PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ola Branko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Belfort
vs
Branko

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ola Branko!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branko dodges the punch combination from Belfort.
Vitor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branko shoots in but no luck this time.

Belfort gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Branko trying to control the position from guard on top but Belfort is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belfort wants to sweep but no luck.

Branko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belfort is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Belfort wants to stand up but Branko is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Belfort scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Branko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belfort sprawls well initially but Branko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branko controlling the action here.
Belfort is breathing heavily.

Branko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Belfort defends it well.
Branko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Branko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Branko is looking for a kimura here.
Branko is looking to advance position but Belfort won't allow it.
Branko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belfort scores with a one two! Branko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Belfort moves in looking to clinch but Branko pushes him off.
Branko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Belfort tries to avoid it but Branko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Belfort to the ground. Belfort escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Belfort closes the distance and clinches.
Branko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ola Branko.
Branko keeps control of Belfort as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Branko looking for a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Belfort.
Belfort misses with the head strike.
Branko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belfort smiles and moves away.
Branko closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Branko pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Branko is avoiding it.
Belfort is looking to clinch.
Branko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Branko shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.
Branko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Branko is avoiding it.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belfort throws a nice looking combination but Branko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Belfort looks to throw the jab but Branko is out of range.
Jab from Belfort.

Branko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Belfort is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Branko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Belfort knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vitor Belfort will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Branko shoots for a takedown but Belfort saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Belfort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Belfort fails to land with a series of punches.
Branko swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Branko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Branko. Branko gets slowly back to his feet.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ola Branko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort tries to clinch up.
Branko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Branko swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belfort lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Belfort scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Belfort scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Branko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belfort tries to clinch there but Branko circles away.
Vitor Belfort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Branko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belfort's waist but Belfort gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Branko off to one side.

Branko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Branko is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belfort is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Branko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Branko goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Belfort is on top in guard.
Belfort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Branko's guard.

Branko isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Belfort stacks Branko on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Belfort!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Branko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Branko regains half guard.

Branko is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Belfort pulls his head out easily.
Belfort wants to stand but Branko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four 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.

Branko looking for submissions off his back.

Belfort stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Branko to get to his feet.
Belfort misses with a wild combination.
A combination from Belfort does no damage.
Branko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
Branko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Branko swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Branko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belfort as he jumps to the side.
Belfort scores with a three punch combo!
Belfort misses with a jab, cross combination.
Branko swats away the attempt to clinch by Belfort.
Branko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Branko. Branko gets slowly back to his feet.
Vitor Belfort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ola Branko.
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch but Branko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Belfort fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Branko shoots for a double leg takedown but Belfort sprawls well. He's pushed Branko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Belfort misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Belfort!
Belfort tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Branko looking for a guillotine from mount but Belfort is having none of it.

Branko goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Belfort turns into him and now he's in Branko's guard.

Branko working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Belfort jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Branko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Belfort would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Branko 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Branko working for a triangle but Belfort defends it easily.
Branko looking to control.
Belfort tries to stand but Branko is controlling from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Belfort lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Branko fails to land the takedown.
Branko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Branko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Branko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Branko shoots in looking for a takedown. Belfort tries to sprawl out of it but Branko 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.

Branko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ola Branko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ola Branko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Branko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Branko drags him back down.
Vitor Belfort is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Branko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Branko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ola Branko.
I think Belfort has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28

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