PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Forever and 300 Violin Orchestra Remix (Crack Bottles Forever). Wallace has chosen Sandaless - Wojownik as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belfort
vs
Wallace

182 cm
27
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafal Wallace!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wallace fails with the takedown.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Belfort throws a right and a left that Wallace avoids nicely.
Wallace shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Belfort counters with a good, hard body kick but Wallace shrugs it off.
Vitor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wallace.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Wallace.
Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Wallace checks a leg kick.

Wallace closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Belfort quickly recovers to half guard.

Wallace is working for a submission of some sort.

Wallace is trying to work for a kimura but Belfort is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort is defending against the submission attempts here by Wallace.
Belfort is trying to get back to full guard.
Wallace passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace thowing shots but they're missing.

Wallace jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Belfort is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Belfort and Wallace has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Belfort is looking for a sweep.

Wallace swings around for an armbar but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Wallace's guard.
Belfort throws a strike but Wallace rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Wallace stands up from Belfort's guard - Wallace perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wallace with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belfort counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belfort looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wallace looks winded!
Wallace doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Belfort counters with a good low kick that Wallace was not able to check.
Belfort throws a right hand that Wallace ducks under and follows up with a left that Wallace also avoids with ease.
Belfort misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wallace gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Belfort counter with a right hand.
Belfort scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Belfort throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belfort cracks the inside of Wallace's front leg.
Belfort cracks Wallace with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Belfort looks to land a combination. Wallace sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wallace doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Belfort counters with a two punch combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belfort misses with the combination.
Wallace takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belfort scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wallace on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wallace fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Vitor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Belfort tried to score with a low kick but Wallace checks it.
Wallace fails to land the takedown.
Wallace changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Wallace manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Wallace.
Wallace avoids a kick to the body.
Wallace is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Wallace pushes Belfort against the ropes but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belfort lands a right hook to the body.
Belfort fails to land with a series of punches.
Wallace shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Belfort counters with a three punch combo that has Wallace backing up. Wallace nods at Belfort to acknowledge the strikes.
Belfort lands a leg kick that knocks Wallace off balance momentarily.
Good leg kick by Belfort there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Belfort misses with the combination.
Belfort lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort scores with a one two! Wallace had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick lands from Belfort.
Belfort throws a body punch but Wallace moves out of range.
Wallace shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
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!
Belfort lands a nice leg kick that just misses Wallace's sensitive parts.
Belfort scoring well with a low kick there.
Wallace has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Wallace has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Belfort.
Wallace avoids the head kick by Belfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a double jab.
Belfort misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wallace closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
Belfort is looking to wear down Wallace with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Belfort lands a head kick!
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Belfort looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Wallace looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belfort is fending him off so far but Wallace persists. Nope, Belfort circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a two punch combination.
Wallace is trying hard to land a takedown here. Belfort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belfort throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.

Wallace bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Belfort sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wallace is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Some bone on bone action there as Wallace checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Wallace shoots in looking for a takedown but Belfort manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wallace's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Belfort lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wallace circles away quickly and effectively.
Belfort throws a sloppy head kick and Wallace moves out of range easily.
Wallace shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belfort sprawls well. Belfort wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wallace gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Wallace with that takedown attempt.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Wallace.
Belfort lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Wallace at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort leaves Wallace with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wallace walks into a stiff left hand from Belfort.
No joy there for Belfort, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wallace needs to keep his hands up - Belfort had a free shot at his head there.
Wallace gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Belfort counters with a stiff right hand.
Belfort throws a leg kick which misses Wallace's front leg but catches the back leg as Wallace tries to avoid it.
Belfort throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wallace on the side of the head.
Belfort throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Wallace counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belfort 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.
Wallace trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Rafal Wallace has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belfort is on top in guard.
Belfort lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Wallace throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Belfort pushing down on Wallace's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.

Wallace looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belfort drops an elbow to the side of Wallace's head.
Wallace gets back to full guard.
Wallace has a closed guard, preventing Belfort from standing up.

Wallace had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Belfort defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wallace 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.
Rafal Wallace has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort wants to control from the top but Wallace keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wallace throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vitor Belfort.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belfort, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Belfort!
After winning the bout, Vitor Belfort thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Rafal Wallace stepped up to the mic, saying 'Never give up'.