PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siphiwe Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Messi
vs
Tshabalala

170 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lionel Messi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siphiwe Tshabalala!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Messi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tshabalala tries to avoid it but Messi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tshabalala to the ground. Tshabalala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Messi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tshabalala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tshabalala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Messi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No luck for Messi with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messi slaps away a takedown attempt from Tshabalala, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Messi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tshabalala.
Messi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tshabalala counters with a two punch combo.
Messi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tshabalala counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi tries to get to full guard but Tshabalala has control of the leg.
Tshabalala prevents Messi from standing back up.

Tshabalala is looking for a kimura here.
Tshabalala looks gassed!

Tshabalala is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tshabalala not doing much here.
Messi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tshabalala on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Messi is trying to stand back up but Tshabalala is controlling him
Messi trying to control here.
Messi tries to roll over but Tshabalala keeps him under control.
Tshabalala not doing much here.
Messi wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tshabalala is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Messi sees it coming and defends easily.
Messi is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Messi misses with a takedown

and Tshabalala counters with a single leg into guard. Messi didn't expect that.
Tshabalala preventing the sweep.
Tshabalala sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala postures up.
Tshabalala wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi is looking to sweep but instead, Tshabalala has passed into half guard.
Tshabalala seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Messi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Messi dives in and grabs Tshabalala's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tshabalala pushes down on Messi's head and hops out.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tshabalala gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Messi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Messi wants to stand but Tshabalala has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tshabalala manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Messi tries to reverse the position but Tshabalala maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala controlling from the full mount.
Tshabalala is breathing heavily.
Tshabalala avoids the attempt from Messi to control.
Messi working to try and regain half guard.
Tshabalala looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tshabalala looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Messi is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tshabalala scoring with strikes but Messi is staying in there.
Messi is trying desperately to improve position.
Tshabalala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Tshabalala with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Messi trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala avoids the attempt from Messi to control.
Tshabalala looking to control but Messi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Messi tries to lock up and control but Tshabalala gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tshabalala breaks from Messi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tshabalala fails to move to back control.
Messi is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messi tries to hold on but Tshabalala postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tshabalala tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tshabalala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tshabalala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Messi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tshabalala counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee calls for Messi to work.
Messi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tshabalala pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Messi tries to pull guard but Tshabalala won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Messi pulls Tshabalala into guard.
Messi wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Messi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Messi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Messi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tshabalala tries to free his leg and advance position but Messi is retaining full guard.
Messi wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tshabalala ducks under a wild hook from Messi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tshabalala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi wants to clinch

and Tshabalala counters with a takedown into side control.
Tshabalala trying to control the position but Messi is working away.
Siphiwe Tshabalala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Messi can't do much from the bottom here.

Tshabalala decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi tries to clinch there but Tshabalala circles away.
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.
Messi blocks a jab.
Messi closes the distance but Tshabalala moves to the side

and Tshabalala counters with a single leg into guard. Messi didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tshabalala wants to control from the top but Messi keeps moving.
Messi is trying to control the position but Tshabalala postures up.
Tshabalala is pushing down on Messi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Messi is fighting to maintain full guard but Tshabalala has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala is just content to waste time from the top position. Messi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Messi is trying to control the position but Tshabalala postures up.
Tshabalala trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Messi keeping full guard, as Tshabalala tries to pass.
Messi trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Messi keeping full guard, as Tshabalala tries to pass.
Messi controls Tshabalala momentarily but Tshabalala frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Messi fails to land the takedown.
Messi is looking to clinch but Tshabalala is avoiding it.

Tshabalala shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Messi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Messi rushes Tshabalala and presses him up against the cage.
Tshabalala wants to break the clinch but can't.

Tshabalala breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Messi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Messi forces Tshabalala back against the cage and clinches.
Tshabalala dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Messi is trying to drag Tshabalala to the mat but Tshabalala just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tshabalala keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Messi's efforts to push away.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tshabalala tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Messi lands a damaging elbow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Tshabalala has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Messi is trying to keep an underhook but Tshabalala manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Messi defending well though.
Tshabalala prevents Messi from improving his position.
Messi is looking to control Tshabalala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Messi avoid being mounted?
Messi is trying to get back to full guard.
Messi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tshabalala is working away from the top position though.

Tshabalala escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Messi shoots and misses

and Tshabalala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Messi controlling the action here for a moment.
Tshabalala misses with an elbow strike.
Come on Messi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Messi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tshabalala just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Messi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tshabalala 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. Tshabalala gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tshabalala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tshabalala counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Messi!
Messi tries to lock up and control but Tshabalala gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Messi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tshabalala landing strikes from the mount.
Tshabalala can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Messi is looking to escape.
Tshabalala throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four 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.
Messi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Messi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Messi is looking to get to half guard.
Tshabalala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Messi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Messi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tshabalala sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Messi lands a high kick!
Messi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Messi.
Messi just misses with a punch to the body.
Tshabalala blocks a head kick by Messi.
Tshabalala shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Messi as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch but Tshabalala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tshabalala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tshabalala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Messi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala tries to clinch up but Messi circles away and keeps his distance.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Messi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Messi is looking to clinch but Tshabalala is avoiding it.
Messi fails with the takedown

and Tshabalala counters by clinching up.
Tshabalala 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.
Lionel Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Messi wants to get back to striking at distance but Tshabalala won't allow it.
Messi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tshabalala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Messi breaks the clinch.

Tshabalala gets a takedown into half guard.
Messi is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tshabalala decides to return to a standing position.
Messi moves out of range of the body kick.
Tshabalala keeps the fight on the outside.
Messi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tshabalala counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Messi!
Messi is in a horrible position here. Tshabalala smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tshabalala prevents Messi from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala content just to control the position here.
Messi wants to control but Tshabalala is having none of it.
Tshabalala has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Messi's face.
Messi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tshabalala controlling from mount.
Messi wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Tshabalala breaks from Messi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tshabalala avoids the attempt from Messi to control.

Tshabalala stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Tshabalala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Messi dives in and grabs Tshabalala's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tshabalala pushes down on Messi's head and hops out.

Tshabalala shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Messi's guard.
Lionel Messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Siphiwe Tshabalala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Messi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siphiwe Tshabalala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tshabalala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Glass scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siphiwe Tshabalala! Siphiwe Tshabalala retains his lightweight title!