PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between jefferson law (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). jefferson law has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

law
vs
Messi

200 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, jefferson law!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Messi misses.
Messi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but law moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
law lands with a cross.

Messi closes the distance and clinches.
law drops down looking for an ankle pick but Messi pulls his leg out 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.
law scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Messi doesn't seem bothered though.
law tries for a takedown but Messi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but law circles away quickly and effectively.
Messi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from law finds it's way round the side to connect with Messi's head.
A right-left combo lands from Messi.

law has managed to clinch.
law tries to score a body lock takedown but Messi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for jefferson law. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
law can't get the takedown.

law has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Messi regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
law throwing strikes from guard but Messi blocks nicely.
Messi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
law in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
law throwing strikes from guard but Messi blocks nicely.
law stops Messi from standing up.
law landing with the ground and pound.
law postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two 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.
law stands up over Messi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Messi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
law with a nice head shot there.
law wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
law postures up in Messi's guard and throws a big left but Messi blocks it.
Messi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
law distracts Messi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
law trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
law lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
law trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
law working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

law drops back, looking for a kneebar! Messi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Messi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Messi!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at law to see if he's OK.

law sneaks out the side door and pushes Messi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
law is breathing heavily.
law misses with a looping left.

law shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
law wants to control the pace but Messi is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

jefferson law dominated that round.
That's time! law's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

law moves out of range of the leg kick from Messi.
Messi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
law jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Messi takes a swing at law's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Messi misses.
law fails in his attempt to clinch.
Messi tries to clinch
and law makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
law misses with a body punch

and Messi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Messi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Messi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but law has him pressed against the cage.
Messi prevents a takedown attempt there.
law can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Messi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
law goes for a takedown in the clinch but Messi prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for jefferson law. That's going to take a lot out of him.
law tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
law drops down looking for an ankle pick but Messi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Messi falls off balance throwing a combination

and law counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Messi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Messi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi misses with a series of wild punches.
law takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Messi.
law wants to clinch
and Messi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

law looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
law stops Messi from standing up.
law has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
law trying to control but Messi is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Messi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Messi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with law. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi wants to get back to his feet but law is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
law trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
law throws a big right hand that misses.
Messi wants to get back to his feet but law is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Messi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four 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.
Messi misses with a double jab

and law holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
law drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Messi lands a shoulder strike.
Messi can't break the clinch.
Messi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Messi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from law.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
law goes for a takedown in the clinch but Messi prevents it.
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 jefferson law will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Messi throws a series of punches but law avoids them all with ease.
Messi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Messi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Messi clinches but law breaks the clinch
letting law counter with a right hand.
Messi throws a front kick aimed at law's knee but law avoids it well.
law keeps the fight on the outside.
law with a poor takedown
and Messi counters with a stiff right hand.
Lionel Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messi wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi throws a right and a left that law avoids nicely.
Messi throws out a powerful jab.

law has Messi up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
law tries for a takedown but Messi manages to get underhooks.
Messi is trying to break the clinch but law has him pressed against the cage.
Messi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
law wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for jefferson law. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

law turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Messi wants to get back to his feet but law drags him back down.

law goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Messi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for law but great work by Messi.

Messi decides to stand back up.
Messi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Messi misses with a combination

and law counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
law thows a big elbow that misses.
law stops Messi from standing up.
law content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
law is looking to work some ground and pound but Messi has wrist control.
law postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Messi keeping moving, preventing law from controlling successfully.
jefferson law overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
law trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lionel Messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

law moves into range and clinches up with Messi.
Messi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
law is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
law avoids the elbow strike from Messi, against the cage.
law goes for a takedown in the clinch but Messi prevents it.
law drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Messi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
law blocks the elbow strike.

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.
law prevents Messi from breaking the clinch.
Messi can't break the clinch.
Messi stops a takedown attempt from law.
Still in the clinch, Messi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Messi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Messi lands with a short shot to the head.
law is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Messi works on law's body with a couple of short punches.
law wants a takedown.
Messi lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Messi - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Messi.
law tries for a takedown but Messi manages to get underhooks.
Messi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
jefferson law showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for law, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... jefferson law!