PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Messer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Santos
vs
Messer

185 cm
18
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Dragon

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Claudio Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Messer!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Messer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messer throws the left hand but Santos avoids the punch easily.

Santos drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Santos decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Messer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A cross from Messer lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Messer thumps Santos with a low kick.
Messer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santos.
Messer misses with a hook.
Santos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Messer.
Messer thuds a left hand into Santos's body.
Messer lands with a shot to the body.
Messer looks to land a combination but Santos avoids it well.
Messer checks a low kick from Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Messer back to the cage. Santos follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Santos goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Messer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messer throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
A low kick from Santos is predictable there
and Messer counters with a stiff right hand.
Messer tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Messer throws a series of punches but Santos avoids them all with ease.
Messer throws a series of punches but Santos moves out of range.

Santos has closed the distance and engaged Messer in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Santos gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Messer regains guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Messer pushes Santos off and scrambles back to his feet.

Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Santos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Messer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Messer wants to get back to striking at distance but Santos won't allow it.
Messer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Santos trying to stall but Messer improves his position.
Messer is trying to force a seperation but Santos has the dominant position.
Messer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Messer tries to break free but Santos pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to pull guard but Messer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Messer is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Messer.
Messer effectively controlling the action here.

Messer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Messer lands the left hand.
Messer lands with a hook. Santos tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Messer tests Santos's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Santos drives through and clinches with Messer against the cage.
Santos slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messer landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Santos lands an elbow that stopped Messer in his tracks for a moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Messer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Santos's efforts to push away.
Santos is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Messer tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.
Messer tries to break free but Santos pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messer lands with a short shot to the head.

Messer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left lands for Messer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Messer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Messer scores with a shot to the body.
Messer misses with the combination.
Messer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santos circles away quickly and effectively.
Mark Messer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A left and a right from Messer both land. Nice combination.
Messer misses with a two punch combination.
Santos missing with a left hand there. Messer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Messer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santos misses with a takedown

and Messer counters with a head kick that drops Santos!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Messer trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos is looking to sweep but instead, Messer has passed into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Messer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Messer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Santos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Messer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to improve his position.

Messer maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Santos could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Messer has cracked it and Santos is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Messer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mark Messer!