PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timur Uzbaijzky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Messi
vs
Uzbaijzky

190 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

187 cm
28
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Timur Uzbaijzky!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Uzbaijzky, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Uzbaijzky's waist but Uzbaijzky gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Messi off to one side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Messi enables Uzbaijzky to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Messi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Messi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Messi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Uzbaijzky stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Uzbaijzky.
Messi fails with a takedown attempt.
Messi fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Uzbaijzky circles away quickly and effectively.
Uzbaijzky fails with an attempt to clinch.
Uzbaijzky tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Uzbaijzky throws a right and a left that Messi avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Uzbaijzky!
Lionel Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messi moves in looking to clinch but Uzbaijzky pushes him off.
Uzbaijzky swats away the attempt to clinch by Messi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Uzbaijzky.
Uzbaijzky shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Messi but Messi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Uzbaijzky scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sloppy strikes from Uzbaijzky. Those never looked like landing.

Messi moves into the clinch successfully.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Messi lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky working hard to break the clinch.
Uzbaijzky wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Uzbaijzky is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Messi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Messi keeps control of Uzbaijzky as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
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!
Uzbaijzky tries to break free but Messi pushes him back against the cage.
Uzbaijzky wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Uzbaijzky looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Uzbaijzky wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Messi has him pressed against the cage.
Messi prevents Uzbaijzky from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Uzbaijzky's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Messi pulls Uzbaijzky into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Uzbaijzky stands up from Messi's guard - Uzbaijzky perhaps looking for a knockout.
Messi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Uzbaijzky instigates a clinch.

Uzbaijzky manages to break the clinch.
Messi wants to clinch but Uzbaijzky slips to the side
and Uzbaijzky counters with a nice leg kick.
Messi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fight stays on the outside here - Messi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Uzbaijzky lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Uzbaijzky moves out of range of the body kick.
Messi tries to clinch there but Uzbaijzky circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Messi closes the distance and pushes Uzbaijzky back into the cage.
Uzbaijzky tries to pull guard but Messi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Uzbaijzky is trying to force a seperation but Messi has the dominant position.
Uzbaijzky jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Messi walks away with a smile on his face. Uzbaijzky gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Uzbaijzky gets tackled into the cage by Messi. Messi maintains the clinch.
Uzbaijzky misses with a body punch.
Uzbaijzky can't break the clinch.
Messi scores a nice knee to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Uzbaijzky is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Messi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Uzbaijzky dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Uzbaijzky throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Messi.
Messi wants to clinch up but Uzbaijzky keeps it at a distance.
Messi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Uzbaijzky scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Messi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Uzbaijzky.
Messi dodges the punch combination from Uzbaijzky.
Uzbaijzky scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Uzbaijzky as Messi shoots in.
Messi tries to clinch up.
Uzbaijzky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Messi gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Uzbaijzky wants to get back to his feet.

Uzbaijzky manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Uzbaijzky tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messi was well out of range. Poor timing from Uzbaijzky.
Nice takedown defense from Uzbaijzky. No joy for Messi on that attempt.
Messi tries to clinch there but Uzbaijzky circles away.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Uzbaijzky swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Messi fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Uzbaijzky sprawls well. Uzbaijzky wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Messi gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messi tries to clinch there but Uzbaijzky circles away.
Messi is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Uzbaijzky looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi misses with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Uzbaijzky as Messi shoots in.
Uzbaijzky lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Messi gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky is trying to break free.

Uzbaijzky manages to break the clinch.
Messi leaves Uzbaijzky with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Uzbaijzky fails to land the takedown.
Messi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Uzbaijzky swivels and escapes.
Uzbaijzky fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Uzbaijzky connects with an inside leg kick.
Uzbaijzky scores with a body shot.

Uzbaijzky pushes Messi up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky tries to pull guard but Messi won't allow it.
Messi keeps control of Uzbaijzky as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Uzbaijzky pulls guard successfully.
Uzbaijzky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Messi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uzbaijzky keeping moving, preventing Messi from controlling successfully.
Messi prevents Uzbaijzky from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Uzbaijzky has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Messi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Uzbaijzky swats away the attempt to clinch by Messi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Uzbaijzky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Uzbaijzky shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Messi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messi tries to clinch but Uzbaijzky is having none of it.
Messi wants to clinch but Uzbaijzky slips to the side
and Uzbaijzky counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Messi checks a leg kick.
Messi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch but Uzbaijzky swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Uzbaijzky tries to score with a low kick but Messi moves his leg out of the way.
Messi shoots in for a takedown but Uzbaijzky shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Messi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Uzbaijzky holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Uzbaijzky is trying to break the clinch but Messi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi prevents Uzbaijzky from breaking the clinch.
Uzbaijzky just leaning against Messi, taking a breather.
Uzbaijzky takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Timur Uzbaijzky has been cut.
A frustrated look appears on Uzbaijzky's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Uzbaijzky breaks from the clinch.
Uzbaijzky stuffs the takedown attempt from Messi. Messi gets slowly back to his feet.
Uzbaijzky lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Messi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Uzbaijzky as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Messi swats away the attempt to clinch by Uzbaijzky.
Messi slips a jab and a cross from Uzbaijzky.
Uzbaijzky looks to land a combination but Messi avoids it well.
Messi moves to clinch but Uzbaijzky breaks away
and Uzbaijzky makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Uzbaijzky stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Uzbaijzky wants it to stay on the feet.
Uzbaijzky defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Messi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Uzbaijzky finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Messi slips a jab and a cross from Uzbaijzky.
Uzbaijzky lands with a hook. Messi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uzbaijzky throws a right and a left that Messi avoids nicely.
Uzbaijzky is looking to clinch but Messi is avoiding it.

Messi scores a takedown into full mount!
Messi punching from mount but Uzbaijzky doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Uzbaijzky bucks up and throws Messi to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Uzbaijzky throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messi wants to clinch

and Uzbaijzky holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Uzbaijzky is trying to force a seperation but Messi has the dominant position.
Uzbaijzky looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Uzbaijzky breaks from the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Uzbaijzky. That's going to slow Messi down.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Uzbaijzky keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Messi tries to clinch but Uzbaijzky moves out of range.
Lionel Messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Messi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Messi tries to clinch there but Uzbaijzky circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Messi throws a sloppy head kick and Uzbaijzky moves out of range easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi throws a head kick but Uzbaijzky moves out of range.
Timur Uzbaijzky is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Uzbaijzky misses with a double jab.
Messi misses with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timur Uzbaijzky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Uzbaijzky has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Uzbaijzky!