PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristiano Messi (ranked 3871 p4p, 5108 weight class) and Josea Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Messi
vs
Silva

187 cm
24
148
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
145
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristiano Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josea Silva!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Messi moves into the clinch.
Messi lands a damaging elbow.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Messi's elbow.
Messi scores with a shoulder strike.
Messi presses Silva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Messi is defending well.
Cristiano Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josea Silva.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Messi has him pressed against the cage.
Messi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva fails to pull the fight into his guard.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Messi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Messi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Messi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Silva looks winded!

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.

Messi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Silva backs up against the cage.

It looks like Josea Silva has been cut.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messi moves away.
Silva shoots in for a double leg but Messi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Silva takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Messi lands a big head kick that sends Silva tumbling to the mat! Messi takes a step backwards and waves Silva back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Silva is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Messi forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Silva is still on wobbly legs! Can Messi finish him?
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Messi has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Messi.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice body punch from Messi.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva seems to have recovered his senses.

Messi pushes Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Messi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Silva's defenses.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A right-left combo lands from Messi.
Messi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Messi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice body kick there by Messi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Messi.

Messi moves into the clinch.

Silva lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Messi kicks Silva off and gets back to his feet.

Messi takes the fight into the clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Silva clinches.
Messi connects with a knee to the head.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Messi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Messi pushes Silva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Messi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick from Messi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cristiano Messi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messi forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Messi takes the fight into the clinch.
Silva jumps guard but Messi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A left hand lands to the body for Messi.
Silva is trying to force a seperation but Messi has the dominant position.
Messi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Messi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva takes an elbow to the forehead.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands with a thumping leg kick.

Messi rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Messi, looking for a takedown. Silva pushes Messi against the cage but Messi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Silva darts in and clinches Messi up against the cage.
Messi landing knees to the head.
Nice body punch from Messi - that landed with a thud.
Messi lands a knee to the head.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Silva lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Messi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
A shot in the inside from Messi.
Silva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cristiano Messi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josea Silva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Messi darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Messi keeps him there for the moment.
Silva missing with knees to the body.
Messi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Messi breaks the clinch.
Silva avoids the head kick by Messi.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Messi clinches up against the cage.
Messi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Silva is looking for a takedown.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silva drives through and clinches with Messi against the cage.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Despite the aggression on Silva's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Messi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Messi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva's efforts to push away.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Messi moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Messi scores with a nice right hand.
Messi lands a body shot.
Cristiano Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.
Messi attempts a counter takedown but Silva avoids it well and moves away.
Messi doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
A head kick misses from Messi.

Silva drives through and clinches with Messi against the cage.

Messi manages to break the clinch.
Silva goes for a double leg but Messi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Messi continues to drive forward.
Cristiano Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josea Silva.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Silva is breathing heavily.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Messi connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice left hand lands by Messi.
Still in the clinch, Messi scores with a nice short uppercut.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Messi clinches up against the cage.

Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Silva manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Messi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silva wants to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Silva is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Messi has denied him.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Messi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silva takes a shot to the head.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Messi has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva missing with knees to the body.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silva is defended easily by Messi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Messi.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
Cristiano Messi is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice body punch from Messi.

Messi forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cristiano Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi thuds his shin into the meat of Silva's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
Messi is looking to clinch.
Messi connects with an inside leg kick.
Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Messi moves out of range easily.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Messi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Messi throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Messi closes the distance and clinches.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Messi just stands there and leans against the cage.

Messi manages to break the clinch.

Messi clinches up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Messi obliges.

Messi manages to break the clinch.

Messi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Messi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Messi works on Silva's body with a couple of short punches.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cristiano Messi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Josea Silva's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Messi lands a two punch combo.
Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Messi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Messi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Silva.

Messi gets a clinch.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Messi forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Messi landing knees to the head.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Messi walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cristiano Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josea Silva.
Messi lands with a nice combination. Silva backs away looking to recover.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Messi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Messi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Messi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Messi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Messi connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi rushes Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva tries to counter with a clinch but Messi shakes him off and moves away.
Messi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Messi wants to clinch.
Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Messi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva somewhat.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Messi pinned against the cage. Messi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Silva.

Messi moves into the clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Messi as he jumps to the side.

Messi takes the fight into the clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Messi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Messi but Messi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Messi jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Messi closes the distance and clinches.
Silva can't break the clinch.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Messi clobbers Silva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Messi moves into range and clinches up with Silva.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Messi forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Messi blocks with his arms.
Silva is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Messi to keep the fight standing.
Knees in the clinch landing for Messi.
Good body shot from Messi.
Messi lands a body punch.
Messi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Messi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Messi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.
Silva wants to stall.
Messi crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Cristiano Messi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Messi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Messi.
Silva drops his hands momentarily and Messi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Messi moves into the clinch successfully.
Cristiano Messi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Josea Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Messi gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristiano Messi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Messi, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristiano Messi!
During a confident post fight interview, Cristiano Messi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.