controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Alavaara taking a bit of punishment here - Belfort scoring with strikes.
Belfort misses with the ground and pound.

Belfort is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alavaara has escaped the position, nice work there.
Alavaara sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Belfort thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alavaara's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alavaara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belfort is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alavaara is looking for a sweep. Belfort is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Belfort is looking for a kimura here.
Alavaara is staying active underneath Belfort, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alavaara is looking to improve his position.
Belfort thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alavaara's head.

Belfort is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Belfort dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Belfort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belfort avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alavaara throws a hook but Belfort avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Alavaara misses.
Alavaara on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Alavaara scores with a punch to the head.
Belfort steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alavaara.
Alavaara tries to clinch there but Belfort circles away.

Alavaara gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alavaara wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alavaara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Alavaara keeps moving.
Belfort has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Belfort postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belfort trying to control but Alavaara is working from the bottom.
Alavaara pulls Belfort in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fedor Belfort.
Alavaara avoids the head kick by Belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a body kick.
Alavaara scores with a hook to the body. Belfort takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Alavaara tries a head kick but it misses.
Alavaara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
A big right from Alavaara misses.
Alavaara moves out of range of the strikes.
Belfort avoids the head kick by Alavaara.
Alavaara takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alavaara.

Belfort shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alavaara's guard.
Alavaara controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alavaara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mauri Alavaara hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Good standup being displayed there by Belfort as he connects with a hook.
Alavaara lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Alavaara ducks under a wild hook from Belfort.
Fedor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
Alavaara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Alavaara to score with a decent uppercut.
Alavaara thumps Belfort with a low kick.
Alavaara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Belfort was well out of range. Poor timing from Alavaara.
Alavaara throws a front kick aimed at Belfort's knee but Belfort avoids it well.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Alavaara as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alavaara moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
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 shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Alavaara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Belfort.
Belfort swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alavaara moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alavaara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Belfort moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fedor Belfort will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Alavaara scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Alavaara throws a leg kick but Belfort checks it.
Alavaara showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Belfort.
Belfort lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alavaara misses with a wild body shot.
Belfort takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Alavaara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alavaara sprawls well. Alavaara wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet.
Alavaara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Belfort.
Alavaara scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Alavaara goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alavaara throws the left hand but Belfort avoids the punch easily.
Belfort connects with the punch.

Alavaara forces Belfort back against the cage and clinches.
Alavaara stalling in the clinch but Belfort improves position.

Belfort's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belfort throws a jab but it's blocked by Alavaara.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alavaara is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Alavaara circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Belfort scores with a jab.
Belfort misses with a straight right.
Alavaara looks to score with a jab to the body but Belfort is just out of range.
Mauri Alavaara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Belfort catches Alavaara right on the button with a cross.
Alavaara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alavaara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alavaara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alavaara connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Belfort momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alavaara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alavaara misses with an attempted mid kick.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice defenses there by Alavaara.
A jab from Alavaara finds it's way through Belfort's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alavaara tries to score with a low kick but Belfort moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd cheers as Alavaara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Belfort doesn't seem phased though.
Alavaara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mauri Alavaara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alavaara pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Alavaara lands a slapping body shot.
Belfort scores with a crisp jab that stopped Alavaara in his tracks.
Belfort avoids the head kick by Alavaara.
Alavaara throws a hook but Belfort avoids it easily.
Alavaara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alavaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Belfort throws a hook to the side of Alavaara's head but Alavaara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alavaara misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alavaara walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Belfort drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Alavaara struggling a bit here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belfort wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alavaara keeps working.
Belfort working the ground and pound.
Alavaara throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Alavaara throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belfort works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Alavaara takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fedor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alavaara is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mauri Alavaara.
I think Belfort has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mauri Alavaara!
During a confident post fight interview, Mauri Alavaara thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.