PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alyston Dion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor 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.

Dion
vs
Belfort

225 cm
20
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alyston Dion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Dion with that takedown attempt.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dion napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Belfort connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dion some visible discomfort.
Dion tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belfort wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Belfort tries to advance to mount but Dion instead regains half guard.
Dion trying to control here.
Dion is trying to stand back up but Belfort is controlling him
The fighters are battling for position here. Dion manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dion is trying to keep Belfort in close.

Dion had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Belfort defends it easily.
Dion controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.
Dion really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dion throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dion looking to control.
Belfort engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Dion has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belfort can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dion is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Belfort seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Belfort postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dion will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belfort content to stall in guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dion blocks a low kick nicely.
Belfort stalks Dion and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dion's face. Dion staggers backwards, shaken.
Dion defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belfort.
Belfort defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dion.
Dion is looking to clinch but Belfort is avoiding it.
Belfort swats away the attempt to clinch by Dion.
Dion is breathing heavily.
Dion tries to close the distance and clinch but Belfort swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belfort gets a double leg takedown into Dion's guard.
Belfort controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Belfort won't allow Dion to get back to his feet.
Belfort really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dion. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Belfort is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Belfort stopping the sweep attempt from Dion.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belfort closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dion did well to prevent Belfort getting side control.
Dion is trying to get back to full guard.
Dion is staying active underneath Belfort, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Belfort is thwarting Dion's attempts to control the position.
Belfort controlling the pace.
Dion gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dion is keeping the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Belfort won't allow Dion to sweep him here.
Dion working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort wants to clinch.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dion shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Belfort tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dion sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belfort somewhat.
Alyston Dion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.
Belfort tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Belfort drives through with a takedown into Dion's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Belfort sitting in guard here, content to control.

Dion had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Belfort defends it easily.
Belfort must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dion 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 sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belfort wants to stand but Dion is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dion keeping full guard, as Belfort tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort stays in close to Dion's body and controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Dion is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dion working a defensive guard here.
Belfort wanted to stand there but Dion had control of the position.
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.
That's time! Dion's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Belfort closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dion moves into full guard.
Dion looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belfort is one step ahead there.

Dion throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dion trying to keep a closed guard but Belfort is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dion tries to strike from the bottom.
Belfort cracks Dion with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dion thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dion looking for a sweep. Not yet Dion, not yet.
Dion controls Belfort momentarily but Belfort frees himself.
Belfort wants to pass the guard but Dion is keeping the position.
Belfort sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to move into half guard but instead Dion has managed to sweep!
Dion throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Belfort works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Belfort pulls Dion in close to prevent any damage.
Belfort preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dion wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dion is looking to clinch but Belfort is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belfort closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dion quickly recovers to half guard.
Belfort is thwarting Dion's attempts to control the position.
Belfort wants to free his trapped foot but Dion is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dion is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Belfort's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Belfort's back!

Dion looking for the choke from the back.
Dion struggling to keep hold of the position.
Belfort covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Dion trying to control momentarily.
Belfort tries to escape the position.
Belfort holding both Dion 's hands and preventing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dion misses with punches from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alyston Dion.
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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

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