PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Messi (ranked 4468 p4p, 3583 weight class) and Jamie Robinson (ranked 316 p4p, 287 weight class). Messi comes to the cage accompanied by The spark. Leonard Messi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Messi
vs
Robinson

165 cm
24
145
5 - 1 - 0

176 cm
20
155
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

BANZAI NUTRITION
Pulling Guard

BANZAI NUTRITION

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leonard Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jamie Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Robinson.
Jamie Robinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robinson scores with a decent looking hook.
Messi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Robinson throws a right and a left that Messi avoids nicely.
Robinson scores with a punch to the head.
Messi shoots in for a double leg but Robinson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Messi tries to clinch up
and Robinson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Robinson misses with a series of wild punches.
Messi shoots in but Robinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Donk. Robinson catches Messi right on the button with a cross.
Messi dives in and grabs Robinson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Robinson pushes down on Messi's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonard Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Robinson digs a good body shot into Messi's ribs.
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!

Messi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Robinson was covering up waiting for the punch and Messi finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Robinson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Messi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Messi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Robinson is controlling Messi's posture.

Robinson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Messi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Robinson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi keeping moving, preventing Robinson from controlling successfully.
Messi wants to sweep here but Robinson controlling him for the moment.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Messi is retaining full guard.
Messi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Messi wants to get back to his feet but Robinson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Messi is retaining full guard.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Messi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Robinson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi wants to sweep here but Robinson controlling him for the moment.
Messi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Robinson gets to his feet - Messi follows without any prompting.
Robinson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Messi moves forwards but Robinson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Robinson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Robinson scores with the left hand. Messi knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson misses with a double jab.
Robinson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Messi scores with a nice strike.
Messi shoots in looking for a takedown. Robinson tries to sprawl out of it but Messi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Robinson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Robinson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Robinson scores with the left hand. Messi knows he should have avoided that one.
Jamie Robinson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A right-left combo lands from Robinson.
Messi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Messi darts in trying to clinch
and Robinson counters with a nice leg kick.
Robinson tests Messi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Robinson dominated that round.
That's time! Messi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A looping hook to the body misses from Robinson. Messi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Messi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Robinson as he avoids it easily.
Messi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Robinson.
Messi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Robinson throws a good cross that connects.
Robinson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Robinson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Messi walks into a straight right hand from Robinson.
Messi is looking to clinch.
Robinson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Messi does no damage.
Robinson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messi moves away.
Robinson leaves Messi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Messi needs to keep his hands up - Robinson had a free shot at his head there.
Leonard Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson connects with a looping right hand.
Robinson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Robinson.
Messi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Robinson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Robinson tests Messi's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Robinson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Robinson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Messi's guard.

Robinson trying to control but Messi is working from the bottom.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Messi is retaining full guard.
Robinson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Messi is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Robinson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi misses with a takedown attempt - Robinson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonard Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown attempt by Messi or perhaps it was just good defense by Robinson, which made it look bad.
Robinson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Messi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Robinson.
Messi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
No joy there for Robinson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Robinson.
Jab, jab by Robinson - just one landing.
Messi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Robinson.
Messi drops his hands momentarily and Robinson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A left and a right from Robinson both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messi moves away.
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.
Robinson connects with a single shot there.
Robinson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Robinson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Messi.

Messi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Messi stalling.
Messi looking to slow down the pace here.
Messi trying to land knees to the body.

Robinson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donk. Robinson catches Messi right on the button with a cross.
Robinson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Messi throws a leg kick but Robinson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Robinson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Robinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Robinson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Robinson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jamie Robinson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Robinson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Robinson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Robinson dips to his left and cracks Messi with an uppercut!
Robinson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A telegraphed right hand from Robinson misses the target.
Robinson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Robinson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Messi. Messi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Robinson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Decent striking displayed by Robinson there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Robinson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Robinson stuffs the takedown attempt from Messi. Messi gets slowly back to his feet.
Messi tries for a takedown but Robinson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Robinson throws a hook but Messi blocks it.
Robinson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Robinson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Messi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Robinson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Robinson digs a good hook to Messi's body.
Robinson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Robinson can't break the clinch.
Messi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Robinson to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonard Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Robinson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Robinson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Messi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Messi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Messi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Robinson tries to avoid it but Messi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Robinson to the ground. Robinson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Robinson does no damage.
Robinson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Robinson with a hook.
Messi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Robinson misses the jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Robinson!
Robinson connects with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Messi has managed to clinch.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Messi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Robinson, pushing him back against the cage.

Messi breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Messi tries to move into range but Robinson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Messi wants to clinch up but Robinson keeps it at a distance.
Messi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Robinson finds it's way round the side to connect with Messi's head.
Robinson misses with an uppercut. Messi saw that one coming.
A shot to the liver by Robinson. Beautiful body shot.
Robinson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Messi manages to avoid it.
Robinson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Messi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some wild striking there from Robinson.
Robinson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Messi doesn't seem bothered though.
Messi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Robinson throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Robinson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Messi circles away quickly and effectively.
Robinson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Messi ducks under a wild hook from Robinson.
Robinson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Robinson cracks Messi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Robinson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Robinson slaps away a takedown attempt from Messi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Messi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Robinson pinned against the cage. Robinson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Robinson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson catches Messi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Robinson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Messi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Robinson.
Robinson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Robinson scores with a hook to the body. Messi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Messi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Robinson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jamie Robinson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Robinson catches Messi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Messi dodges the punch combination from Robinson.
Leonard Messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Messi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Robinson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Robinson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Robinson!
Jamie Robinson really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that BANZAI NUTRITION logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
The defeated Leonard Messi had this to say: 'I appreciate all my fans, I will come back even stronger'.