PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsuyoshi Tamatso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Belfort
vs
Tamatso

185 cm
40
180 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

180 cm
39
191 lbs
29 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tsuyoshi Tamatso!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Belfort wants to clinch up but Tamatso keeps it at a distance.
Belfort moves in looking to clinch but Tamatso pushes him off.
Tamatso lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Belfort wants to clinch.

Tamatso shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Belfort is trying to defend but Tamatso finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Belfort looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Belfort is looking for a sweep. Tamatso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belfort avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tamatso.
Belfort has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tamatso is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamatso controlling the action here.
Belfort keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belfort blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tamatso.
Belfort makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Belfort.
Tamatso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belfort is keeping the position for now.

Belfort isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tamatso stacks Belfort on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tamatso!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort struggling a bit here.
Tamatso trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort throws Tamatso to one side and escapes!
Belfort avoids the body shot from Tamatso.
Belfort misses with a hook. Tamatso ducked under it nicely.
Tamatso swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Belfort darts in trying to clinch
enabling Tamatso to counter with a crisp jab.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Tamatso. Tamatso gets slowly back to his feet.

Tamatso closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tamatso lands in his opponent's guard.
Tamatso has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belfort wants to sweep here but Tamatso controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Belfort tries to land a sweep but no joy.

We're going to have a standup here because Fedor Belfort wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Belfort takes a swing at Tamatso's ribcage but misses.
Fedor Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort tries to bum rush Tamatso with a series of wild strikes but Tamatso uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Belfort throws a jab but it's blocked by Tamatso.
Nice defenses there by Tamatso.
Tamatso shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Belfort misses with a combination

and Tamatso counters by clinching up.
Tamatso looking for a takedown.
Fedor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsuyoshi Tamatso.
Tamatso tries to pull guard but Belfort holds him up against the cage and eventually Tamatso drops back down to his feet.
Belfort stalling against the cage.
Tamatso has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belfort avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tamatso drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Belfort gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Belfort holding his opponent close, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fedor Belfort will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tamatso keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Belfort.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tamatso. Belfort does a little dance to reset his feet.
Belfort tries to bum rush Tamatso with a series of wild strikes but Tamatso uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tamatso tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Belfort manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
Belfort lands a two punch combo.
Tamatso lands an overhand right.
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belfort darts in trying to clinch
and Tamatso counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Belfort throws a hook but Tamatso avoids it easily.
Tamatso misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Tamatso misses.
Belfort swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tamatso counters with a shoot takedown. Belfort fights it but they end up in guard.
Belfort seems keen to control Tamatso's posture.
Tamatso trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort looking to control.
Tamatso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belfort swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Tsuyoshi Tamatso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but Tamatso is having none of it.

Fedor Belfort has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tamatso scores with a decent looking hook.
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!
Nice shot by Belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tamatso to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Tamatso from controlling successfully.
Tamatso throws a strike but Belfort rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Tamatso trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Tamatso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belfort is aware though and is defending well.
Belfort is looking to stand up but Tamatso won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belfort manages to get himself to full guard.
Tamatso wants to pass the guard but Belfort is keeping the position.

Belfort has his foot on Tamatso's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tamatso works his way back into a safe position though.
Tamatso looking to sit in guard and control but Belfort gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tamatso looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Our spies down at at Outer Heaven Dojo - PIT Inc. inform us that Tamatso has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Belfort wants to stand but Tamatso is controlling his posture from full guard.

Tamatso has his foot on Belfort's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Belfort works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belfort decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Belfort fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tamatso on the side of the head.
Belfort rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tamatso moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Belfort drives through and clinches with Tamatso against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort crunches a lovely knee into Tamatso's ribcage.
Tamatso blocks an uppercut.

Tamatso has Belfort pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Tamatso pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Belfort tumbling to the mat - Tamatso dives into Belfort's guard.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Tamatso from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tamatso trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoshi Tamatso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Belfort's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belfort closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tamatso tries for a takedown. No joy.
Belfort has a couple of punches blocked by Tamatso.
Belfort misses with a punch on the inside.
Tamatso has Belfort pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Belfort manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The referee calls for Belfort to work.
Belfort misses with the head strike.
Belfort can't find room to land a body shot as Tamatso controls the action.
Tamatso is looking for a takedown.
Fedor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tsuyoshi Tamatso.
Belfort misses with a punch to the body.
Tamatso tries for a takedown. No joy.
Belfort scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tamatso avoiding damage as Belfort throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tamatso pulls guard.

Tamatso looking for a guillotine here but Belfort defends easily.
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tamatso's guard.
Tamatso striking off his back but it's not causing Belfort any problems.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but instead Tamatso has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Belfort seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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

Tamatso looking to improve position, pressing down on Belfort's thigh with his hand. Belfort seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Tamatso paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Tamatso's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Belfort picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Fedor Belfort!