PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lionel Messi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Roberts
vs
Messi

192 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jason Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts keeps the fight on the outside.
Messi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Roberts manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Messi cracks Roberts with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Roberts looks for a takedown but Messi sprawls well.

Roberts shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Messi is trying to defend but Roberts finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Roberts prevents Messi from standing back up.
Roberts passes into side control, despite Messi's attempt to control the position.
Messi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Roberts's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Roberts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Roberts prevents Messi from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Messi trying to control from the bottom.
Roberts wants to pass to mount but Messi is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Roberts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Messi's waist but Messi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roberts off to one side.

Roberts gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Messi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Messi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roberts is proving hard to escape from.
Messi preventing the sweep.

Roberts is looking for a triangle but Messi pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roberts throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Roberts wants to stand up but Messi is controlling him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roberts lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Messi!

Roberts has control of Messi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Messi regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Roberts landing strikes, looking to finish!
Messi tries to hold on but Roberts postures up.
Roberts controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roberts is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Messi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Messi wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Roberts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberts controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Roberts 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.

Messi tries to clinch but Roberts is having none of it.
Jason Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roberts.
No luck for Roberts with that takedown attempt.
Roberts avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown. Messi tries to sprawl out of it but Roberts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Messi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Messi clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts tries for a takedown. No joy.

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

Messi moves into the clinch successfully.

Messi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Messi working away.
Messi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roberts. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Messi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Roberts's legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts is not content to let Messi control the position.
Messi wants to stand but Roberts has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts pushes Messi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Messi doesn't manage to clinch there - Roberts circles away.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Messi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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!
Roberts shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Messi stuffs the takedown attempt from Roberts. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Messi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Messi leaves Roberts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messi takes the fight into the clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch.
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Roberts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Messi sprawls well initially but Roberts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jason Roberts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Messi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roberts.
Roberts controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Messi pushes Roberts off and gets back to his feet.
Roberts swats away the attempt to clinch by Messi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberts looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Roberts enables Messi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Roberts manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Messi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Messi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roberts looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Roberts can't do much from the bottom here.
Roberts manages to get back to half guard.

Roberts has one foot on Messi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Roberts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Messi's waist but Messi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roberts off to one side.
Roberts looks for a takedown but Messi sprawls well.
Roberts avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Messi wants to clinch up but Roberts keeps it at a distance.
Messi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Roberts with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi gets a double leg takedown into Roberts's guard.
Messi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Roberts working a defensive guard here.
Messi stopping the sweep attempt from Roberts.
Messi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Messi wants to stand and escape but instead Roberts has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi is striking from the bottom but Roberts uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roberts in particular looking to stall.
Messi trying to control here.
Messi is trying to stand back up but Roberts is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Messi tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Roberts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jason Roberts!