PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristiano Messi (ranked 25142 p4p, 5562 weight class) and Heung Min Choi (ranked 535 p4p, 448 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Messi
vs
Choi

187 cm
22
148
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
148
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cristiano Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Heung Min Choi!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Choi.
Choi throws the left hand but Messi avoids the punch easily.
Choi throws a big shot that misses.
Choi throws a big shot that misses.

Messi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Choi's guard.
Choi is looking to stand back up but Messi counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Choi.
Choi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Choi is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi trying to mount his opponent but Choi defends it.
Choi tries to kick Messi off but Messi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Choi manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Messi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi lands a right hand.
Messi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Choi is pressed up against the cage. Messi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Choi down to the mat. Choi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Choi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Choi wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristiano Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Choi throws a jab when Messi was well out of range.
Messi tries to counter with a takedown but Choi is quick to defend against it.
A swing and a miss from Choi.
Messi shoots in for a double leg but Choi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Messi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Choi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Messi fails with the takedown.

Choi instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Choi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi slips a jab from Choi.
Choi throws a hook but Messi avoids it easily.

Choi lands a big uppercut and Messi crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Messi looks OK. Choi waves Messi back to his feet!

It looks like Cristiano Messi has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Messi is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Choi.
Messi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Choi closes the distance and clinches.
Choi gets through Messi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Choi.
Choi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Messi backwards.

Messi is rocked!
Choi is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Messi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Oh Messi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Choi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Messi seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi goes for a takedown attempt but Choi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Choi drops Messi with a naaaaasty hook - Messi is in real trouble here! Choi dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Heung Min Choi!
Heung Min Choi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.