PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Musfa Caparzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Messner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Caparzo comes into the arena with Moving Units (MLB 06 The Show Soundtrack) blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Caparzo
vs
Messner

166 cm
21
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Musfa Caparzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Messner!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Caparzo's sensitive parts.

Messner gets a clinch.

Caparzo manages to pull guard.
Messner trying to control but Caparzo is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Caparzo holds on and takes a little breather.
Messner tries to free his leg and advance position but Caparzo is retaining full guard.
Messner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Messner trying to control the position from guard on top but Caparzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Caparzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nick Messner.
Caparzo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Caparzo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Messner to the ground. Caparzo is now in Messner's guard.
Caparzo is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caparzo won't allow Messner to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Caparzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Messner has Caparzo pulled in close to control his posture.
Messner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Caparzo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Caparzo is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caparzo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Caparzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Messner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messner looking for a sweep. Not yet Messner, not yet.
Caparzo working some strikes from top position.
Messner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Messner hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Caparzo moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caparzo avoids a wild elbow strike from Messner.
Messner misses with an elbow strike.
Messner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Caparzo's face.
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Caparzo avoiding damage as Messner throws knees to the body.

Caparzo gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messner controls Caparzo momentarily but Caparzo frees himself.
Messner pulls Caparzo in close to prevent any damage.
Caparzo preventing the sweep.
Messner trying to keep a closed guard but Caparzo is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Messner is pulling down on Caparzo's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Messner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Caparzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Messner sprawls well. He's pushed Caparzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Caparzo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Musfa Caparzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Caparzo or perhaps it was just good defense by Messner which made him look bad.
Messner throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Caparzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Caparzo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Messner.
The fight stays on the outside here - Messner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Messner moves into range and clinches up with Caparzo.
Messner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Messner.
Messner unloads a knee to the mid-section.
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!
Caparzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messner lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Messner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Caparzo's face.
Messner lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Messner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Caparzo.
Knees to the body from Messner.
Messner unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Caparzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Messner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Messner crunches a lovely knee into Caparzo's ribcage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Messner working Caparzo over with knees to the body.
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Caparzo tries for a takedown but Messner manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Messner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Messner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nick Messner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messner throws a leg kick but Caparzo checks it.
Messner tries to clinch up but Caparzo circles away and keeps his distance.

Messner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Messner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Caparzo avoids it.
Caparzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Messner scores a nice knee to the body.
Messner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Messner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Caparzo is defending well for now.
Messner throws an elbow but it misses.
Messner using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Messner misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caparzo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Messner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Messner landing knees to the head.
Messner pushes off an throws an elbow but Caparzo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nick Messner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caparzo is looking for a takedown.
Messner scores with a knee to the head.
Messner landing knees to the head.
Messner with a knee to the head.
Caparzo tries for a takedown but Messner manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Musfa Caparzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caparzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Messner missing with knees to the body.
Caparzo tries a body shot but Messner blocks it.
Messner lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Caparzo blocks an elbow strike.
Messner tries to land knees in the clinch but Caparzo avoids the damage to the body.
Messner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Messner tries to land a knee to the head but Caparzo blocks with his arms.

Caparzo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Caparzo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Caparzo is controlling Messner's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner tries to free his leg and advance position but Caparzo is retaining full guard.
Messner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Caparzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Messner is one step ahead there.
Messner tries to free his leg and advance position but Caparzo is retaining full guard.
Messner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Messner slips nicely into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Caparzo is trying to maintain the position but Messner is very close to passing his half guard.

Messner decides to stand up.

Messner clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner throws an elbow but it misses.
Messner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Messner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right hand to the body from Caparzo.
Caparzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Caparzo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Messner after a bit of a struggle.
A knee to the head by Messner.
Messner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Messner missing with knees to the body.

Caparzo is trying to trip Messner. He has hold of a leg but Messner is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Caparzo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Caparzo won't allow Messner to sweep him here.
Messner is trying to control the position but Caparzo postures up.
Messner wants to sweep here but Caparzo controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caparzo is working Messner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Messner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Messner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Messner hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Messner throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Caparzo shoots for a takedown but Messner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nick Messner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messner tries to clinch there but Caparzo circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Caparzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Messner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Messner lands with a kick to the temple. Caparzo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Messner doesn't manage to clinch there - Caparzo circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Messner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Messner tries to clinch but Caparzo moves out of range.
Messner stuffs the takedown attempt from Caparzo. Caparzo gets slowly back to his feet.
Messner wants to clinch up but Caparzo keeps it at a distance.

Caparzo moves into the clinch successfully.
Messner with a knee to the head.
Caparzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Caparzo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Messner working Caparzo over with knees to the body.
Caparzo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Messner.
Messner landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messner tries to land knees in the clinch but Caparzo avoids the damage to the body.
Messner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Caparzo.
Caparzo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Messner unloads a knee to the mid-section. Caparzo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Caparzo is trying to break the clinch but Messner has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messner using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Caparzo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Messner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Messner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Caparzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Caparzo managing to block the knees to the body from Messner.
Messner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Messner looking to throw knees to the head but Caparzo is blocking nicely.

Caparzo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Musfa Caparzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Caparzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Messner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Messner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Caparzo!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caparzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Caparzo trying to control but Messner is working from the bottom.
Messner looking for a sweep. Not yet Messner, not yet.
Messner is trying to keep Caparzo in close.
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!
Caparzo stops Messner from standing up.
Messner controls Caparzo momentarily but Caparzo frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nick Messner wasn't active enough on the ground.

Messner tries to keep at a distance but Caparzo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Caparzo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Caparzo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Messner can't fight it off and eventually Caparzo manages to take the fight to the floor. Messner looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Caparzo wants to control from the top but Messner keeps moving.
Caparzo won't allow Messner to sweep him here.
Caparzo 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.
Musfa Caparzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Messner is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messner trying to control but Caparzo is working from the bottom.
Messner won't allow Caparzo to sweep him here.
Messner controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Messner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Messner tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messner tries to clinch
and Caparzo counters with a right hand to the body.
Caparzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Messner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Messner 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Messner!