PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Finbar McLennan (ranked 3838 p4p, 2611 weight class) and Ronaldo Messi (ranked 429 p4p, 312 weight class). This should be fireworks!

McLennan
vs
Messi

185 cm
20
255
4 - 3 - 0

200 cm
26
255
7 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Knock Out Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Finbar McLennan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronaldo Messi!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McLennan tries to keep at a distance but Messi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Messi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McLennans head.
Messi pushes McLennan back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Messi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Messi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Messi cracks McLennan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Finbar McLennan has been cut.
Messi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Messi clinches up against the cage.
Messi gets through McLennan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McLennan tries for a takedown. No joy.
McLennan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Messi fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Messi closes the distance and pushes McLennan back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Messi.
Messi cracks McLennan with a nice body shot.
Messi lands a shoulder strike.

Messi wants the takedown. McLennan is fighting it off but Messi persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McLennan's guard against the cage.
Messi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McLennan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Messi is one step ahead there.
Messi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLennan is trying to control the position but Messi postures up.
McLennan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Messi manages to get himself to full guard.

McLennan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McLennan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McLennan wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLennan drops back looking for a leg! Messi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Messi manages to kick McLennan off! McLennan jumps back into Messi's guard.

McLennan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Messi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Messi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McLennan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McLennan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've been hearing good reports from McLennan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
McLennan pushing down on Messi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McLennan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Messi!

McLennan looking for a guillotine from mount but Messi is having none of it.

McLennan is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Messi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Messi shrugs it off.

Messi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McLennan.
McLennan pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Messi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Finbar McLennan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McLennan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Messi defends well and McLennan ends up having to push Messi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Messi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Messi lands a nice uppercut.
McLennan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Messi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Messi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
McLennan 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. McLennan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finbar McLennan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McLennan misses with a straight right.
Messi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McLennan.

McLennan tries to keep at a distance but Messi has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLennan tries to pull guard but Messi won't allow it.
Messi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Messi.
Messi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi manages to break the clinch.

Messi has managed to clinch.
Messi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Messi pushes McLennan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Come on Messi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Messi has McLennan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Messi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending McLennan tumbling to the mat - Messi dives into McLennan's guard.

Messi is posturing up here but McLennan has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Messi tries to roll out but it's too tight and Messi has to tap! Slick submission there by McLennan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Finbar McLennan!
After winning the bout, Finbar McLennan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.