PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Red Belt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henderson Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belt comes to the cage accompanied by Dance of the Knights. Henderson Cormier has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Red Belt's chin.

Belt
vs
Cormier

187 cm
28
225 lbs
17 - 16 - 0

180 cm
28
223 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Red Belt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Henderson Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belt moves in looking to clinch but Cormier pushes him off.

Belt throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cormier tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Belt is in Cormier's guard.
Belt has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Belt wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Cormier looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Belt throwing strikes but missing.
Belt throws a big elbow that misses.
Cormier told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Cormier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Belt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Belt slips nicely into half guard.
Cormier tries to get to full guard but Belt has control of the leg.
Belt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belt trying to mount his opponent but Cormier defends it.
Belt is thwarting Cormier's attempts to control the position.
Belt has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cormier manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Belt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cormier swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Belt stands and steps away. Cormier gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cormier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belt's waist but Belt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cormier off to one side.
Belt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cormier shoots in and gets a takedown into Belt's guard.
Cormier passes Belt's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cormier performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belt trying to control but Cormier postures up.
Cormier stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt tries to roll over but Cormier keeps him under control.

Henderson Cormier has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cormier with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Belt closes the distance and clinches.

Cormier manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Belt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cormier can't keep his opponent in guard - Belt advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cormier manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cormier is controlling Belt's posture.
Belt trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cormier has control of Belt's left arm, preventing Belt from doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Belt won't allow Cormier to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Henderson Cormier was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Belt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Belt connects with a body shot that sends Cormier's belly button to the back.
Belt tries for a takedown but Cormier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cormier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cormier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Belt counters with a thumping low kick.
Red Belt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henderson Cormier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cormier keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belt moves in looking to clinch but Cormier pushes him off.
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 Red Belt will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Belt misses with a double jab.
Red Belt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belt tries for a takedown but Cormier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cormier dodges the punch combination from Belt.
Cormier takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cormier will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belt is looking to clinch.
Belt looks to score with a jab to the body but Cormier is just out of range.

Belt drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Belt trying to move into half guard but instead Cormier has managed to sweep!
Belt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cormier is pushing down on Belt's leg trying to pass to half guard. Belt is fighting to maintain full guard but Cormier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cormier tries to pass to full mount but Belt defends it.
Cormier is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belt controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Belt is trying to get back to full guard.
Cormier seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belt stuffs the takedown attempt from Cormier. Cormier gets slowly back to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Belt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belt misses with a body shot.
Belt shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cormier as he avoids it easily.
Cormier shoots and misses

and Belt holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Red Belt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henderson Cormier.

Belt is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cormier is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Belt to the mat. Belt regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier controlling from the top position.
Cormier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
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!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Henderson Cormier wasn't active enough on the ground.
Belt shoots in for a takedown but Cormier shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier shoots in but Belt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Belt shoots in but Cormier avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cormier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belt pinned against the cage. Belt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Belt gets the takedown into side control.
Cormier wants to control but Belt postures up.
Cormier is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Belt landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is looking to reverse the position.
Belt throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Belt.
You can see the frustration on Cormier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Belt wants to control but Cormier is keeping him busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cormier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Belt is trying to ground and pound but Cormier uses the momentary lack of control by Belt to regain half guard.
Cormier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cormier is trying to keep Belt in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Red Belt will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Belt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cormier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Belt shoots in and bounces Cormier off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Belt throws a big right hand that misses.
Belt wants to pass the guard but Cormier is keeping the position.
Cormier trying to control the position.
Red Belt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belt wants to stand but Cormier is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cormier looking for a sweep. Not yet Cormier, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is pulling down on Belt's head to control his posture.
Belt tries to stand but Cormier is controlling from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cormier shoots in looking for a takedown but Belt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cormier's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cormier tries for a takedown but Belt circles away easily
and Belt counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Red Belt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henderson Cormier.
Cormier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cormier shoots in but Belt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cormier shoots in for a takedown but Belt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cormier looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belt is fending him off so far but Cormier persists. Nope, Belt circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belt closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cormier counters with a nice double leg into half 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!
Belt wants to get back to full guard.
Belt wants to get back to full guard but Cormier has passed into side control.
Belt is not content to let Cormier control the position.
Cormier tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Belt holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Belt tries to improve position but can't.
Belt gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Belt tries to kick Cormier off but Cormier keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cormier tries to pass to full mount but Belt defends it.
Cormier wants to control but Belt is keeping him busy.
Red Belt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Henderson Cormier hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cormier keeps the fight on the outside.
Belt darts in looking for a takedown but Cormier gets double underhooks and turns Belt into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Belt is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cormier pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Belt prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cormier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Belt pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Belt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Belt closes the distance and pushes Cormier back into the cage.

Belt works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cormier is keeping the position for now.
Belt tries to stand but Cormier is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cormier swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 Red Belt.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belt, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Red Belt!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Red Belt waved his t-shirt featuring Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry's logo in front of the cameras.