PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfortt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stevens
vs
Belfortt

225 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocky Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitor Belfortt!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries to bum rush Belfortt with a series of wild strikes but Belfortt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A combination from Stevens does no damage.
Belfortt misses with a two punch combination.
Rocky Stevens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belfortt slips a jab and a cross from Stevens.

Belfortt closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Belfortt sits in half guard.
Belfortt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
Belfortt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Belfortt lands with a punch from half guard.
Stevens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belfortt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfortt trying to mount his opponent but Stevens defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belfortt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belfortt misses with a head kick.
Belfortt shoots in for a double leg but Stevens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Belfortt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Belfortt wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stevens, who protects the arm well.
Belfortt grinds an elbow into Stevens's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfortt stands up and beckons Stevens to his feet.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Belfortt misses with a series of wild punches.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfortt.
Stevens misses with a combination
and Belfortt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belfortt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stevens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Belfortt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stevens sprawls well initially but Belfortt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Belfortt wants to stand but Stevens has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfortt is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.
Stevens is trying to control the position but Belfortt postures up.
Belfortt is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stevens keeping full guard, as Belfortt tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Belfortt stopping the sweep attempt from Stevens.
Belfortt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Belfortt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stevens can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belfortt controls the pace.
Stevens has a closed guard, preventing Belfortt from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfortt dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Belfortt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stevens's guard.
Stevens will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belfortt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Belfortt trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Belfortt is pushing down on Stevens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stevens is fighting to maintain full guard but Belfortt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Belfortt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.
Nice strikes from Belfortt there.
Belfortt tries to stand but can't do so whilst Stevens controls his leg.
Belfortt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is not content to let Belfortt control the position.
Belfortt wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Stevens uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Stevens wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Belfortt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevens throws a wild body kick that Belfortt sees coming a mile off.
Stevens throws a jab but it's blocked by Belfortt.
Belfortt doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.
Belfortt scores with a push kick.

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.

Belfortt shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Belfortt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Belfortt stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stevens to get to his feet.
A shot to the liver by Stevens. Beautiful body shot.
Belfortt tries to clinch up.

Belfortt gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Belfortt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belfortt throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belfortt lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rocky Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfortt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Belfortt.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Stevens throws a left and a right that both miss

and Belfortt counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Belfortt.
Belfortt preventing the sweep.
Vitor Belfortt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belfortt controls from within his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevens is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belfortt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Belfortt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stevens defends well.

Belfortt pushes Stevens off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfortt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Belfortt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stevens's guard.

Belfortt gets to his feet. Stevens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Belfortt moves into the clinch.
Belfortt fails to pull guard.
Belfortt lands a good knee to the midsection. Stevens won't want to take too many of those.

Belfortt breaks from the clinch.
Stevens tries to bum rush Belfortt with a series of wild strikes but Belfortt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belfortt.
Stevens misses with a double jab

and Belfortt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belfortt trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belfortt is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Belfortt has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stevens is proving hard to escape from.
Belfortt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belfortt stays in close to Stevens's body and controls the position.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet but Belfortt is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Belfortt gets to his feet - Stevens follows without any prompting.
Stevens misses with a shot to the body
and Belfortt counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Stevens misses with a combination

and Belfortt counters with a single leg into guard. Stevens didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfortt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Belfortt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Belfortt works over Stevens with some ground and pound from guard.
Belfortt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belfortt must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to stand and escape but Belfortt is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Belfortt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Belfortt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevens just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Belfortt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stevens defends it nicely.
Belfortt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rocky Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Belfortt.
Stevens throws a solid leg kick but Belfortt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Stevens.

Belfortt forces Stevens back against the cage and clinches.
Belfortt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Belfortt fails to pull guard.
Belfortt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belfortt tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually Belfortt drops back down to his feet.

Belfortt gets control of Stevens's arms and successfully pulls guard. Belfortt will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rocky Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitor Belfortt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belfortt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Belfortt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belfortt 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Belfortt!