PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lobsta Mang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Messinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mang
vs
Messinger

170 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
142 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lobsta Mang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Messinger!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mang tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Messinger swivels and escapes.
Messinger fails to land with a series of punches.
Messinger misses with a wild combination.
Messinger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mang counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Messinger!
Mang has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Messinger's face.
Mang lands a big shot there that rocks Messinger but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mang throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mang misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mang misses with a head shot.
Mang is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Messinger can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
BOOM! Mang connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Messinger is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mang throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Messinger wants to control but Mang is having none of it.
Mang looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Messinger suckers Mang into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Messinger is now in Mang's guard!
Messinger is looking to stand up but Mang won't let him.
Mang tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mang keeping moving, preventing Messinger from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mang 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.
Messinger throws and elbow that misses. Mang uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Messinger's guard. Nice move by Mang!
Messinger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Messinger doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Messinger pulls Mang in close to his closed guard and prevents Mang from doing any damage or advancing position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mang looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messinger is looking to stand back up but Mang counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Messinger.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Messinger trying to control here.
Mang thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Messinger to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mang trying to control but Messinger is working from the bottom.
Mang trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Mang drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Messinger dives on top into guard.
Mang is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Messinger is controlling him.
Mang is breathing heavily.
Messinger scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Messinger thows a big elbow that misses.
Messinger connects with a couple of short punches.
Mang has a closed guard, preventing Messinger from standing up.
Messinger postures up in Mang's guard and throws a big left but Mang blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lobsta Mang dominated that round.
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.

Messinger moves out of range of the leg kick from Mang.
Will Messinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mang fails to land the takedown.

Messinger closes the distance and clinches.

Messinger jumps guard.
Mang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mang trying to control the position from guard on top but Messinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mang throws and elbow that misses. Messinger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mang's guard. Nice move by Messinger!
Mang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Messinger is positioning himself well to prevent Mang advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger tries to get to full guard but Mang has control of the leg.
Mang not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Messinger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mang.
Messinger is looking for a sweep. Mang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mang misses with a head shot. Messinger uses the momentum to regain guard.
Mang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mang thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mang shoots for a takedown but Messinger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mang fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lobsta Mang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messinger throws a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Messinger tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mang counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Messinger has his hands on Mang's head, controlling the position.
Mang wants to control from the top but Messinger keeps moving.
Messinger managing to control the position.
Mang lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messinger looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mang stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Messinger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mang trying to control but Messinger is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lobsta Mang will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Messinger tries to clinch up but Mang circles away and keeps his distance.
Good work by Mang as he checks the leg kick.

Mang scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Messinger regains half guard.
Mang working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Messinger is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mang's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mang's back!
Messinger misses with punches from the back.
Messinger struggling to land strikes to the head as Mang covers up.

Messinger is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mang is defending well though. Messinger let's go of the attempt for now.
Messinger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mang tries to roll but Messinger sticks to his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mang fending off the submission attempt from Messinger.
Messinger thows a strike but Mang uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Mang as he ends up in Messinger 's guard!
Messinger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Messinger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mang.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mang accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mang throws a strike but Messinger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mang holds on and takes a little breather.
Mang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mang sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Messinger defending well though.
Mang throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mang is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Messinger reverses the position - he's now on top in Mang's guard.
Messinger postures up in Mang's guard and throws a big left but Mang blocks it.
Messinger landing with the ground and pound.
Messinger tries to stand but Mang is controlling from the bottom.
Mang is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mang working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Messinger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Messinger stuffs the takedown attempt from Mang. Mang gets slowly back to his feet.
Messinger shoots and misses

and Mang counters with a shoot takedown. Messinger fights it but they end up in guard.
Messinger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mang working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mang postures up.
Messinger wants to sweep but no luck.
Mang works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Will Messinger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mang missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lobsta Mang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mang, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lobsta Mang!