PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Leal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Leal had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Leal
vs
Belfort

188 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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, Jose Leal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belfort fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leal moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Leal moves out of range as Belfort throws a body kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Leal.
Leal closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Belfort is rocked!
Horrible takedown by Belfort or perhaps it was just good defense by Leal which made him look bad.
Belfort misses with a hook.
Belfort throws a right hand that Leal ducks under and follows up with a left that Leal also avoids with ease.

Leal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Belfort.
Belfort wants a takedown but no success here.
Belfort tries to pull guard but Leal won't allow it.
Jose Leal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Belfort.
Belfort fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Belfort looks gassed!
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Leal just stands there and leans against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leal wants to get back to striking at distance but Belfort won't allow it.
Belfort is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Leal can't break the clinch.
Belfort tries a body shot but Leal blocks it.
Belfort trying to control the position but instead, Leal has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belfort into the cage.
Belfort wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Leal has had enough of the clinch but Belfort keeps him there for the moment.
Belfort tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Leal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Leal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Leal tries to break the clinch but Belfort is controlling the position.

Belfort breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leal lands a slapping body shot.

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.
Leal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leal avoids the head kick by Belfort.
Leal tries to clinch up but Belfort circles away and keeps his distance.
Jose Leal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Leal moves into the clinch.
Leal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leal is trying to break the clinch but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.
Belfort wants to break free but Leal has control.
Leal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Belfort jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leal walks away with a smile on his face. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Belfort fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leal moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Leal scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Leal scores with a four punch combination!
Leal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Leal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Belfort has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Belfort takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Leal lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Leal lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Belfort backs up against the cage.
Belfort closes the distance and clinches up with Leal, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes Leal against the cage but Leal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belfort looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leal is fending him off so far but Belfort persists. Nope, Leal circles away and we're back to standing.
Leal circles away from the clinch attempt
and Leal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Leal throws a series of punches but Belfort avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Belfort - that will leave a mark!
Belfort clinches but Leal breaks the clinch
and Leal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Leal is working the combinations to good effect here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Belfort tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Leal drops his hands momentarily and Belfort takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Leal keeps the fight on the outside.

Belfort fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leal, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belfort jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Leal walks away with a smile on his face. Belfort gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Leal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Belfort circles away quickly and effectively.

Belfort moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Leal dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Belfort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leal looks to land a combination but Belfort avoids it well.
Leal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Leal misses with the combination.
Belfort is trying desperately to land a takedown but Leal is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Belfort.
Leal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belfort moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leal misses with a two punch combination.
Belfort misses with a head kick.
Leal throws a body punch but Belfort moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belfort closes the distance and clinches up with Leal, looking for a takedown. Belfort pushes Leal against the cage but Leal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belfort scores with a spinning back kick!
Leal cracks Belfort with a good jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Leal clinches up with Belfort and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort looking to slow down the pace here.
Belfort lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leal backwards.
Leal takes an elbow to the forehead.
Belfort is trying to break free.
Belfort fails to pull guard.
Jose Leal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Belfort.
Belfort throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Belfort jumps guard but Leal stands there with Belfort around his waist. Belfort gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Belfort prevents Leal from breaking the clinch.
Belfort drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leal gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Leal wants to break free but Belfort has control.

Belfort escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leal!
Belfort stalks Leal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Leal's face. Leal staggers backwards, shaken.
Belfort is looking to clinch but Leal is avoiding it.
Nice defenses there by Leal.
Left hook, right uppercut from Leal.
No luck for Belfort with that takedown attempt.
Belfort tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leal swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort lands a head kick. Leal smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Belfort tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leal swivels and escapes.

Leal moves into the clinch.
Belfort tries a body shot but Leal blocks it.
Belfort with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Belfort tries to stall but Leal uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Leal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.
Belfort throws a knee to the head but misses.
Leal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leal gets underhooks to prevent Belfort's takedown attempt.
Leal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Belfort fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Belfort tries for a takedown but Leal manages to get underhooks.
Belfort jumps guard but Leal stands there with Belfort around his waist. Belfort gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Belfort has him pressed against the cage.
Belfort goes for a takedown in the clinch but Leal prevents it.
Leal dodges an elbow strike from Belfort.
Belfort taking a breather.
Leal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leal wants to break the clinch but can't.

Belfort pulls guard successfully.
Belfort trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Leal dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Belfort shoots in and drives through. Leal sprawls well.

Leal closes the distance and clinches.

Belfort escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Belfort.
Leal misses with a combination
and Belfort counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Leal is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Belfort has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Leal finds it's way round the side to connect with Belfort's head.
Leal throws a right and a left that Belfort avoids nicely.
Leal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belfort wants to clinch up but Leal keeps it at a distance.
Leal swinging wilding here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Belfort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belfort keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Belfort moves in looking to clinch but Leal pushes him off.
Belfort shoots in and drives through. Leal sprawls well.
Leal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jose Leal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Belfort.
Belfort shoots in looking for a takedown. Leal tries to sprawl out of it but Belfort keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leal scores with a one two! Belfort had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jose Leal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Belfort.

Belfort looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belfort decides to stand back up. Belfort steps back and let's Leal get back to his feet.
Leal scores with a three punch combo!
Belfort fails to land the takedown.
Leal stuffs the takedown.
Leal is looking to wear down Belfort with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Leal as Belfort shoots in.
Leal tries to bum rush Belfort with a series of wild strikes but Belfort uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck for Belfort with that takedown attempt.
Belfort doesn't manage to clinch there - Leal circles away.
Leal lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Belfort tries to clinch up.
Belfort misses with a combination
and Leal counters with a one-two to the body.
Belfort darts in trying to clinch
and Leal counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to de liver by Leal. Beautiful body shot.
Victor Belfort seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belfort misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leal!
Victor Belfort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Belfort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leal moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Belfort tries to clinch but Leal is having none of it.
Leal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Belfort fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Leal wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

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 Jose Leal.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leal, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Leal!