PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Preuss Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Belfort
vs
Crane

207 cm
22
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

204 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Preuss Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luiz Crane!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Crane. Crane gets slowly back to his feet.
Crane misses with an attempted mid kick.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Crane takes the fight into the clinch.
Crane keeps control of Belfort as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Belfort swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Crane successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crane looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Crane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belfort doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belfort manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Crane has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Belfort off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Belfort tries to clinch up

and Crane counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Belfort is looking to stand back up but Crane counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Belfort.

Belfort looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.
Crane slows the pace down in half guard.
Belfort tries to roll over but Crane keeps him under control.
Crane perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crane tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Belfort.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.

Crane stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Belfort to get to his feet.

Crane forces Belfort back against the cage and clinches.
Crane is trying to break the clinch but Belfort is controlling him.
Crane letting Belfort take a breather here.
Crane blocks an uppercut.
Belfort lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Crane backwards.
Crane drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crane wants a takedown.
Preuss Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luiz Crane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.

Crane breaks from the clinch.
Belfort tries to clinch up

and Crane counters by moving into the clinch.
Belfort throws a head punch that misses.
Belfort scores with a shoulder strike.
Belfort misses with a hook to the ribs.
Crane has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Belfort avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Crane looks gassed!

Crane has clasped his hands together around Belfort's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Belfort struggling a bit here.
Belfort on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Belfort tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Belfort tries to bench press Crane off him but Crane keeps the position.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet.
Crane trying to control the action but Belfort is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Crane tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Belfort is not content to let Crane control the position.
Belfort is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Crane dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Crane is looking to clinch but Belfort is avoiding it.
Belfort wants to clinch but Crane slips to the side
and Crane counters with a slapping leg kick.

Crane closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Crane is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Crane drops an elbow to the side of Belfort's head.
Belfort is refusing to be controlled, as Crane sits in half guard.
Belfort is looking to improve his position.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Crane misses with a few strikes there.
Belfort wants to clinch but Crane slips to the side

and Crane holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Crane blocking some punches.
Belfort tries to break free but Crane pushes him back against the cage.
Crane is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Crane gets through Belfort's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Crane blocking some punches.
Crane tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Crane tries to pull guard but Belfort won't allow it.

Crane has clasped his hands together around Belfort's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Belfort is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane tries to move to mount but Belfort blocks the move with his legs.
Crane trying to control the position but Belfort is working away.

Crane has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Crane shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Belfort is wriggling around trying to escape.

Crane swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Belfort is now in Crane's guard. A big mistake from Crane there, giving up the dominant position!
Crane controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to free his leg and advance position but Crane is retaining full guard.
Belfort throws a big right hand that misses.
Belfort postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
Belfort loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Belfort throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crane keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Crane shoots in but no luck this time.
Preuss Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luiz Crane.

Crane closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

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.
Crane can't get the takedown.
Belfort displaying some good clinch control by pressing Crane up against the cage.
Crane fails to pull guard.

Crane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belfort wants to clinch but Crane slips to the side

and Crane counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Crane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Belfort closes the distance but Crane moves to the side

and Crane counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Belfort wants to control but Crane is keeping busy.

Crane decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort tries to clinch up
and Crane counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Crane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Belfort's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Crane drives through and clinches with Belfort against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Belfort as the two fighters clinch.

Crane breaks the clinch.
Preuss Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Belfort gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Crane tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
Belfort tries to clinch

so Crane counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Belfort looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belfort keeping moving, preventing Crane from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crane slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane is taking a breather. Belfort 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 is not content to let Crane control the position.
Crane is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Crane frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Belfort is squirming around, avoiding Crane's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Belfort keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Crane controlling his opponent.
Crane unloading with bombs!
Crane lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crane working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Crane misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Crane lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Belfort is bucking up trying to escape but Crane cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Crane with shots to the head and body - Belfort looks very uncomfortable down there.
Crane scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Belfort?
A nice elbow there by Crane.
Crane tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Crane tries to control but Belfort wriggling away.
Preuss Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Luiz Crane just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Belfort has closed the distance and engaged Crane in a clinch.
Luiz Crane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Crane works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luiz Crane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crane 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Crane!