PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gracie
vs
Belfort

185 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie taking a breather.

Gracie is trying to trip Belfort. He has hold of a leg but Belfort is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gracie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Belfort has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Belfort is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Belfort breaks from Gracie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Belfort's attempts to control the action.
Belfort postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort is landing with some decent strikes but Gracie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort being controlled here momentarily.
Belfort distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Belfort any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pulls Belfort in close to prevent any damage.

Gracie working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Belfort passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Belfort is controlling well.
Belfort looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Belfort is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie gets full guard.
Belfort stands up out of Gracie's guard for a moment - Gracie manages to land a nice upkick.
Belfort has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belfort manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Belfort is working an open guard so Gracie takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie tries for a takedown but Belfort circles away easily
and Belfort cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch.
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gracie just stands there and leans against the cage.

Belfort pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Belfort drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Royce Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gracie pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gracie is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Royce Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Belfort sprawls well.

Gracie moves into the clinch.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Belfort from controlling successfully.
Gracie is striking from the bottom but Belfort uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Belfort controlling him for the moment.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie managing to control the position.

Gracie has his feet on Belfort's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
Belfort avoids the head kick by Gracie.

Belfort pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Belfort lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gracie fails to pull guard.

Belfort works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Belfort must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Gracie dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Belfort to the mat! Belfort manages to get full guard.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Belfort's thigh, looking to free his foot. Belfort is holding on for now.
Belfort wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is keen to just control but Belfort is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Belfort is defending the position.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Royce Gracie.
Belfort closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
Horrible takedown by Belfort or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!
Belfort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from mount.
Belfort taking shots to the head.
Belfort tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Belfort is in no mood to give up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Belfort working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Royce Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Gracie!