PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lester Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Belfort has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Belfort

193 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lester Matthews!
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, Antonio Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Belfort will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matthews dives in and grabs Belfort's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes down on Matthews's head and hops out.
Matthews takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Belfort throws a head kick that misses
and Matthews counters with a left to the body.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Belfort. No joy for Matthews on that attempt.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthews circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belfort is looking to clinch.

Matthews closes the distance and clinches.
Matthews lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Matthews obliges.
Belfort is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Matthews to keep the fight standing.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Belfort. That snapped Matthews's head back.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort misses with a few strikes there.
Matthews shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belfort pinned against the cage. Belfort gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Belfort throws a sloppy head kick

and Matthews holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Belfort wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matthews goes for a takedown attempt but Belfort pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Belfort scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matthews manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matthews tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matthews stalling against the cage.

Matthews gets control of Belfort's arms and successfully pulls guard. Matthews will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Belfort advances to half guard.
Belfort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belfort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belfort missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
Belfort is trying to control. Matthews wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Belfort prevents Matthews from standing back up.

Belfort is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matthews manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matthews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Belfort gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Belfort dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Matthews with that takedown attempt.
Belfort misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matthews fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Belfort. No joy for Matthews on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belfort swinging wildly here.
Belfort dives in and grabs Matthews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matthews pushes down on Belfort's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews rushes Belfort and presses him up against the cage.
Belfort wants to break the clinch but can't.
Belfort looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Belfort is trying to break the clinch but Matthews has him pressed against the cage.
Matthews jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Belfort walks away with a smile on his face. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matthews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belfort is fending him off so far but Matthews persists. Nope, Belfort circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belfort lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matthews backs up against the cage.

It looks like Lester Matthews has been cut.
Matthews throws a wild hook but Belfort just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Matthews gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Belfort raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Belfort!