PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between yuji shimada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

shimada
vs
Belfort

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, yuji shimada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicolas Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
shimada tries for a takedown but Belfort sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
shimada shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but shimada keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Belfort fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

shimada drives through and clinches with Belfort against the cage.
Belfort working hard to break the clinch.
Belfort tries to break the clinch but shimada is controlling the position.
Belfort should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
shimada drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Belfort gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for yuji shimada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
shimada goes for a takedown attempt but Belfort pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
shimada shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
shimada shoots in looking for a takedown but Belfort manages to keep the fight standing, pushing shimada's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
shimada tries to score a power double leg takedown but Belfort sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten shimada somewhat.
Belfort closes the distance looking to clinch

and shimada counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Belfort's guard now.
Belfort is trying to control the position but shimada postures up.
Belfort manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
shimada is desperately trying to improve his position but Belfort has a good base and remains in mount.

Belfort is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but shimada is surviving well by controlling Belfort's body position as best he can.
Belfort pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Belfort looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
shimada is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort controlling from the full mount.
shimada wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Belfort is riding his opponent, not letting shimada buck him off.
shimada is keeping busy.
Belfort is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
shimada breaks Belfort's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Belfort bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in shimada's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort wants to control from the top but shimada keeps moving.

shimada has an active guard here but Belfort has managed to pass into half guard.
shimada is breathing heavily.
Belfort is trying to control. shimada wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
shimada is trying to maintain the position but Belfort is very close to passing his half guard.
Belfort trying to pass the guard but shimada defending well.
shimada wants to get back to full guard.
Belfort trying to control from half guard but shimada is working away.
shimada trying to control but Belfort postures up.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort misses with the combination.
shimada slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
shimada misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
shimada slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
Belfort tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but shimada was well out of range. Poor timing from Belfort.
Belfort throws a quick head kick that skims the top of shimada's head.
Belfort lands with a nice combination. shimada backs away looking to recover.

It looks like yuji shimada has been cut.

Belfort has closed the distance and engaged shimada in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
shimada tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belfort just stands there and leans against the cage.
Belfort tries to break the clinch but shimada is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick by Belfort misses
and shimada counters with a thumping low kick.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort closes the distance and lands a one-two.
shimada shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but shimada keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belfort manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belfort fails with an attempt to clinch.
shimada is looking to clinch.
A jab from Belfort finds it's way through shimada's defenses.
shimada takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Belfort throws a nice looking combination but shimada bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort throws a right hand that shimada ducks under and follows up with a left that shimada also avoids with ease.
shimada fails with a takedown attempt.
Belfort misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
shimada shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for yuji shimada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
shimada tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from shimada is defended easily by Belfort.
Belfort throws a nice inside leg kick.
shimada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belfort's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Belfort duly obliges.
shimada slips a jab and a cross from Belfort.
yuji shimada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort throws a right and a left that shimada avoids nicely.
Belfort tries a head kick but it misses.
Nicolas Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belfort lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but shimada circles away quickly and effectively.
Nicolas Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
shimada avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good leg kick by Belfort there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
shimada drops his hands momentarily and Belfort takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Belfort throws a nice outside leg kick.
shimada shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Belfort defends it nicely.
Belfort throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck shimada on the side of the head.
Nicolas Belfort seems to be getting the better of the standup.
shimada has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Belfort lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort throws a series of punches but shimada avoids them all with ease.
Belfort throws a series of strikes that have shimada backpedaling.
Belfort throws a right and a left that both miss.

Belfort moves into the clinch successfully.

Belfort pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Belfort clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is pressed up against the cage. shimada has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Belfort down to the mat. Belfort avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Belfort scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Belfort connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Belfort scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Belfort.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Belfort lands a nice leg kick that just misses shimada's sensitive parts.
Belfort misses with the combination.
Belfort scores with a shot to the body.
Belfort closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Belfort has eaten all the pies!
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Belfort scores with a hook to the body. shimada takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort is looking to land body kicks.
Belfort lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

yuji shimada's cut is getting worse.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belfort misses with a double jab.
Belfort closes the distance but shimada moves to the side

and shimada counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

shimada is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Belfort has managed to free his arm - good work.
Belfort trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
shimada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Belfort's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on yuji shimada's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Belfort misses with a two punch combination.
Belfort scores with a leg kick.
shimada takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
shimada has a takedown stuffed.
Belfort throws a nice looking combination but shimada bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belfort lands a body shot.
Belfort tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but shimada was well out of range. Poor timing from Belfort.
A nice inside leg kick there by Belfort. That's going to slow shimada down.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
Belfort throws a sloppy head kick

and shimada counters with a single leg into guard. Belfort didn't expect that.
shimada trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Belfort is adopting a defensive guard.
shimada distracts Belfort with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
shimada won't allow Belfort to get back to his feet.

Belfort had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. shimada defends it easily.
Belfort is adopting a defensive guard.
shimada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
shimada chips away with some ground and pound.
shimada trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
yuji shimada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belfort working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as shimada accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Belfort lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for shimada!
shimada is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Belfort looking to control but shimada is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Belfort is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. shimada can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Belfort tries to control but shimada wriggling away.
Belfort looking to finish shimada with some ground and pound. This is bad for shimada!
Belfort with good strikes from the mount here!

Belfort is going oldschool here, as he tries to force shimada to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so shimada shrugs it off.
Belfort connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
yuji shimada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
shimada wants to hold on but Belfort pushes him away.
Belfort manages to capitalize on a mistake by shimada to take his back!
Belfort not allowing shimada to control his hands.
Belfort controlling well, preventing shimada from escaping the position.
shimada trying to control the position but Belfort manages to sink in the hooks.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Belfort controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
shimada is keeping busy.
shimada is really stuck here.

Belfort has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, shimada has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Belfort slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
shimada can't escape the position.
shimada trying to control but not successfully.
Belfort controls the position.
Nicolas Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Belfort!