PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Will Messinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peterson has chosen Invasion of the Bodysnatcher as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Messinger
vs
Peterson

170 cm
28
139 lbs
6 - 13 - 0

168 cm
27
144 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 6 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Messinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Scott Peterson!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messinger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Peterson to counter with a crisp jab.
Peterson swings for the body but Messinger moves out of range.
Messinger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Messinger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Peterson tries to avoid it but Messinger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Peterson to the ground. Peterson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Peterson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Messinger shoots in and bounces Peterson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Messinger thows a big elbow that misses.
Messinger is looking to stand up but Peterson won't let him.
Messinger thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger wants to stand and escape but instead Peterson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Messinger keeping moving, preventing Peterson from controlling successfully.
Messinger wants to stand but Peterson is controlling the position.
Messinger tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Messinger wants to stand up but Peterson is controlling him.
Peterson trying to control but Messinger is working from the bottom.
Messinger is wriggling around but Peterson manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Messinger tries to kick Peterson off but Peterson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Messinger is looking to improve his position.
Peterson wants to take a breather but Messinger is having none of it.
Peterson controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peterson trying to mount his opponent but Messinger defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Messinger's thigh. Messinger counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Messinger keeping moving, preventing Peterson from controlling successfully.
Peterson looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Messinger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Peterson controls the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Scott Peterson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Peterson takes a swing at Messinger's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Peterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Peterson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Messinger tries to close the distance and clinch but Peterson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messinger feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Petersons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Peterson tries to land a front kick but Messinger steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Peterson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Peterson throws an overhand right that lands on Messinger's shoulder, as Messinger tries to avoid the shot.
Will Messinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peterson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Messinger counters with a head kick. That will keep Peterson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Messinger tries to clinch but Peterson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Messinger dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Messinger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Messinger plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Messinger shoots for a double leg takedown but Peterson sprawls well. He's pushed Messinger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Messinger shoots in and bounces Peterson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Peterson 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 throwing strikes from guard but Peterson blocks nicely.
Messinger wants to stand and escape but instead Peterson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Messinger looking to control but Peterson passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger is trying to stand.
Messinger missing with punches from the bottom.
Messinger tries to kick Peterson off but Peterson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Peterson trying to pass the guard but Messinger defending well.
Messinger trying to hold on to Peterson's head to control him but Peterson postures up.
Peterson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

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.
Peterson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Peterson takes Messinger's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Messinger is in trouble.
Messinger rolls, trying to escape but Peterson keeps control of the position.
Peterson lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Peterson.
Messinger trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messinger looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Messinger wants to control his opponent's hands but Peterson gets his hands free.
Peterson biding his time, looking for the opening.
You can see the frustration on Messinger's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

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.
Messinger trying to control the action but Peterson just sinks the hooks in.
Peterson is trying to control but Messinger is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Peterson landing strikes from the mount.
Messinger is trying to stand up.
Messinger can't escape the position.
Peterson tries to control but Messinger wriggling away.
Peterson raining down shots from the mount!
Messinger keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Peterson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Peterson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Messinger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Messinger shoots in but Peterson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Peterson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Messinger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Peterson is out of range and Messinger settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peterson misses with a lunging right hand
and Messinger counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Peterson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Messinger in his tracks.
Peterson throws a solid leg kick but Messinger takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Peterson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Peterson moves away.
Messinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Messinger tries to clinch up.
A head kick by Peterson misses

and Messinger decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Peterson's guard.
Messinger postures up.
Peterson controlling the position.
Messinger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Peterson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Messinger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Messinger manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Messinger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Peterson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Messinger.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Peterson is on top in guard.
Peterson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Peterson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Messinger has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Peterson has passed into side control.

Peterson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Messinger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Messinger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messinger sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Messinger is trying to stand.
Messinger wants to get back to full guard but Peterson has mounted him!
Messinger keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Peterson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Messinger is looking to improve his position but Peterson isn't that keen on the idea.
Peterson tries to control but Messinger wriggling away.
Scott Peterson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Messinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Will Messinger.
I think Messinger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Messinger!