PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Neymar Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adios Barabo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neymar Messi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Messi
vs
Barabo

175 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Neymar Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Adios Barabo!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barabo misses with a takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barabo thinking.
Messi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Messi takes a swing at Barabo's ribcage but misses.
Barabo misses with a takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Messi swings for the body but Barabo moves out of range.
Barabo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Messi counters with a left to the body.
Neymar Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adios Barabo.
Messi avoids the head kick by Barabo.
Barabo misses with a takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a three punch combo that has Barabo backing up. Barabo nods at Messi to acknowledge the strikes.
Messi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barabo was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Barabo shoots and misses
and Messi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Messi misses the shot to the body.
Barabo has his takedown stuffed
and Messi counters with a stiff right hand.
Barabo looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi misses the shot to the body.
Messi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Messi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Barabo back to the cage. Messi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Barabo tries for a takedown but Messi circles away easily
and Messi counters with a right hand to the body.
Barabo tries for a takedown but Messi circles away easily
and Messi counters with a left to the body.
Barabo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Messi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Messi misses with a body shot.
Messi thuds a left hand into Barabo's body.
Barabo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Messi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Messi rushes Barabo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barabo tries to circle away but Messi has him pinned against the cage.
Barabo 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. Barabo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Messi lands a jab to Barabo's midsection.
Barabo shoots and misses
and Messi counters with a left to the body.
Messi takes a swing at Barabo's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messi throws a body punch but Barabo moves out of range.
Messi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barabo moves away.
Messi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Messi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barabos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Messi throws a body punch but Barabo moves out of range.

Messi has closed the distance and engaged Barabo in a clinch.

Messi tightens his grip and picks Barabo up, before dumping him to the ground. Barabo manages to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barabo looking to control.
Messi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barabo wants to sweep here but Messi controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Messi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barabo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barabo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barabo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Messi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Neymar Messi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messi misses with a wild body shot.
Barabo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Messi takes a swing at Barabo's ribcage but misses.
Barabo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Messi counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands a nice shot to the body.
Neymar Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barabo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Messi counters with a right hand to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Messi. Those never looked like landing.

Messi rushes Barabo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barabo closes the distance but Messi moves to the side
and Messi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Messi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barabo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar 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 fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barabo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice shot by Messi.
Messi throws a sloppy body shot

and Barabo counters with a shoot takedown. Messi fights it but they end up in guard.
Barabo trying to move into half guard but instead Messi has managed to sweep!
Messi postures up.
Messi is looking to stand up but Barabo won't let him.
Messi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Adios Barabo wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barabo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Barabo misses with a takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a series of strikes. Barabo will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barabo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Messi counters with a two punch combo.
Barabo is breathing heavily.
Barabo has his takedown stuffed
and Messi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barabo thinking.
Neymar Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adios Barabo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messi. Barabo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Adios Barabo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barabo circles away quickly and effectively.
Barabo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Messi lands a body shot.
Messi takes a swing at Barabo's ribcage but misses.
Messi lands a slapping body shot.
Messi is looking to wear down Barabo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Barabo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Messi counter with a right hand.
Messi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barabo misses with a takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a nice body shot.
Barabo misses with a hook.
Messi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barabo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Messi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Messi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Messi swings for the body but Barabo moves out of range.
Messi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barabo doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barabo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Messi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Neymar Messi is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Messi does no damage.
Messi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barabo manages to avoid it.
Barabo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Messi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messi moves into range and clinches up with Barabo.

Messi has hold of one of Barabo's legs. Barabo is fighting the takedown attempt but Messi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Messi tries to stand but Barabo is controlling from the bottom.
Barabo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Neymar Messi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Barabo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barabo shoots and misses
and Messi counters with a left to the body.
Barabo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Messi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi scores with a shot to the body.
Messi throws a shot to the body.
Messi takes a swing at Barabo's ribcage but misses.
Messi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Messi closes the distance and pushes Barabo back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Messi gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Messi is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Messi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barabo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Messi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barabo thinking.

Messi has Barabo up against the cage in a clinch.
Barabo has Messi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Messi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barabo throws a punch but it's blocked by Messi.

Messi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Messi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Barabo controls his leg.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Barabo tries to kick Messi off but Messi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barabo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi tries to stand and escape but Barabo is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Neymar Messi just wasn't active enough.
Messi thows a body shot but no joy.
Barabo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Messi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Neymar Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adios Barabo.
Barabo has his takedown stuffed
and Messi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Messi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barabo manages to avoid it.
Messi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barabo misses with a takedown
and Messi counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barabo avoids the body shot from Messi.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barabo was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Barabo misses with a takedown
and Messi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Messi looks to land a combination but Barabo avoids it well.
Messi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barabo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messi. Barabo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Messi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barabo manages to avoid it.
Messi thows a body shot but no joy.
Barabo misses with a takedown
and Messi counters with a right hand to the body.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barabo was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Barabo tries for a takedown but Messi circles away easily
and Messi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands a nice looking body shot.
Messi just misses with a punch to the body.
Messi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Messi throws a right and a left that Barabo avoids nicely.
Messi misses with a wild body shot.
Messi missing with a left hand there. Barabo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barabo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Messi.
Barabo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Messi counters with a nice body shot.
Messi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Decent striking displayed by Messi there.
Messi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messi. Barabo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barabo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Messi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barabo takes one on the button.
Barabo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Messi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Messi instigates a clinch.
Barabo tries to circle away but Messi has him pinned against the cage.
Barabo tries to score a body lock takedown but Messi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Barabo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Messi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Barabo to the mat. Barabo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Messi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barabo is proving hard to escape from.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neymar 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neymar Messi!