PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Antonescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregory Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Antonescu
vs
Belcher

185 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stefan Antonescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregory Belcher!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belcher drives through and clinches with Antonescu against the cage.
Belcher is trying to stall.
The referee is keeping an eye on Antonescu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Antonescu could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Belcher displaying some good clinch control by pressing Antonescu up against the cage.
Belcher has Antonescu pushed against the cage.
Belcher is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Belcher continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Belcher effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gregory Belcher.

Antonescu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Belcher effectively controlling the action here.

Antonescu pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher throws a big right hand that misses.
Belcher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Antonescu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belcher controls the pace.
Belcher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Antonescu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Antonescu keeping moving, preventing Belcher from controlling successfully.
Belcher is looking to work some ground and pound but Antonescu has wrist control.

Antonescu looking for a guillotine here but Belcher defends easily.

Antonescu working for a triangle but Belcher defends it easily.
Belcher pushes down on Antonescu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Antonescu trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belcher is trying to work for a kimura but Antonescu is defending well.

Belcher is working for a kimura but Antonescu is defending it quite comfortably.

Antonescu looking for submissions off his back.
Belcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Antonescu trying to control from the bottom.
Belcher works his way into full mount!
Belcher is looking to stand but Antonescu has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Antonescu working to try and regain half guard.
Antonescu tries to hold on but Belcher pushes him away.
Belcher wants to control the pace but Antonescu is squirming around nicely.

Belcher is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Belcher gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Belcher breaks from the clinch.

Belcher clinches up against the cage.
Belcher trying to control the position but instead, Antonescu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belcher into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Antonescu pulls Belcher into guard.
Belcher pushes down on Antonescu's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Antonescu actively working from the bottom here.
Belcher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Antonescu won't allow Belcher to pass to mount.
Belcher is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Antonescu wants to hold on but Belcher pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belcher wants to stand but Antonescu is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Antonescu is looking to improve his position but Belcher isn't that keen on the idea.
Belcher takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Belcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Antonescu gets a clinch.
Belcher displaying some good clinch control by pressing Antonescu up against the cage.

Antonescu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Antonescu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Belcher has gone for a leg lock! Antonescu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Belcher's guard.

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

Belcher throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Antonescu escapes and throws Belcher's legs to the side, diving into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Antonescu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Antonescu taking a break here but Belcher is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher is looking to improve his position.

Antonescu is trying to work for a kimura but Belcher is defending well.
Belcher desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Belcher is trying to stand back up but Antonescu is controlling him

Antonescu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Antonescu is trying to control. Belcher wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Antonescu stops Belcher from getting back to his feet.
Belcher is looking to control Antonescu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Belcher avoid being mounted?
Belcher is trying to get back to full guard.
Belcher wants to get back to his feet.
Belcher is trying is best to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Antonescu is thwarting Belcher's attempts to control the position.

Belcher is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Antonescu pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is refusing to be controlled, as Antonescu sits in half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belcher is looking to improve his position.
Belcher has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Antonescu is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Antonescu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Antonescu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Belcher is trying to maintain a safe position but Antonescu gets an underhook and turns Belcher into the cage.

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.
Antonescu is trying to stall.

Antonescu successfully pulls guard.
Antonescu is trying to keep Belcher in close.

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

Antonescu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Belcher is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Antonescu.
You can see the frustration on Antonescu's face as Belcher controls the position.
Belcher tries to advance to mount but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Antonescu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Antonescu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belcher is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Antonescu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Belcher clinches.

Antonescu pulls Belcher into guard.

Belcher drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belcher jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Belcher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Antonescu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Belcher postures up in Antonescu's guard and throws a big left but Antonescu blocks it.
Antonescu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Antonescu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belcher would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stefan Antonescu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belcher is working Antonescu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Belcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Antonescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Antonescu has an active guard here but Belcher has managed to pass into half guard.
Antonescu won't allow Belcher to pass to mount.
Belcher looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Antonescu is not content to let Belcher control the position.
Belcher passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Antonescu!
Belcher throwing strikes here but Antonescu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Belcher moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Antonescu has worked his arm free - good work by Antonescu!
Belcher advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher looking to ground and pound but Antonescu is blocking nicely.
Belcher trying to control but Antonescu is having none of it.
Antonescu is trying desperately to improve position.
Belcher avoids the attempt from Antonescu to control.
Belcher controlling from the full mount.
Belcher is trying to take his opponent's back.
Belcher is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antonescu is looking to improve his position but Belcher isn't that keen on the idea.

Belcher goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Antonescu turns into him and now he's in Belcher's guard.
Antonescu wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.
Antonescu looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonescu stopping the sweep attempt from Belcher.
Antonescu wants to control from the top but Belcher keeps moving.
Antonescu stopping the sweep attempt from Belcher.

Belcher looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Antonescu passes into side control.
Belcher gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Belcher is defending against the submission attempts here by Antonescu.

Antonescu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Belcher is just riding it out for now. Antonescu eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gregory Belcher.
I think Belcher 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Stefan Antonescu!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Stefan Antonescu!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Gregory Belcher!

Stefan Antonescu wins by split decision!
Gregory Belcher was interviewed post fight and said 'Behaaaave'.