PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Maye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Messinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Messinger is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Huckleberry by Ichabod. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maye
vs
Messinger

170 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

170 cm
38
160 lbs
17 - 26 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Maye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Will Messinger!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messinger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maye circles away quickly and effectively.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Messinger.
Messinger shoots for a takedown but Maye saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Messinger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maye wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maye chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Messinger shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Messinger was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Messinger is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maye knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Messinger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maye has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maye struggling a bit here.

Messinger swings around for an armbar but Maye sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Messinger's guard.
Maye is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger trying to control the position here.
Messinger throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Maye tries to free his leg and advance position but Messinger is retaining full guard.
Messinger is controlling Maye's posture.

Messinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maye defends it easily.
Messinger looking for a sweep. Not yet Messinger, not yet.

Messinger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maye got a little sloppy there for a moment and Messinger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maye has managed to get both his arms back between Messinger's legs - danger averted.
Messinger is trying to control the position but Maye postures up.
Messinger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maye manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Messinger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maye is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maye has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messinger working a defensive guard but Maye manages to pass into side control anyway.
Maye is looking to take a break and control but Messinger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Messinger is trying to control Maye's posture but Maye avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messinger is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Maye is staying active.
Messinger is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maye's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Messinger actively working from the bottom here.
Messinger tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Messinger wants to control but Maye is keeping busy.
Messinger is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messinger trying to hold on to Maye's head to control him but Maye postures up.
Maye passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Messinger!
Messinger is wriggling around trying to escape.
Messinger is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Messinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messinger tries to lock up and control but Maye gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Messinger is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Messinger dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Messinger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maye throws an overhand right that lands on Messinger's shoulder, as Messinger tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Maye.

Messinger moves into range and clinches up with Maye.
Messinger putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maye in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Messinger has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Maye after a bit of a struggle.
Maye wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Messinger has clasped his hands together around Maye's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Will Messinger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Messinger throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Messinger tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Messinger swings around for an armbar but Maye sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Messinger's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maye pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messinger is keeping the position for now.

Messinger looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Maye has picked Messinger up and slammed him! Messinger can't keep hold of the triangle and Maye manages to pass to side control!
Maye wants to stand but Messinger is controlling his arm.
Messinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maye wants to control for a moment but Messinger uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messinger is in trouble now - Maye has advanced to mount!
Messinger is trying desperately to improve position.
Maye can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Messinger is looking to escape.
Messinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messinger holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maye tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Messinger can't escape the position.
Maye can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Messinger is looking to escape.
Messinger really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maye tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Messinger is trying to reverse the position but instead Maye has taken his back - oops!
Will Maye go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Messinger rolls, trying to escape but Maye keeps control of the position.
Maye knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Messinger on the ground.
Maye struggling to keep hold of the position.
Messinger tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Messinger is looking to get to half guard.
Maye wants to control the pace but Messinger is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messinger regains half guard.
Messinger is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Messinger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Messinger manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maye has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messinger has his hands on Maye's head, controlling the position.
Maye sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Messinger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maye will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ryan Maye is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Maye. No joy for Messinger on that attempt.
Maye swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Messinger.
Messinger throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maye counters with a head kick.
Messinger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Messinger lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Messinger clinches with his opponent.

Messinger works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Messinger postures up in Maye's guard and throws a big left but Maye blocks it.
Maye is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messinger throws a big elbow that misses.
Messinger is looking to work some ground and pound but Maye has wrist control.

Messinger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Messinger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Messinger is fighting to break Maye's control of his arms but Maye is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messinger throws a big right hand that misses.
Messinger throws an elbow that misses. Maye uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Messinger's guard. Nice move by Maye!

Maye avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maye wants to control from the top but Messinger keeps moving.

Messinger is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maye is aware though and is defending well.
Messinger has Maye pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messinger keeping moving, preventing Maye from controlling successfully.
Maye's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Messinger looking to control.
Messinger lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Messinger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Messinger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messinger is pulling down on Maye's head to control his posture.

Messinger has an active guard here but Maye has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maye passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Messinger!
Messinger bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Messinger lands a couple of digs.
Maye is adopting a defensive guard.
Messinger throwing strikes from guard but Maye blocks nicely.
Messinger throwing strikes from guard but Maye blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messinger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Will Messinger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maye trying to control the position.

Messinger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maye working a defensive guard here.
Messinger trying to control but Maye is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Messinger drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Maye manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Messinger has Maye in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Messinger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Messinger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Messinger!
After winning the bout, Will Messinger thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.