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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kabelo Nyambe (ranked 4538 p4p, 23778 weight class) and Cristiano Messi (ranked 340 p4p, 409 weight class). Cristiano Messi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 159 cm
31
147
4 - 6 - 0 |
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187 cm
27
148
5 - 9 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin |
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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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kabelo Nyambe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristiano Messi!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi scores with a spinning back kick!
Messi lands a high kick!
Messi throws a sloppy head kick
and Nyambe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Messi looks winded!
Nyambe is trying to pull guard but Messi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Messi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Messi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nyambe circles away.
Nyambe attempts a counter takedown but Messi avoids it well and moves away.
Messi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messi throws a head kick but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nyambe appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Messi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Messi has closed the distance and engaged Nyambe in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi wants to break free but Nyambe has control.
Messi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nyambe has him pressed against the cage.
Nyambe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Messi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nyambe jumps guard.
Nyambe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyambe has his foot on Messi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Messi works his way back into a safe position though.
Nyambe is trying to keep Messi in close.
Messi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nyambe controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nyambe has a closed guard, preventing Messi from standing up.
Messi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nyambe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nyambe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Messi defends well.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Messi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nyambe.
Nyambe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messi tries to land a leg kick but Nyambe saw it coming and moves away.
Nyambe seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Messi tries to clinch there but Nyambe circles away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyambe defending well as Messi loads up on a big left hand.
Nyambe tries to counter with a takedown but Messi is quick to defend against it.
Nyambe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Messi throws a right and a left that Nyambe avoids nicely.
Nyambe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Messi sprawls and moves away.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nyambe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nyambe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
A slapping leg kick lands for Messi.
Messi moves in looking to clinch but Nyambe pushes him off.
Messi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nyambe circles away.
Nyambe appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A bone on bone clash there as Nyambe blocks the leg kick.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
Messi tries to clinch there but Nyambe circles away.
Nyambe attempts a counter takedown but Messi avoids it well and moves away.
Cristiano Messi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messi misses with a body shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi throws a body kick that misses.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch but Nyambe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nyambe tries to counter by clinching up but Messi breaks away and moves out of range.
No joy there for Messi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
Messi misses with a hook to the body
and Nyambe counters by clinching up.
Nyambe pulls guard.
Nyambe pulls Messi in close to his closed guard and prevents Messi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nyambe keeping moving, preventing Messi from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nyambe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Cristiano Messi dominated that round.
That's time! Nyambe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch but Nyambe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nyambe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Messi sprawls and moves away.
Messi looks to clinch
and Nyambe counters with a single leg into guard. Messi didn't expect that.
Nyambe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nyambe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Messi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nyambe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Messi's head.
Nyambe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Messi wants to stand but Nyambe is controlling the position.
Messi is trying to keep Nyambe in close.
Nyambe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nyambe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Messi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nyambe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nyambe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nyambe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyambe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nyambe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nyambe 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.
Nyambe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nyambe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nyambe looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nyambe throws a big elbow that misses.
Messi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Messi is looking for a triangle but Nyambe pushes his legs off easily.
Nyambe throwing strikes from guard but Messi blocks nicely.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Messi tries to clinch up
and Nyambe counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Messi thinking.
Messi swinging wildly here.
Nyambe attempts a counter takedown but Messi avoids it well and moves away.
Messi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Messi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Messi wants to clinch up but Nyambe keeps it at a distance.
Nyambe went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Messi wants to clinch up but Nyambe keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Messi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nyambe changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi throws a wild body kick that Nyambe sees coming a mile off.
Messi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nyambe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Messi sprawls and moves away.
Messi misses with a low kick.
Nyambe moves out of range as Messi throws a body kick.
Messi throws a leg kick but Nyambe moved away.
Messi loads up on a big right hand but Nyambe slips the punch.
Nyambe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Messi.
Messi tries to clinch but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nyambe moves away from the strike by Messi.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi wants to slow Nyambe down by chopping away at his legs.
Nyambe tries to counter with a takedown but Messi is quick to defend against it.
Messi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messi throws a nice looking combination but Nyambe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Messi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nyambe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nyambe changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Messi is looking to score with low kicks.
Messi tries to clinch but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nyambe keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messi. Nyambe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Messi throws a low kick but Nyambe moves out of range easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nyambe dodges the punch combination from Messi.
Nyambe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Kabelo Nyambe will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messi moves to clinch but Nyambe breaks away
and Nyambe counters with a two punch combo.
Messi throws a series of punches but Nyambe moves out of range.
Nyambe attempts a counter takedown but Messi avoids it well and moves away.
Messi throws a leg kick but Nyambe moved away.
Nyambe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Messi sprawls and moves away.
Messi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nyambe circles away.
Nyambe tries to counter with a takedown but Messi is quick to defend against it.
Messi tries to clinch up but Nyambe circles away and keeps his distance.
Nyambe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Messi.
Nyambe blocks a head kick by Messi.
Nyambe feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nyambe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nyambe thows a huge punch but Messi dodges it nicely.
Nyambe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nyambe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nyambe lands strikes from half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nyambe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nyambe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Messi defending well though.
Nyambe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nyambe lands a nice short elbow.
Nyambe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Messi's head.
Messi is defending against the submission attempts here by Nyambe.
Messi is looking for a sweep. Nyambe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kabelo Nyambe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nyambe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nyambe has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Messi wants to control but Nyambe is keeping busy.
Nyambe thows a huge punch but Messi dodges it nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nyambe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Messi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nyambe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nyambe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nyambe is working for a kimura here but Messi manages to reverse the position and he's now in Nyambe's guard.
Nyambe has his foot on Messi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Messi works his way back into a safe position though.
Nyambe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Nyambe looking for a guillotine here but Messi defends easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nyambe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Messi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nyambe has a closed guard, preventing Messi from standing up.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Messi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nyambe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Messi!
Nyambe throws an elbow but Messi slips to the side and avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nyambe in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nyambe looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Messi is avoiding damage well.
Messi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kabelo Nyambe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nyambe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kabelo Nyambe!
Kabelo Nyambe was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
29% |
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