PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morimoto Kazasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Belfort
vs
Kazasaki

183 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Morimoto Kazasaki!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Belfort coming out on top.
Belfort scores with a jab to the body.
Belfort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Belfort lands a lovely overhand right.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kazasaki but Kazasaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kazasaki loads up on a big right hand but Belfort slips the punch.
Belfort pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab, jab by Belfort - just one landing.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt.
Kazasaki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Belfort avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belfort lands an overhand right.
Morimoto Kazasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belfort throws a right hand that Kazasaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Kazasaki also avoids with ease.
Kazasaki just misses with a punch to the body.
Kazasaki throws a right and a left that Belfort avoids nicely.
Kazasaki takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kazasaki slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazasaki stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort throws a body kick that misses.
Kazasaki doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
Decent striking displayed by Kazasaki there.
Kazasaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Belfort shoots in and drives through. Kazasaki sprawls well.
Belfort cracks Kazasaki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Belfort throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kazasaki's waist but Kazasaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Belfort off to one side.
Donk. Kazasaki catches Belfort right on the button with a cross.
Nice takedown defense from Kazasaki. No joy for Belfort on that attempt.
Kazasaki throws a combination that misses
and Belfort counters with a left to the body.
Kazasaki throws the left hand but Belfort avoids the punch easily.

Kazasaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kazasaki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kazasaki continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kazasaki just stands there and leans against the cage.

Belfort pulls guard successfully.
Kazasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Belfort's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kazasaki manages to get himself to full guard.
Kazasaki looks gassed!
Belfort won't allow Kazasaki to get back to his feet.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kazasaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Belfort thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazasaki can't keep his opponent in guard - Belfort advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kazasaki wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kazasaki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Belfort thows a huge punch but Kazasaki dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort throwing shots but Kazasaki is blocking nicely.

Belfort is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kazasaki looks like he's trying to stand up.

Belfort wants to work for an arm triangle but Kazasaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kazasaki tries to kick Belfort off but Belfort keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kazasaki is not content to let Belfort control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kazasaki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Belfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters circling - Kazasaki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kazasaki takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Belfort looks for a takedown but Kazasaki sprawls well.
Kazasaki throws a sloppy body shot
and Belfort counters with a two punch combo.
Kazasaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belfort paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belfort scores with a hook to the body. Kazasaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Belfort lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kazasaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Belfort throws a shot to the body.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kazasaki misses with a jab to the body
and Belfort counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belfort cracks Kazasaki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A jab from Belfort does it's job there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kazasaki moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Kazasaki misses with a two punch combination.
Belfort lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Belfort tries to land a front kick but Kazasaki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kazasaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort shoots in but Kazasaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kazasaki walks into a jab.
Belfort shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kazasaki pinned against the cage. Kazasaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kazasaki misses with a combination
and Kazasaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Belfort tries to clinch but Kazasaki moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Belfort there.
Kazasaki jabs Belfort right on the nose. Belfort blinks but takes it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort lands with a shot to the body.
Nice cross by Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort with a hook.
Kazasaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Belfort counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Belfort scores with a nice right hand.
Belfort looks for a takedown but Kazasaki sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kazasaki misses with a shot to the body
and Belfort cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kazasaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kazasaki throws out a loose jab but Belfort uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belfort tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kazasaki throws a hook but Belfort avoids it easily.
Belfort lands with a nice body punch.
The fighters circling - Kazasaki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Morimoto Kazasaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort wants to clinch up but Kazasaki keeps it at a distance.
Belfort tries to clinch there but Kazasaki circles away.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Kazasaki is avoiding it.
Belfort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Belfort as he connects with a hook.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kazasaki misses the target.
Kazasaki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Belfort counters with a straight right hand.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belfort.
Belfort uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kazasaki.
Kazasaki tries to clinch up.
Kazasaki thows a left - swing and a miss!
A right-left combo lands from Belfort.
Kazasaki loads up on a big right hand but Belfort slips the punch.
Belfort throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazasaki throws a combination that misses
and Belfort counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazasaki misses with a double jab
and Belfort counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Belfort tries to clinch but Kazasaki moves out of range.
Kazasaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Belfort.
Vitor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.
Belfort misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kazasaki throws a hook but Belfort avoids it easily.
Kazasaki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kazasaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kazasaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Belfort listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Belfort lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Belfort looks to land a combination. Kazasaki sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Belfort throws a head kick that half lands.
Kazasaki thows a body shot but no joy.
Kazasaki throws the left hand but Belfort avoids the punch easily.
Belfort will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazasaki misses with a combination
and Kazasaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kazasaki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kazasaki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Belfort lands with a nice combination. Kazasaki backs away looking to recover.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Belfort.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Belfort!
Kazasaki throws a combination that misses
and Belfort counters with a series of strikes. Kazasaki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kazasaki doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
A left and a right from Belfort both land. Nice combination.
A jab from Kazasaki misses.
Belfort connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
No luck for Belfort with that takedown attempt.
Kazasaki throws out a powerful jab.
Nice sprawl there from Kazasaki as Belfort shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Belfort shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kazasaki pinned against the cage. Kazasaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kazasaki misses with a combination
and Belfort connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Belfort tries for a takedown but Kazasaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kazasaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Belfort shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kazasaki misses with an uppercut. Belfort saw that one coming.
Kazasaki wants to clinch.
Kazasaki looks to throw the jab but Belfort is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazasaki tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort ducks under a wild hook from Kazasaki.
Kazasaki loads up on a big right hand but Belfort slips the punch.

Belfort rushes Kazasaki and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kazasaki looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazasaki lands with a right to the head.
Kazasaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kazasaki is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kazasaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Belfort jumps guard but Kazasaki stands there with Belfort around his waist. Belfort gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort goes for a takedown attempt but Kazasaki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kazasaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Belfort sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kazasaki is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Kazasaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kazasaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kazasaki throws a shot to the body.
Kazasaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belfort drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Belfort throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kazasaki misses with a hook. Belfort ducked under it nicely.
A big right from Kazasaki misses.
Belfort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kazasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Belfort 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kazasaki misses with an uppercut.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kazasaki tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort slips under a jab from Kazasaki.
Kazasaki misses with a hook to the body
and Belfort counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kazasaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Belfort sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Belfort shoots for a double leg takedown but Kazasaki sprawls well. He's pushed Belfort's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kazasaki might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A shot to the body from Kazasaki misses
and Belfort counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Kazasaki misses the target.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt.
Belfort changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kazasaki tries to avoid it but Belfort manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kazasaki to the ground. Kazasaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Belfort takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Belfort shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kazasaki pinned against the cage. Kazasaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Belfort keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kazasaki.
Kazasaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Belfort shoots in for a double leg but Kazasaki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kazasaki wants to clinch.
Kazasaki tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Belfort looks to land a left hand but Kazasaki moved out of range nicely.
Kazasaki throws out a loose jab but Belfort uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kazasaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kazasaki throws a combination that misses
and Belfort counters with a left to the body.
Kazasaki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A punch lands to the side of Kazasaki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kazasaki throws an overhand right that lands on Belfort's shoulder, as Belfort tries to avoid the shot.
Belfort tries a head kick but it misses.
Belfort throws a series of punches but Kazasaki avoids them all with ease.
Kazasaki tries to clinch up but Belfort circles away and keeps his distance.
A big right from Kazasaki misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Belfort connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kazasaki tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kazasaki but Kazasaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Morimoto Kazasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jab, jab by Belfort - just one landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morimoto Kazasaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Belfort has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Belfort!