PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John James (ranked 5230 p4p, 3004 weight class) and Gaston Messier (ranked 346 p4p, 239 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Messier

185 cm
30
145
8 - 22 - 0

180 cm
20
148
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $48

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 8 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gaston Messier!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messier fails with an attempt to clinch.
James half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Messier lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
James walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Messier lands a jab.

James is rocked!
Messier tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
James takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Messier misses with a hook.
A little feinted left hand from James on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
James takes one to the chin there.
Messier doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Gaston Messier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James moves away from the strike by Messier.
James changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
James seems to have got his legs back now.

Messier forces James back against the ropes and clinches.
A short right from Messier on the inside.
Messier pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Messier throws a head punch that misses.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Messier prevents it.
Messier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Messier working aggressively here.
Messier lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Messier gets through James's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
James avoids a wild elbow strike from Messier.
Messier misses with the head strike.
James blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Messier fails to land.
Messier lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like John James has been cut.
Messier lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Messier lands with a short shot to the head.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
Messier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Messier lands an elbow inside.
Messier misses with a short punch on the inside.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Messier lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

John James's cut is getting worse.
Messier is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Messier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messier lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James blocks an elbow strike from Messier.
Messier lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
James blocks an elbow strike.
Messier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.
Messier lands with a left to the head.
Messier misses with some punches.
Messier lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.

John James's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

James tightens his grip and picks Messier up, before dumping him to the ground. Messier manages to land in guard.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

James drops back looking for a leg! Messier is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Messier manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Messier's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Messier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Messier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
James keeping moving, preventing Messier from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Messier throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
Messier wants to get up but he can't break James's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Messier trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Messier throws a big elbow that misses.
Messier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Messier wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

Messier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Messier working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Messier would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Messier from controlling successfully.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

James is working for a kimura but Messier is defending it quite comfortably.
James prevents Messier from improving his position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Messier regains full guard. Nicely done.
Messier wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.

James 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.

James drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Messier dives on top into guard.

Messier looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James won't allow Messier to get back to his feet.
Messier looking to control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Messier working for a triangle but James defends it easily.
Messier looking for a sweep. Not yet Messier, not yet.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messier is keeping the position for now.

James drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Messier dives on top into guard.

Messier wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Messier content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because James has locked up a guillotine! James's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Messier is holding on here and James must be using up a lot of energy. Messier has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! James gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). John James!