PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MIke Bolton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Vitor Belfort has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Vitor Belfort seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Belfort
vs
Bolton

208 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter striker
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 - 0 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, MIke Bolton!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Belfort.
Bolton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bolton is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Bolton circles away and we're back to standing.

Bolton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bolton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bolton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belfort's waist but Belfort gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bolton off to one side.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Bolton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Belfort tries to kick Bolton off but Bolton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Bolton is keeping busy.
Belfort keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bolton is thwarting Belfort's attempts to control the position.
Bolton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belfort defending well though.
Bolton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bolton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belfort makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Belfort is looking to clinch.
Belfort misses with a takedown

and Bolton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Belfort wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Bolton breaks the clinch.
Belfort really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt

so Bolton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Belfort. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort is breathing heavily.
Bolton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bolton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belfort wants to stand but Bolton is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bolton.
Bolton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bolton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolton 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 trying to control the position.
Bolton trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bolton!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bolton is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bolton regains half guard.
Belfort trying to control the action but Bolton is working from the bottom.
Bolton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belfort is working away from the top position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bolton can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bolton is pressing down on Belfort's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MIke Bolton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Belfort closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bolton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Belfort's guard.
Belfort can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bolton controls the pace.
Bolton is looking to work some ground and pound but Belfort has wrist control.

Bolton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Belfort dives on top into guard.

Bolton has an active guard here but Belfort has managed to pass into half guard.
MIke Bolton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolton is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Belfort pulls his head out easily.
Bolton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Belfort.
Belfort blocks the strikes from Bolton.
Belfort looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Belfort passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bolton!
Belfort looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Belfort looking to secure an arm triangle but Bolton defends it well.
Belfort wants to control the pace but Bolton is squirming around nicely.
Bolton tries to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bolton is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Belfort trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bolton is looking to improve his position but Belfort isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton tries to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Bolton working to try and regain half guard.
Bolton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bolton is trying to reverse the position but instead Belfort has taken his back - oops!
Belfort tries to get the hooks in deep but Bolton pushed the leg off.
Belfort keeps control of the position as Bolton tries to break free.
Bolton looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bolton tries to roll but Belfort sticks to his back.
A lull in the action here.
Bolton just looking to survive in the bad position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bolton is trying to shake Belfort off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Belfort won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MIke Bolton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bolton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belfort lands a with a good body shot.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt

and Bolton moves into the clinch.
Belfort is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Belfort wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bolton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bolton jumps into guard, dragging Belfort to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfort trying to control the position from guard on top but Bolton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bolton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Belfort has picked Bolton up and slammed him! Bolton can't keep hold of the triangle and Belfort manages to pass to side control!
Belfort tries to stand but Bolton is controlling his head.
Bolton is looking to regain half guard here but Belfort keeps moving and retains side control.
Belfort has control of an arm but Bolton manages to advance to Belfort's back!
Belfort misses with punches from the back.
Belfort avoiding Bolton 's attempts to control his hands.
Bolton is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Belfort looking to break Bolton's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bolton remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Belfort will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Bolton can't escape the position.
Bolton tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bolton can't escape the position.
Belfort scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bolton?
Belfort throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Belfort throws some wild stikes that Bolton manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton tries to lock up and control but Belfort gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Belfort looking to control but Bolton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bolton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bolton wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bolton has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Belfort.
Bolton wants to control his opponent's hands but Belfort gets his hands free.
Belfort is trying to stick to Bolton's back but Bolton is turning into Belfort. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Belfort's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bolton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bolton drops back, looking for a kneebar! Belfort looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Belfort looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Belfort!
Bolton is looking for a sweep.
MIke Bolton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfort working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bolton is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Belfort is staying active.

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.
I think Bolton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MIke Bolton!