PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Messi's entrance music is Metallica - I Disappear. A fine choice. Reynolds is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ballad Of Serenity. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Messi
vs
Reynolds

186 cm
25
217 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
218 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Sex Panther!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lionel Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Malcolm Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Reynolds misses.
Messi throws a looping overhand right but Reynolds ducks down to avoid it.
Messi checks a low kick from Reynolds.
A jab from Messi does it's job there.
Reynolds misses with a head kick.
Messi throws a hook but Reynolds avoids it easily.
Messi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reynolds is fending him off so far but Messi persists. Nope, Reynolds circles away and we're back to standing.
Messi tries to clinch but Reynolds moves out of range.
Reynolds closes this distance looking for a takedown but Messi circles away.
Messi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reynolds.
A cross from Reynolds lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reynolds looks to land a right hand but Messi moved out of range.
Messi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Reynolds on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Messi is looking to clinch but Reynolds is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reynolds.
Messi throws a series of punches but Reynolds moves out of range.
Messi throws a series of punches but Reynolds avoids them all with ease.
Messi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reynolds defends it nicely.
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Messi tries to bum rush Reynolds with a series of wild strikes but Reynolds uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Reynolds closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Messi did well to prevent Reynolds getting side control.
Messi wants to get back to full guard.
Messi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reynolds.
Reynolds tries to pass the half guard into mount. Messi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi tries to get to full guard but Reynolds has control of the leg.
Reynolds keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Messi is looking to improve his position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Reynolds working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Reynolds working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messi is staying active underneath Reynolds, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Messi is trying to get back to full guard.
Reynolds working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Reynolds lands a nice short elbow.
Reynolds passes the guard and advances to mount!
Messi is looking to improve his position but Reynolds isn't that keen on the idea.
Reynolds trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Reynolds prevents Messi from getting the reversal.
Reynolds looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messi is looking to improve his position but Reynolds isn't that keen on the idea.

Reynolds working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to control the pace but Messi is squirming around nicely.
Messi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Messi wants to improve his position but Reynolds is controlling well.
Messi trying to hold on to Reynolds's head to control him but Reynolds postures up.
Reynolds has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Messi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Reynolds cracks Messi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Reynolds controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Reynolds dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Messi misses with a low kick.
Messi throws a hook to the side of Reynolds's head but Reynolds sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Horrible takedown by Reynolds or perhaps it was just good defense by Messi which made him look bad.
Messi looks to throw the jab but Reynolds is out of range.
Lionel Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reynolds throws a body kick that misses
and Messi counters with a three punch combo that has Reynolds backing up. Reynolds nods at Messi to acknowledge the strikes.
Messi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi ducks under a wild hook from Reynolds.
Reynolds pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Messi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reynolds throws a lazy right hand but Messi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Reynolds misses with a low kick.
Messi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Messi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Messi. Those never looked like landing.
Messi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Reynolds checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Some wild striking there from Messi.
Nice uppercut there from Messi.
Reynolds misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reynolds shoots in for a takedown but Messi shows good takedown defense.
Lionel Messi is winning the standup battle so far.
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Messi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reynolds, pushing him back against the cage.
Messi tries to pull guard but Reynolds holds him up against the cage and eventually Messi drops back down to his feet.
Messi wants to break free but Reynolds has control.

Reynolds manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reynolds goes for a double leg but Messi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Messi continues to drive forward.
Lionel Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Reynolds.
Reynolds lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Reynolds lands a nice shot to the body.
Messi tries for a takedown but Reynolds manages to get underhooks.

Messi breaks from the clinch.
Reynolds scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Reynolds lands a high kick!
Messi dodges the punch combination from Reynolds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi goes for a double leg but Reynolds avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Reynolds continues to drive forward.
Messi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Reynoldss head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Messi.
Reynolds softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Reynolds lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Messi has clasped his hands together around Reynolds's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Reynolds manages to get back to half guard.
Messi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reynolds gets full guard.
Messi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reynolds is keeping the position for now.

Reynolds is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Messi has his hands clasped together but Reynolds extends and breaks Messi's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Reynolds.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Malcolm Reynolds!
Malcolm Reynolds seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Lionel Messi stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thank's all my fan for support,and i came stronger for next fight...'.