PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Serbanescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and vitor belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). vitor belfort has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Serbanescu
vs
belfort

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Serbanescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, vitor belfort!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Serbanescu shoots in for a takedown but belfort shows good takedown defense.
belfort throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

belfort clinches up against the cage.
belfort lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Serbanescu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as belfort walks away with a smile on his face. Serbanescu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

belfort gets a takedown into half guard.
Serbanescu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from belfort.

Serbanescu is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but belfort pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Serbanescu keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
belfort drops an elbow to the side of Serbanescu's head.
belfort drops an elbow to the side of Serbanescu's head.
belfort is trying to control. Serbanescu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
belfort thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
belfort thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Serbanescu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
belfort lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
belfort really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Serbanescu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
belfort looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
belfort seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Serbanescu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
belfort looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

belfort gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Serbanescu is breathing heavily.
Serbanescu scores with a decent looking hook.
A big left from Serbanescu misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

belfort moves into the clinch successfully.

belfort turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Serbanescu is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but belfort is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
belfort landing punches.
Serbanescu is in all sorts of trouble here.
belfort content just to control the position here.
belfort working away from the top, dropping strikes.
belfort controlling from the full mount.
belfort lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serbanescu throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
belfort postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Serbanescu looks a forlorn figure.
Serbanescu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
belfort looking to control and managing it successfully.
belfort punishing his opponent with strikes.
belfort is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Serbanescu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
belfort putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
belfort controlling the position easily from mount.
belfort working away from the top, dropping strikes.
belfort with good strikes from the mount here!
belfort controlling from mount.
belfort lands with some strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
belfort with a couple of short strikes.
belfort breaks from Serbanescu's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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!
belfort working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

vitor belfort dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

belfort looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
belfort looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Serbanescu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. belfort lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. belfort connects with a nice short shot to Serbanescu's temple.
belfort is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Serbanescu is looking to get to half guard.
The referee warns Serbanescu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
belfort lands a big shot there that rocks Serbanescu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
belfort controlling the pace for now.
Serbanescu taking shots to the head.
Serbanescu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, belfort cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
belfort working the ground and pound effectively.
belfort lands a heavy elbow.
belfort working Serbanescu over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by belfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
belfort controlling from mount.
belfort lands a big shot there that rocks Serbanescu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
belfort has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Serbanescu's face.
BOOM! belfort connects with a massive shot to the dome!
belfort with shots to the head and body - Serbanescu looks very uncomfortable down there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
belfort landing strikes from the mount and Serbanescu is in trouble!
belfort lands a big elbow.
belfort scoring with strikes but Serbanescu is staying in there.
belfort content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
belfort lands a big elbow.
Serbanescu in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
belfort lands a big elbow.
belfort looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
belfort lands with some strikes.
belfort landing strikes, looking to finish!
Serbanescu can't escape the position.
belfort has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
belfort controlling the pace for now.
belfort fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
belfort looking to control and managing it successfully.
belfort working Serbanescu over with strikes here.
belfort punishing his opponent with strikes.
belfort lands a big shot there that rocks Serbanescu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
belfort tries to control but Serbanescu wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Serbanescu taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, belfort cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

vitor belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

belfort lands an overhand right.

It looks like Nick Serbanescu has been cut.

belfort looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
belfort is taking a breather. Serbanescu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
belfort lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
belfort looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
belfort working Serbanescu over with strikes.
belfort working Serbanescu over with strikes.
vitor belfort has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with belfort in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
belfort wants to lay and pray for a moment but Serbanescu keeps working.

Serbanescu is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but belfort pulls his head out easily.
belfort slows the pace down in half guard.

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.
Serbanescu has hold of belfort's hands but belfort slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
belfort trying to control the action but Serbanescu is working from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. belfort connects with a nice short shot to Serbanescu's temple.
belfort drops an elbow to the side of Serbanescu's head.

Serbanescu looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
belfort working the head and body with strikes.
belfort scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Serbanescu is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but belfort pulls his head out easily.
belfort landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
belfort is figuring out what he wants to do next.
belfort is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Serbanescu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
belfort lands a nice shot to the head.
belfort content just to control the position here.
A nice elbow there by belfort.
belfort fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
vitor belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
belfort is landing with some decent strikes but Serbanescu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
belfort controlling the pace for now.
Nick Serbanescu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
vitor belfort comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well belfort 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 25:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... vitor belfort!