PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Craven told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Belfort
vs
Craven

185 cm
27
195 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

187 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Viktor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Craven!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craven gets tackled into the cage by Belfort. Belfort maintains the clinch.
Belfort misses with a short punch on the inside.
Craven blocks an uppercut.
Craven is trying to pull guard but Belfort turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Belfort has a couple of punches blocked by Craven.
Belfort misses with a short punch on the inside.

Belfort breaks the clinch.
Craven swings for the body but Belfort moves out of range.
Craven thows a left - swing and a miss!
Belfort fails with an attempt to clinch.
Belfort tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Craven counters with a left to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort wants to clinch up but Craven keeps it at a distance.
Craven lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belfort circles away quickly and effectively.
Craven tries to close the distance and clinch up but Belfort swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Belfort lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Craven rushes Belfort and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven jumps guard but Belfort turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Viktor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Craven.
Belfort gets through Craven's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Craven fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Belfort fails to land.
Belfort letting Craven take a breather here.
A head punch on the inside from Belfort fails to land.
Craven tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Belfort working aggressively here.
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort won't allow it.
Craven jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Belfort walks away with a smile on his face. Craven gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Craven gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Belfort misses with a lunging right hand
and Craven counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Belfort wants to clinch.
Craven ducks under a wild hook from Belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to clinch there but Craven circles away.
Belfort feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cravens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craven looks to clinch
and Belfort counters with a straight right hand.
Belfort clobbers Craven with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Belfort misses with a looping right.
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Craven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belfort lunges at Craven with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Craven's hand.
Craven misses with a double jab.
Craven displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Belfort throws out the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort with a hook.
Belfort throws a big shot that misses.
Craven swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Belfort scores with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort clinches up with Craven and pushes him back against the cage.
Belfort prevents a body shot from Craven.
Craven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Craven jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Belfort walks away with a smile on his face. Craven gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Belfort misses its intended target.
Craven moves out of range of the strikes.
Justin Craven is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort fails with an attempt to clinch.
Craven slips a straight right by Belfort.
Craven fails in his attempt to clinch.
Belfort cracks Craven with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Belfort has taken the fight to the clinch.
Craven swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Belfort misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Craven.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven blocks an uppercut.
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort holds him up against the cage and eventually Craven drops back down to his feet.
Belfort blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort holds him up against the cage and eventually Craven drops back down to his feet.
Craven tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Belfort working aggressively here.
Belfort misses with a punch on the inside.

Craven decides to pull guard.
Belfort would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Belfort won't allow Craven to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Craven's guard.

Craven looking for a guillotine here but Belfort defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Craven tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.
Belfort tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Craven manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Viktor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belfort lands with a straight right. Craven didn't see that one coming.
Belfort uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Belfort pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Craven closes the distance and clinches.

Craven manages to pull guard.
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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Craven is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belfort stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Belfort decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Craven, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort connects with a jab.
Craven fails with an attempt to clinch.

Belfort drops Craven with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Craven looks back up at him and smiles so Belfort waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Belfort is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Craven can do to turn this around?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Craven throws a hook to the side of Belfort's head but Belfort sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Belfort misses.
Belfort fails with an attempt to clinch.
Belfort tries to clinch up but Craven circles away and keeps his distance.

Belfort has taken the fight to the clinch.
Belfort lands an uppercut.
Craven is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Belfort to keep the fight standing.
Craven jumps guard but Belfort stands there with Craven around his waist. Craven gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right from Belfort on the inside.
Craven jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Belfort walks away with a smile on his face. Craven gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Viktor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Craven.
Craven tries to clinch but Belfort is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Belfort tries to keep at a distance but Craven has taken the fight into the clinch.
Craven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Belfort is keeping busy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Belfort creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Belfort throws a head punch that misses.
Belfort has a couple of punches blocked by Craven.

Craven decides to pull guard.
Craven has a closed guard, preventing Belfort from standing up.
Belfort won't allow Craven to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Craven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Belfort is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Belfort avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Belfort would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Craven is trying to keep Belfort in close.

Belfort is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craven is looking for a triangle but Belfort pushes his legs off easily.
Belfort tries to stand but Craven is controlling from the bottom.

Craven throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Belfort wants to get up but he can't break Craven's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Belfort drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belfort jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Craven is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belfort is aware though and is defending well.
Craven controlling Belfort's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Belfort dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Belfort gets a clinch.
Belfort working hard to break the clinch.

Belfort pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Belfort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Belfort lands a really nice looking cross but Craven seems unphased.

Belfort gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Craven blocks an uppercut.
Belfort misses with some punches.
Belfort misses with a hook from the clinch.
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort holds him up against the cage and eventually Craven drops back down to his feet.
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort holds him up against the cage and eventually Craven drops back down to his feet.
Craven is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Belfort to keep the fight standing.
Viktor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Craven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a short punch on the inside.
Belfort lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Viktor Belfort has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Belfort lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Belfort throws a punch but it's blocked by Craven.
Belfort working aggressively here.
Belfort misses with some punches.
Craven tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
Viktor Belfort is winning the standup battle so far.

Belfort cracks Craven with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Craven looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Belfort finish him?

Craven is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belfort wants to clinch.
Belfort's jab looks to have found its range, popping Craven under the eye.
Craven is still on wobbly legs! Can Belfort finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven staying out of range there.
Craven seems to have recovered his senses.
Belfort is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Belfort has managed to clinch.
Craven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Belfort is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Belfort fails to land.
Craven is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Belfort to keep the fight standing.
Belfort tries to break free but Craven pushes him back against the cage.
Craven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Craven pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort tries to stand but Craven is controlling from the bottom.
Craven pulls Belfort in close to his closed guard and prevents Belfort from doing any damage or advancing position.
Belfort tries to stand but Craven is controlling from the bottom.
Belfort has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craven is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Craven has a closed guard, preventing Belfort from standing up.

Belfort got a little sloppy there for a moment and Craven has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Belfort has managed to get both his arms back between Craven's legs - danger averted.

Belfort gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belfort misses with a hook. Craven ducked under it nicely.
Craven tries to clinch but Belfort moves out of range.
A big right from Belfort misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch up but Craven swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Belfort waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Craven.
Craven throws a series of punches but Belfort avoids them all with ease.
Belfort looks to land a right hand but Craven moved out of range.
Craven is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Craven takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belfort is looking to clinch but Craven is avoiding it.
Craven avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belfort tries to clinch up.

Craven rushes Belfort and presses him up against the cage.
Craven tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Craven tries to pull guard but Belfort won't allow it.
Craven works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Justin Craven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Viktor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Craven tries to throw a body punch but Belfort avoids it by throwing Craven back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Belfort showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Belfort!
Viktor Belfort decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.