Vitor Belfort practically scored a knockout however he in the end settled for a unanimous resolution victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza within the Gamebred Boxing 4 co-main occasion.
The primary half of the struggle appeared like Belfort was going to finish his night time early as he constantly tagged Souza with enormous combos that had the veteran grappler in hassle on a number of events. Belfort even managed a pair of brutal knockdowns within the third spherical that made it seem like the struggle could be over however Souza saved discovering a approach again to his ft.
Nonetheless when the struggle was over it was clear that Belfort had completed sufficient to win with the judges scoring the struggle 58-54, 58-54 and 57-55 in his favor.
There was hesitancy to have interaction at moments from each fighters firstly as Belfort was making an attempt to arrange a strong left hand whereas constantly throwing overhand punches in addition to uppercuts making an attempt to catch “Jacare” coming ahead. Souza was clearly the much less skilled boxer however he was nonetheless placing critical warmth behind his pictures, even when he was primarily throwing one punch at a time quite than establishing combos.
Because the third spherical acquired began, Belfort was nonetheless on the lookout for that very same left hand that was paying dividends for him and he lastly made “Jacare” pay. The previous UFC champion leapt right into a left hook that clipped Souza on the facet of the pinnacle and put him down to at least one knee because the referee began the obligatory depend on him.
“Jacare” was capable of proceed however Belfort was going for the kill as he saved coming after his fellow Brazilian with hammer-like punches. There was no concern of reprisal as Belfort was launching enormous, blistering pictures as he appeared for the knockout with one other left-right mixture placing Souza down.
As soon as once more, Souza was capable of get to his ft and this time he survived to the bell so he may recuperate within the nook.
On the restart, “Jacare” got here out weapons blazing as he appeared to stage a comeback whereas Belfort began slowing down after placing plenty of power into getting a end within the prior spherical. Belfort’s labored motion allowed Souza to tag him repeatedly together with a punch that opened a minimize over the attention of “The Phenom” as blood started trickling down his face.
Whereas Belfort was clearly exhausted, he was nonetheless blasting Souza because the struggle virtually solely passed off in a telephone sales space with the Brazilians leaning into one another earlier than unloading punches. There have been moments the place it appeared Souza was wobbled, though he by no means stopped transferring ahead whereas buying and selling pictures with Belfort.
Late within the last spherical, Belfort cracked Souza with a number of stinging punches together with an uppercut that appeared like a possible knockout however in some way “Jacare” absorbed the punishment and simply saved coming.
When the ultimate bell sounded, Belfort was gassed however nonetheless understandably completely satisfied to get his hand raised as he picks up one other win whereas having fun with his new profession in boxing whereas additionally celebrating his forty sixth birthday on Saturday.
