PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Luan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as El Luan enters the cage!

Messi
vs
Luan

190 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

188 cm
18
191 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lionel Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, El Luan!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luan tries to clinch but Messi moves away
and Messi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Luan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Messi but Messi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Luan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Messi avoids the head kick by Luan.
Luan fails with a takedown attempt.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Messi dodges the punch combination from Luan.

Messi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Luan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Messi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lionel Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Luan.
Messi lands with a slapping head kick.
Luan tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Messi counters by moving into the clinch.

Messi manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Messi counters with a two punch combo.
Messi throws a nice looking combination but Luan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Messi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Messi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Luan's guard now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Luan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Luan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Messi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Messi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Messi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Messi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Messi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Luan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luan sneaks back into half guard.

Luan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Messi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Luan actively working from the bottom here.
Messi wants to control but Luan is keeping him busy.

Luan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Messi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Messi stands up and beckons Luan to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Luan.
Luan shoots in but Messi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Luan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Messi swivels and escapes.
Luan looks gassed!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Messi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch.
Luan fails with a takedown attempt.

Messi drives through with a takedown into Luan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Luan has his foot on Messi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Messi works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Messi defends well.

Luan has an active guard here but Messi has managed to pass into half guard.

Luan looking for submissions off his back.
Messi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Luan!
The referee warns Luan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Messi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Luan on the ground.
Luan in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Luan is desperately trying to improve his position but Messi has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi tries to control but Luan wriggling away.
Messi landing punches.
Luan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Messi 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.

Messi moves into the clinch successfully.
Luan is trying to push Messi away but Messi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Messi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Luan looks to land a combination but Messi avoids it well.
Messi works over Luan's head and body with a nice combination.

Messi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Messi manages to break the clinch.
Luan tries to clinch up

and Messi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Luan won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luan sneaks back into half guard.
Luan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luan is looking to improve his position.
Messi wants to control but Luan is keeping him busy.

Luan looking for a kimura from the bottom but Messi passes into side control!
Messi working the ground and pound.
Messi slows the pace down.

Messi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Luan has his takedown stuffed
and Messi counters with a head kick.
Luan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Messi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Luan really felt that one!
Messi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luan tries to close the distance and clinch but Messi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Messi.
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Messi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Luan is trying to defend but Messi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
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!
Messi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Luan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Messi pulls his head out easily.
Messi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Luan!
Messi prevents Luan from getting the reversal.
Messi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Luan can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luan regains half guard.

Luan actively working from the bottom here.
Luan is breathing heavily.

Luan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Messi stands up and beckons Luan to join him on the feet.
Luan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Messi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luan!

Messi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Luan is trying to escape the mount.
Luan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lionel Messi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Luan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Messi pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi winds up and cracks Luan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Luan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Messi pulls his head out easily.
Luan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Messi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Messi decides to return to a standing position.

Messi drives through with a takedown into Luan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Messi wants to stand but Luan is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Luan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Messi defends it easily.
Messi postures up in Luan's guard and throws a big left but Luan blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Messi dominated that second round.
That's time! Messi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Luan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Messi counters with a head kick. That will keep Luan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Luan tries to clinch up
and Messi counters with a solid body kick.
Luan with a poor takedown
and Messi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Luan fails with a takedown attempt.

Messi drives through with a takedown into guard.

Luan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Messi defends well.
Luan keeping moving, preventing Messi from controlling successfully.
Messi throws a big right hand that misses.
Luan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luan has momentary wrist control but Messi slips an elbow through the middle.

Messi gets to his feet - Luan follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi feints and as Luan raises his hands in defense, Messi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Messi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Messi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Luan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Luan gets back to half guard.
Luan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Messi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Luan actively working from the bottom here.

Messi decides to stand and escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Messi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Luan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Luan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Luan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Messi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Messi stands up from Luan's guard - Messi perhaps looking for a knockout.
El Luan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luan misses with a few strikes there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Messi. Luan shrugs it off though.
Luan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Messi as he avoids it easily.
Lionel Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Luan.

Messi gets a double leg takedown into Luan's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi throws a big elbow that misses.

Messi gets to his feet - Luan follows without any prompting.
Lionel Messi is winning the standup battle so far.
Luan tries to clinch up.
Luan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Luan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Luan tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Messi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Messi manages to break the clinch.
Luan throws a right and a left that Messi avoids nicely.
Luan misses with a takedown
and Messi counters with a big head kick but Luan shrugs it off.
Luan tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Messi.
Luan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Messi is fending him off so far but Luan persists. Nope, Messi circles away and we're back to standing.
Lionel Messi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Messi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Luan defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Luan actively working from the bottom here.
Messi thows a huge punch but Luan dodges it nicely.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Luan defending well though.

Luan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Messi pulls his head out easily.

Luan actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
El Luan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Messi stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lionel Messi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Messi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lionel Messi!
Lionel Messi decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.