PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jarvis Messam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillip Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Messam comes to the cage accompanied by Boombastic by Shaggy. Phillip Thompson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jarvis Messam's chin.

Messam
vs
Thompson

168 cm
20
143 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
27
86 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jarvis Messam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phillip Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson looks to land a right hand but Messam moved out of range.
Nice shot lands for Thompson.
Thompson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Messam eats them both and turns towards Thompson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Messam.
Thompson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thompson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Messam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Messam gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Thompson is defending against the submission attempts here by Messam.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messam throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Messam takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messam with the ground and pound but Thompson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Thompson keeping full guard, as Messam tries to pass.
Messam stays in close to Thompson's body and controls the position.
Thompson 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.

Messam thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Messam 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.
Messam throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messam works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messam is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thompson!
Thompson is in a horrible position here. Messam smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thompson is bucking up trying to escape but Messam cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Messam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Messam landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messam is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Thompson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Thompson!
Messam seems keen to control Thompson's posture.

Messam had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Messam is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Messam.
Messam seems keen to control Thompson's posture.
Messam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Messam working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Messam looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarvis Messam dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thompson tries to clinch up but Messam circles away and keeps his distance.
Messam closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jarvis Messam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson scores with a punch to the head.
Thompson throws a right hand that Messam ducks under and follows up with a left that Messam also avoids with ease.
Messam misses with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Messam finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Messam works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Messam misses.
Thompson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Messam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.
Messam throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Messam tries to clinch up.
A punch lands to the side of Messam 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messam tries to clinch up but Thompson circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Messam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
A jab from Messam misses.
Messam thows a left - swing and a miss!
Messam misses with a looping left.
Messam misses with a hook. Thompson ducked under it nicely.
Thompson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Messam moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Messam throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Messam is looking to land body kicks.
Phillip Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messam throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thompson dips to his left and cracks Messam with an uppercut!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thompson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Messam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Messam has double underhooks.
Messam wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarvis Messam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messam misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thompson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Messam wants a takedown but no success here.
Thompson wants to get back to striking at distance but Messam won't allow it.
Messam has Thompson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thompson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Messam has Thompson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thompson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messam goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thompson prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messam has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thompson pushes Messam back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thompson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Messam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thompson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Messam tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Messam drops back down to his feet.
Messam looking for a takedown.
Messam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thompson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Messam tries for a takedown. No joy.
Messam has Thompson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thompson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thompson is looking to control Messam's arms but Messam gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thompson has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Messam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thompson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Messam has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thompson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thompson is trying to break free.
Messam has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thompson is trying to break free.
Messam changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thompson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Messam throws a big shot that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messam swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messam moves in looking to clinch but Thompson pushes him off.
Thompson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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 Jarvis Messam will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson's corner calls for a 1-2. Thompson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Messam avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thompson slips under a jab.
Messam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thompson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Messam has a takedown stuffed.
Messam misses with a double jab
and Thompson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Messam throws a big shot that misses.

Messam closes the distance and clinches.

Messam jumps into guard, dragging Thompson to the mat.

Messam had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson wants to stand but Messam has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Messam controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Phillip Thompson wasn't active enough on the ground.
A punch lands to the side of Messam 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phillip Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson staying out of range there.
Thompson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A jab from Thompson misses.

Thompson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Messam to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Messam trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Messam passes Thompson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jarvis Messam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messam with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Messam is pressing down on Thompson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thompson is holding on for now.
Messam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Messam seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Phillip Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jarvis Messam wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thompson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Messam shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thompson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Messam controlling from the top position.
Messam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Messam controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarvis Messam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Messam, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarvis Messam!