PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Choke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Choke comes to the cage accompanied by Birdman - 4 My Town Instrumental. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Choke
vs
Belfort

185 cm
19
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Choke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Choke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Choke as he avoids it easily.
Belfort fails to land the takedown.
Rico Choke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.

Choke fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belfort sprawls well initially but Choke persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Choke seems to be looking for submissions.
Choke looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Belfort with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Choke with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Choke's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Choke stops Belfort from getting back to his feet.

Choke postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Belfort to stand up.
Belfort fails with the takedown

so Choke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choke trying to control but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort can't keep his opponent in guard - Choke advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Choke looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Belfort is looking for a sweep. Choke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belfort is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Choke scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort regains full guard. Nicely done.
Choke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two 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.
Belfort looking for a sweep. Not yet Belfort, not yet.
Choke sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Choke is breathing heavily.
Belfort wants to stand and escape but Choke is having none of it.
Belfort avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Choke stands and throws Belfort's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Belfort's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Choke thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Choke working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Choke trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.
Belfort is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Choke is controlling him well.
Belfort is looking to regain half guard here but Choke keeps moving and retains side control.

Choke looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Danga de danga de dang - Belfort scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Rico Choke has been cut.
Belfort doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Choke counters with a shoot takedown. Belfort fights it but they end up in guard.

Belfort looking for a guillotine here but Choke defends easily.
Choke preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Choke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Choke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Belfort has a takedown stuffed.
Belfort shoots in and drives through. Choke sprawls well.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt - Choke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rico Choke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfort.

Choke gets the takedown into side control.
Choke is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Belfort will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Choke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Belfort knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Choke decides to stand back up. Choke steps back and let's Belfort get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort has his takedown stuffed

and Choke counters with a takedown into side control.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet.
Belfort tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Choke controlling from the full mount.

Choke goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Belfort turns into him and now he's in Choke's guard.

Belfort drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belfort jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Choke has his foot on Belfort's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Belfort works his way back into a safe position though.
Belfort passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rico Choke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Choke is trying to control Belfort's posture but Belfort avoids it.
Choke is looking for a sweep.
Belfort trying to control the position but Choke is working away.
Belfort might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Choke kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Choke gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Choke tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Belfort!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Vitor Belfort!