PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tong Po (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belanger
vs
Po

187 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 Tokyo, Joe Belanger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tong Po!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Po closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belanger circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Po looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Po tries for a takedown but Belanger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Belanger does no damage.
Po looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belanger is fending him off so far but Po persists. Nope, Belanger circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe Belanger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tong Po.
Belanger throws a one two combo.
Nice sprawl there from Belanger as Po shoots in.
Po shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Po fails with the takedown.
Belanger tries to clinch there but Po circles away.
Po avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger swinging wilding here.
Belanger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Po shoots for a takedown but Belanger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Po fails with the takedown.

Belanger has taken the fight to the clinch.
Belanger misses with a punch on the inside.
Po fails to pull guard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Belanger.

Belanger breaks the clinch.
Belanger is looking to clinch but Po is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No luck for Po with that takedown attempt.

Belanger moves into range and clinches up with Po.
Belanger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Po has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Belanger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Po lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Belanger misses with a knee strike.
Po fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Belanger can't break the clinch.
Belanger digs a right hand into Po's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Po's gas tank.
Po looks gassed!
Belanger lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Belanger misses with a punch on the inside.
Po blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Po fails to pull guard.
Belanger missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Belanger fails to land.
A hook to the body from Belanger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po tries to pull guard but Belanger holds him up against the cage and eventually Po drops back down to his feet.
Po tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belanger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belanger lands an uppercut.
Belanger lands a nice uppercut.
Belanger lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Po backwards.
Po tries to pull guard but Belanger won't allow it.
Belanger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Belanger misses with a punch on the inside.
Belanger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Belanger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Po tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Belanger throws a knee to the head but misses.
Po tries to pull guard but Belanger won't allow it.

Belanger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Po shoots in and drives through. Belanger sprawls well.
Po shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belanger as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Belanger forces Po back against the cage and clinches.
A short uppercut from Belanger.
Po tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Belanger misses with a body punch.
Belanger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Belanger throws a knee to the head but misses.
Belanger working aggressively here.
Belanger misses with the head strike.
Po blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Belanger misses with the head strike.
Belanger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Belanger lands a body shot.
Belanger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Belanger dominated that round.
That's time! Belanger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belanger wants to clinch.
Belanger wants to clinch

and Po counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but Po blocks it.
Belanger landing knees to the head.
Belanger can't find room to land a body shot as Po controls the action.
Po drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belanger pulls his leg out and moves away.
Po shoots for a double leg takedown but Belanger sprawls well. He's pushed Po's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch but Belanger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Belanger is looking to clinch but Po is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po fails to land the takedown.
Joe Belanger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tong Po.
Po is breathing heavily.
Belanger throws a left and a right that both miss
and Po counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Belanger wants to clinch
and Po counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Po shoots in but no luck this time.
Po tries for a takedown but Belanger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belanger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Po.
Po looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belanger is fending him off so far but Po persists. Nope, Belanger circles away and we're back to standing.

Belanger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Po, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a punch but it's blocked by Po.
Belanger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Belanger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Po is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Belanger gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Belanger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Po fails to pull guard.
Belanger lands a nice knee to the body.
Belanger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Belanger misses with a punch to the body.
Belanger swings wildly with an uppercut but Po uses good head movement to avoid it.
Belanger digs a right hand into Po's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Po's gas tank.
Belanger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Belanger landing knees to the head.
Belanger misses with a punch on the inside.
Po blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belanger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belanger tries to land knees in the clinch but Po avoids the damage to the body.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but Po blocks it.
Belanger with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Po drags the fight down to the ground.
Belanger knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Po on the ground.
Belanger wants to control from the top but Po keeps moving.
Po looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

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.
Belanger controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Po is trying to control the position but Belanger postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Belanger dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Belanger throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belanger tries to clinch
and Po counters with a solid body kick.
Po circles away from the clinch attempt.
Po misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Po will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Po looks for a takedown but Belanger sprawls well.
Joe Belanger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tong Po.
Belanger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Po paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belanger fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger misses with a combination

and Po counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Po.
Belanger lands a damaging elbow.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but Po blocks it.
Po blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Po tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belanger smiles and moves away.
Po shoots in for a takedown but Belanger shows good takedown defense.
Po lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Po lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Po.

Belanger forces Po back against the cage and clinches.
Po is working for takedown but Belanger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Belanger wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Belanger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Po tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belanger smiles and moves away.
Joe Belanger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belanger tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Po connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Po misses with a takedown attempt - Belanger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Po tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belanger swivels and escapes.
Belanger tries to clinch but Po moves away
and Po counters with a nice body shot.
Belanger tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by Po or perhaps it was just good defense by Belanger which made him look bad.
Belanger tries to clinch
and Po counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Belanger has Po up against the cage in a clinch.
Belanger lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Belanger manages to break the clinch.

Belanger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Po jumps guard but Belanger stands there with Po around his waist. Po gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Belanger lands an uppercut.
Po blocks an uppercut.
Joe Belanger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belanger misses with a body punch.
Tong Po has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Po prevents a body shot from Belanger.
Po tries to pull guard but Belanger holds him up against the cage and eventually Po drops back down to his feet.
Po fails to pull the fight into his 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 Joe Belanger.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belanger, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Belanger!