PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connan Mandlei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connan Mandlei has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mandlei
vs
Belfort

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Connan Mandlei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort shoots for a takedown but Mandlei saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Belfort shoots for a double leg takedown but Mandlei sprawls well. He's pushed Belfort's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Belfort fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mandlei, pushing him back against the cage.
Belfort is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Belfort looking for a takedown.
Connan Mandlei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Belfort.
Mandlei is trying to break the clinch but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.

Belfort's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Belfort as Mandlei shoots in.
No luck for Mandlei with that takedown attempt.

Belfort pushes Mandlei up against the cage in a clinch.
Belfort avoiding damage.
Belfort continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Mandlei manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mandlei wants to sweep but no luck.
Belfort sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mandlei's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Belfort controlling the action here.

Mandlei looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mandlei trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mandlei bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Belfort controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belfort is on top in guard.
Mandlei trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Belfort sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Belfort gets to his feet - Mandlei follows without any prompting.
Mandlei shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throws a one two combo.
Belfort scores with a head kick. Mandlei tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mandlei dives in and grabs Belfort's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes down on Mandlei's head and hops out.

Belfort closes the distance and pushes Mandlei back into the cage.
Belfort drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Belfort pulls guard effortlessly.
Belfort doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mandlei working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Mandlei has gone for a leg lock! Belfort slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mandlei's guard.
Mandlei looking to control but Belfort passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mandlei actively working from the bottom here.

Mandlei actively working from the bottom here.
Mandlei works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belfort controlling from the top position.

Mandlei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belfort can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belfort slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Belfort dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mandlei shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belfort sprawls well. Belfort wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mandlei gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Belfort displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mandlei.
Mandlei tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connan Mandlei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Belfort as Mandlei shoots in.
Mandlei fails with the takedown.
Mandlei shoots and misses

and Belfort moves into the clinch.
Belfort is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mandlei gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Belfort has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mandlei is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mandlei drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandlei is trying to stall.
Belfort is working Mandlei over against the cage.

Belfort drags the fight down to the ground.
Mandlei trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort controlling the position.

Mandlei drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Belfort manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mandlei has Belfort in his guard.
Belfort passes Mandlei's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
Mandlei is looking to improve his position.

Belfort decides to stand and escape the position.
Mandlei shoots in looking for a takedown but Belfort manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mandlei's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Belfort closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mandlei tries to score a body lock takedown but Belfort shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort manages to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Belfort holds on and takes a little breather.

Belfort has his foot on Mandlei's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mandlei works his way back into a safe position though.
Mandlei works over Belfort with some ground and pound from guard.
Mandlei looking to sit in guard and control but Belfort gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mandlei has his foot on Belfort's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Belfort works his way back into a safe position though.

Mandlei working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belfort doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belfort manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Mandlei working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort advances position into side control!
Belfort content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belfort moves into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mandlei defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
Belfort with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mandlei misses with a takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a nice body kick.
Mandlei fails with a takedown attempt.
Mandlei misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connan Mandlei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort leaves Mandlei with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort throws a sloppy head kick and Mandlei moves out of range easily.
Mandlei slaps away a takedown attempt from Belfort, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort instigates a clinch.
Mandlei is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Belfort is keeping busy.
Mandlei tries for a takedown. No joy.

Belfort breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belfort tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Mandlei or perhaps it was just good defense by Belfort which made him look bad.
Mandlei shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Mandlei keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mandlei shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Mandlei keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandlei changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Mandlei manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mandlei fails to land the takedown.
Mandlei takes one to the side of the head.

Belfort moves into range and clinches up with Mandlei.
Mandlei tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mandlei is working for takedown but Belfort is calmly controlling the position for now.

Belfort pulls guard successfully.
Belfort is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Belfort is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mandlei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mandlei wants to improve his position but Belfort is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mandlei defending well though.
Belfort trying to control the pace.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but Mandlei defending well.
Mandlei keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belfort perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort throwing shots but Mandlei is blocking nicely.

Mandlei actively working from the bottom here.
Connan Mandlei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antonio Belfort is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mandlei missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belfort 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Belfort!
Antonio Belfort decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.