PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghiorghos Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Papadopoulos
vs
Belfort

185 cm
25
266 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

215 cm
26
236 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ghiorghos Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort tries to clinch but Papadopoulos is having none of it.
Belfort misses with a double jab.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Sloppy strikes from Belfort. Those never looked like landing.
Papadopoulos slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
Belfort tries to clinch but Papadopoulos moves out of range.
Papadopoulos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Belfort throws a wild body kick that Papadopoulos sees coming a mile off.
Belfort connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Belfort fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Papadopoulos on the side of the head.

Belfort darts in and clinches Papadopoulos up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Belfort pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Belfort has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Papadopoulos uses from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belfort is on top in guard.
Belfort trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Belfort is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Papadopoulos striking off his back but it's not causing Belfort any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort stopping the sweep attempt from Papadopoulos.
Papadopoulos striking from his own guard.
Papadopoulos lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Belfort controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Papadopoulos throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Belfort trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos tries to strike from the bottom.
Papadopoulos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Papadopoulos tries to get out of the position.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Papadopoulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort won't allow Papadopoulos to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vitor Belfort was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Belfort connects with a jab.
Belfort stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Belfort wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ghiorghos Papadopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort lands with a nice combination. Papadopoulos backs away looking to recover.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Papadopoulos checks a leg kick.
Belfort misses with a jab, cross combination.
Belfort scores with a sloppy right hand. Papadopoulos should have avoided that one.
Papadopoulos dodges the punch combination from Belfort.
Belfort feints a jab promting Papadopoulos to slip. Belfort then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Papadopoulos slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort's jab looks to have found its range, popping Papadopoulos under the eye.
Papadopoulos stuffs the takedown.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Belfort moves in looking to clinch but Papadopoulos pushes him off.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belfort as he avoids it easily.
Papadopoulos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belfort avoids it really well and circles away.
Papadopoulos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Belfort defends it nicely.
Belfort misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Belfort.
Papadopoulos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Papadopoulos moves out of range.
No luck for Papadopoulos with that takedown attempt.
Papadopoulos takes a jab right on the kisser.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papadopoulos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Belfort.
Belfort misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Left hook, right uppercut from Belfort.
Ghiorghos Papadopoulos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort scores with a one two! Papadopoulos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No joy there for Belfort, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Papadopoulos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Papadopoulos is avoiding it.
Belfort thows a body shot but no joy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Papadopoulos.
Belfort taking a bit of punishment here - Papadopoulos scoring with strikes.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Belfort. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belfort can't do much from the bottom here.
Belfort on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Papadopoulos lands some shots froms side control.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Papadopoulos scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Belfort is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Papadopoulos can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ghiorghos Papadopoulos!
Ghiorghos Papadopoulos seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.