PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riad Belhanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mbiufo Spazzolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Belhanda
vs
Spazzolini

173 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riad Belhanda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mbiufo Spazzolini!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belhanda drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Spazzolini can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belhanda controls the pace.
Spazzolini utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Belhanda prevents Spazzolini from getting back to his feet.
Belhanda has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Belhanda is stalling in the full guard.
Belhanda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spazzolini is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Riad Belhanda just wasn't active enough.
Belhanda punishes Spazzolini's body with a nice straight punch.
Belhanda misses with a body shot.
Spazzolini is looking to clinch.
Belhanda cracks Spazzolini with a right hand to the side of the head.
Belhanda throws a hook but Spazzolini avoids it easily.

Belhanda closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Spazzolini's guard.
Spazzolini wants to stand up but Belhanda is controlling him.
Belhanda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spazzolini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spazzolini is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Belhanda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spazzolini wants to stand but Belhanda is controlling the position.
Belhanda controls from within his opponent's guard.
Belhanda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Spazzolini wants to stand and escape but Belhanda is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda wants to control from the top but Spazzolini keeps moving.
Spazzolini wants to get back to his feet but Belhanda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Belhanda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Spazzolini's head.
Belhanda controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riad Belhanda has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Spazzolini throws a nice looking combination but Belhanda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belhanda misses with an uppercut.
Belhanda misses with a body punch
and Spazzolini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Belhanda scores with a shot to the body.
Belhanda lands with a straight right. Spazzolini didn't see that one coming.
A punch combination from Spazzolini misses.

Belhanda shoots in and bounces Spazzolini off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belhanda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belhanda postures up in Spazzolini's guard and throws a big left but Spazzolini blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riad Belhanda dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Belhanda drives through with a takedown into Spazzolini's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Belhanda throws an elbow that misses. Spazzolini uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belhanda's guard. Nice move by Spazzolini!
Spazzolini trying to control the position from guard on top but Belhanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Belhanda holds on and takes a little breather.
Belhanda trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Belhanda is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Belhanda tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mbiufo Spazzolini.
Spazzolini scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Spazzolini shoots in but Belhanda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Spazzolini throws a right hand that Belhanda ducks under and follows up with a left that Belhanda also avoids with ease.

Belhanda throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Spazzolini was covering up waiting for the punch and Belhanda finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Belhanda postures up in Spazzolini's guard and throws a big left but Spazzolini blocks it.
Spazzolini can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belhanda controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda tries to free his leg and advance position but Spazzolini is retaining full guard.
Belhanda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riad Belhanda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belhanda is looking to advance position but Spazzolini has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belhanda is trying to escape the mount.
Spazzolini tries to control but Belhanda wriggling away.
Belhanda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Belhanda is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belhanda tries to lock up and control but Spazzolini gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Belhanda is trying to escape the mount.
Belhanda wants to hold on but Spazzolini pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spazzolini trying to control but Belhanda is having none of it.
Belhanda is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spazzolini trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Belhanda is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riad Belhanda dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Spazzolini misses with a double jab.
Spazzolini misses with a double jab
and Belhanda counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mbiufo Spazzolini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spazzolini throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Belhanda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belhanda tests Spazzolini's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Belhanda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Spazzolini defends it nicely.
Spazzolini lands a really nice looking cross but Belhanda seems unphased.
Spazzolini throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belhanda.
Belhanda throws a body punch but Spazzolini moves out of range.
Belhanda misses the shot to the body.
Spazzolini ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Belhanda feints a jab promting Spazzolini to slip. Belhanda then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Spazzolini slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belhanda throws a series of punches but Spazzolini moves out of range.
Belhanda lands with a nice body punch.
Spazzolini wants to clinch up but Belhanda keeps it at a distance.
Belhanda with a jab.
Belhanda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Belhanda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spazzolini is looking to clinch.
Belhanda scores with a sloppy right hand. Spazzolini should have avoided that one.

Spazzolini gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Belhanda to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belhanda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda trying to move into half guard but instead Spazzolini has managed to sweep!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belhanda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Belhanda managing to control the position.
Spazzolini wants to get up but he can't break Belhanda's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Belhanda 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belhanda is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spazzolini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Belhanda is controlling him.
Belhanda throws a strike but Spazzolini rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mbiufo Spazzolini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belhanda on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Belhanda tries to get out of the position.
Spazzolini trying to control but Belhanda is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belhanda controlling Spazzolini's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spazzolini is one step ahead there.
Spazzolini postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spazzolini trying to control the position from guard on top but Belhanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spazzolini has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Belhanda is proving hard to escape from.
Riad Belhanda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mbiufo Spazzolini has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Spazzolini tries to bum rush Belhanda with a series of wild strikes but Belhanda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riad Belhanda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Belhanda has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riad Belhanda!