PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort comes to the ring accompanied by Forever and 300 Violin Orchestra Remix (Crack Bottles Forever). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Belfort
vs
Gracie

182 cm
25
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Belfort gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Let's hope that Gracie has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Belfort wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Gracie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Belfort clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Belfort wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Belfort is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie pushes Belfort off looking to stand but Belfort dives back in and keeps control.
Belfort prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie trying to hold on to Belfort's head to control him but Belfort postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Belfort knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

Belfort is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie is holding on to half guard well.
Belfort wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Belfort is looking to stall here but Gracie recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Belfort defends easily.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gracie is working for a guillotine from mount but Belfort frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Belfort wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie trying to control but Belfort is having none of it.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Belfort has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Gracie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Belfort, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belfort sprawls well. Belfort wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort lands a high kick!
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Gracie.
Belfort lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Belfort throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Belfort misses.
Belfort throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vitor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Belfort manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Belfort working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie is controlling the pace.
Belfort is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the pace.
Gracie trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Gracie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belfort is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belfort has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Belfort!
Gracie controlling his opponent.

Gracie has hold of Belfort's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Belfort manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Chael Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belfort is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Belfort wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Belfort thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belfort works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Belfort defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Belfort misses with a two punch combination.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Gracie.
Belfort doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Belfort stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Belfort wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Belfort slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belfort is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Belfort circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Belfort looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Belfort trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Belfort wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie tries to bench press Belfort off him but Belfort keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is looking to control Belfort's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Belfort trying to control from Gracie's half guard. Gracie has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie pulls Belfort in close to his closed guard and prevents Belfort from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has his feet on Belfort's thighs here. He's pushed Belfort off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Belfort screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chael Gracie!
Chael Gracie is the new middleweight champion!