PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nixon Mesquita (ranked 3965 p4p, 23911 weight class) and Ingo Szopa (ranked 476 p4p, 642 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mesquita
vs
Szopa

188 cm
20
183
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
182
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nixon Mesquita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ingo Szopa!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mesquita on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mesquita shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mesquita looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Szopa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Szopa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mesquita back to the cage. Szopa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice jab there from Szopa.
Szopa lands a slapping body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Szopa. No joy for Mesquita on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nixon Mesquita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mesquita tries to close the distance and clinch but Szopa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Szopa has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Szopa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mesquita doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mesquita walks into a stiff left hand from Szopa.
Mesquita walks into a stiff left hand from Szopa.
Mesquita doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Szopa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mesquita has time to react.
Szopa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mesquitas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Mesquita tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Szopa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szopa working the head and body with strikes.
Szopa wants to free his trapped foot but Mesquita is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Szopa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mesquita keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mesquita wants to improve his position but Szopa is controlling well.
Mesquita on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Szopa lands strikes from half guard.
Mesquita trying to hold on to Szopa's head to control him but Szopa postures up.
Szopa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Szopa working over Mesquita with some ground and pound. Mesquita looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szopa prevents Mesquita from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szopa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.
Szopa working the head and body with strikes.
Mesquita moves into full guard.
Szopa distracts Mesquita with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Szopa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mesquita wants to sweep here but Szopa controlling him for the moment.
Mesquita not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Szopa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mesquita. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mesquita looking for a guillotine here but Szopa defends easily.
Szopa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mesquita swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mesquita working for a triangle but Szopa defends it easily.

Mesquita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Szopa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mesquita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Szopa chips away with some ground and pound.
Szopa connects with a couple of short punches.

Mesquita looking for a guillotine here but Szopa defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mesquita has his foot on Szopa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szopa works his way back into a safe position though.
Szopa distracts Mesquita with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Szopa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Szopa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Szopa connects with a couple of short punches.
Mesquita will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mesquita is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Szopa is aware though and is defending well.

Mesquita working for a triangle but Szopa defends it easily.
Szopa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Mesquita is looking for a triangle but Szopa pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ingo Szopa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mesquita tries to score a power double leg takedown but Szopa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mesquita somewhat.
Szopa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mesquita takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Szopa with a jab.

Szopa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mesquita!
Mesquita is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Szopa landing a few strikes.
Mesquita manages to work his way to half guard, despite Szopa's best efforts.
Szopa trying to control from half guard but Mesquita is working away.
Szopa drops an elbow to the side of Mesquita's head.
Mesquita has hold of Szopa's hands but Szopa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesquita slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Szopa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Szopa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mesquita's head.

Mesquita looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Szopa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mesquita is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mesquita is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Szopa defends it well.
Szopa has his hands clasped together around Mesquita's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita prevents Szopa from improving his position.
Mesquita thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Szopa's head.
Szopa controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Szopa is trying to get back to full guard.
Szopa gets full guard.
Mesquita wants to pass the guard but Szopa is keeping the position.
Mesquita is looking to work some ground and pound but Szopa has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita won't allow Szopa to sweep him here.
Mesquita throwing strikes from guard but Szopa blocks nicely.
Mesquita is fighting to break Szopa's control of his arms but Szopa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Mesquita trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mesquita with a flurry of punches that miss.
Szopa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Szopa is controlling Mesquita's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mesquita throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice body punch from Szopa.
Szopa cracks a nice hook into Mesquita's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita shoots in and drives through. Szopa sprawls well.
Mesquita misses with a takedown attempt - Szopa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nixon Mesquita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Szopa as he connects with a hook.
Mesquita looks for a takedown but Szopa sprawls well.
Szopa lunges at Mesquita with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mesquita's hand.
Mesquita shoots in for a double leg but Szopa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Szopa tries to counter it with a takedown but Mesquita pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Szopa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Szopa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mesquita takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Szopa is working Mesquita over with some ground and pound from side control.
Szopa working the ground and pound.
Szopa is chipping away with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ingo Szopa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Szopa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mesquita is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Szopa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Szopa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mesquita in his tracks.

Mesquita is rocked!
Szopa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Oh Mesquita is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Szopa drops Mesquita with a right and a left! Szopa comes rushing in but Mesquita regains his composure and manages to keep Szopa in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szopa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Szopa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szopa chips away with some ground and pound.

Mesquita has his foot on Szopa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Szopa works his way back into a safe position though.
Mesquita seems to have got his legs back now.
Mesquita is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Szopa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mesquita is looking to sweep but instead, Szopa has passed into half guard.
Szopa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szopa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Szopa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Szopa.
Szopa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Szopa lands strikes from half guard.
Mesquita moves into full guard.
Mesquita keeping moving, preventing Szopa from controlling successfully.
Szopa lands a couple of elbows.
Szopa lands a couple of digs.
Mesquita looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ingo Szopa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mesquita looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szopa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mesquita has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Szopa has managed to get both his arms back between Mesquita's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Szopa distracts Mesquita with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Szopa with a nice head shot there.
Szopa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mesquita swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Szopa working some strikes from top position.
Szopa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mesquita looking for a sweep. Not yet Mesquita, not yet.
Szopa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Mesquita working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Szopa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Szopa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Szopa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ingo Szopa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szopa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mesquita controls Szopa momentarily but Szopa frees himself.
Szopa postures up and lands a big shot to Mesquita's brow.
Mesquita keeping full guard, as Szopa tries to pass.
Mesquita trying to keep a closed guard but Szopa is proving a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mesquita is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Szopa cracks Mesquita with a solid left hand.

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.
Szopa landing with the ground and pound.
Szopa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mesquita takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice uppercut lands for Szopa. That snapped Mesquita's head back.

Szopa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Szopa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Szopa controlling the position.
Nixon Mesquita has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szopa is chipping away with strikes.
Mesquita seems a little lost for a moment, as Szopa dominates the positioning.
Mesquita gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ingo Szopa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Szopa 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ingo Szopa!
Ingo Szopa decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.