PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abul Khayr Belabed (ranked 3412 p4p, 347 weight class) and Cezare Borgia (ranked 4404 p4p, 424 weight class). Cezare Borgia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Khayr Belabed
vs
Borgia

180 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

175 cm
19
158 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abul Khayr Belabed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cezare Borgia!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belabed goes for a double leg but Borgia avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Borgia continues to drive forward.
Borgia feints the counter takedown.

Borgia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Borgia looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Borgia wants to free his trapped foot but Belabed is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Borgia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borgia controlling the action here.
Borgia trying to pass the guard but Belabed defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borgia is controlling the pace.

Borgia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Belabed has managed to free his arm - good work.
Borgia trying to pass the guard but Belabed defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belabed wants to control but Borgia is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two 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.
Well, if Borgia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Belabed is trying to get back to full guard.
Borgia controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Belabed shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Borgia defends it nicely.

Borgia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belabed seems a little lost for a moment, as Borgia dominates the positioning.
Let's hope that Borgia has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Borgia tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Belabed is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
Belabed manages to work his way to half guard, despite Borgia's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Borgia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Borgia is looking to advance position but Belabed won't allow it.
Borgia slows the pace down in half guard.
Borgia wants to pass to mount but Belabed is defending the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Belabed taking some punishment here, with Borgia in his half guard.
Borgia is controlling the pace.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Belabed tries to roll over but Borgia keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borgia controlling the pace.
Belabed wants to control but Borgia is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belabed is trying hard to land a takedown here. Borgia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abul Khayr Belabed. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belabed fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Borgia avoids it really well and circles away.

Belabed gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Borgia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Borgia connects with a couple of short punches.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Borgia controls from within his opponent's guard.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Borgia.
Borgia pushing down on Belabed's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Borgia looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Belabed trying to control but Borgia postures up.
Borgia trying to pass the guard but Belabed defending well.
Borgia is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Borgia's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Yet more stalling tactics from Borgia.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belabed throws a leg kick which misses Borgia's front leg but catches the back leg as Borgia tries to avoid it.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Belabed fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belabed pivots, looking for a leg kick but Borgia is out of range and Belabed settles back down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Belabed closes the distance and clinches up with Borgia, looking for a takedown. Belabed pushes Borgia against the cage but Borgia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belabed keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cezare Borgia dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Borgia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cezare Borgia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Borgia sitting in guard here, content to control.
Borgia slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Borgia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Borgia controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Borgia.
Borgia with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Belabed's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Belabed trying to remain calm as Borgia controls from the top position.
Belabed tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Borgia politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Borgia prefers to stall for the moment though.
Belabed manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Borgia controlling the pace.

That's two 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.
Belabed slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Borgia throws a big elbow that misses.
Borgia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Borgia controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Belabed misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belabed dives in for a single leg takedown but Borgia sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Borgia feints the counter takedown.
Borgia chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Belabed can pounce on him.

Borgia manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Belabed on his heels. He'll look to pass Belabed's guard now, I'm sure.
Borgia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borgia looking to pass the guard.
Borgia lands a couple of elbows.
Belabed can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Borgia controls the pace.
Borgia looking to pass the guard.
Borgia's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Belabed or perhaps it was just good defense by Borgia, which made it look bad.
Borgia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abul Khayr Belabed. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Belabed lands a nice leg kick that just misses Borgia's sensitive parts.
Belabed throws a solid leg kick but Borgia takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Belabed.
Belabed wants to clinch up but Borgia keeps it at a distance.
Borgia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
No luck for Belabed with that takedown attempt.
Belabed lands with a straight right. Borgia didn't see that one coming.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Belabed scores with a kick to the midsection.

Borgia looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Belabed!
Belabed is letting Borgia control him for a moment.
Borgia is breathing heavily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Belabed is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Borgia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Borgia slows the pace down in half guard.
Belabed is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Borgia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Borgia's back!
Borgia trying to control but not successfully.

Belabed looking for the RNC.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Belabed controlling well, preventing Borgia from escaping the position.

Belabed is looking for the choke from the back position but Borgia is controlling his hands well.
Borgia can't escape the position.
Belabed gets his hands free as Borgia looks to control.
Belabed is hanging on to Borgia's back as he tries to escape.
Belabed is not going to allow Borgia to sit and survive in this position.
Borgia rolls, trying to escape but Belabed keeps control of the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Borgia is still trying to improve position.
A lull in the action here.
Borgia trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Abul Khayr Belabed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cezare Borgia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Borgia tries to break free.
Borgia trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cezare Borgia.
Well Borgia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Cezare Borgia!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Cezare Borgia!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Cezare Borgia!

Cezare Borgia wins by unanimous decision!