PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Durant
vs
Messi

200 cm
26
245 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
24
250 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Durant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi tries to bum rush Durant with a series of wild strikes but Durant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Messi tries to bum rush Durant with a series of wild strikes but Durant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durant dodges the punch combination from Messi.
Messi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Durant.
Messi misses with a combination
and Durant counters with an outside leg kick.
Messi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durant circles away quickly and effectively.
Messi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Messi misses with a wild combination.
Durant lands a nice shot to the body.
Durant digs a good hook to Messi's body.
Messi looks gassed!
Durant thows a body shot but no joy.
Durant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messi moves away.
Durant scores with a crisp jab that stopped Messi in his tracks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messi misses with the combination.
Durant throws a low kick but it's checked well by Messi.
Messi throws a series of punches but Durant avoids them all with ease.
Messi avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Messi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Durant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Messi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Messi misses with the combination.
Durant fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Messi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Durant backs up against the cage.
Durant is looking to wear down Messi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Durant moves into the clinch successfully.
Messi managing to block the knees to the body from Durant.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Durant.

It looks like Lionel Messi has been cut.
Messi blocks a body shot from Durant.
Durant blocks a body shot from Messi.
Messi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Durant looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Durant.
Messi misses with a punch to the body.
Messi has a couple of punches blocked by Durant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi tries a body shot but Durant blocks it.
Durant lands a left hand that snaps the head of Messi backwards.
Durant is trying to break the clinch but Messi has him pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Durant just misses with a elbow thrown towards Messi's brow.
Durant misses with a body punch.
Messi has a couple of punches blocked by Durant.
Durant lands an elbow inside that Messi shrugs off.
Messi avoids a wild elbow strike from Durant.
Durant pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Messi throws a head punch that misses.
Durant trying to land knees to the body.
Messi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Messi avoids the elbow strike from Durant, against the cage.
Messi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Durant is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Messi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Durant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Messi is defending well for now.
The referee calls for Durant to work.
Messi misses with some punches.
Durant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Messi misses with some punches.
Messi misses with a punch on the inside.
Messi looking for a takedown.
Durant gets through Messi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Durant lands with a light punch inside.
Durant blocking some punches.
Messi throws a head punch that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Durant just misses with a elbow thrown towards Messi's brow.
Messi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Messi lands with a left to the head.
Durant misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Durant.
Durant misses with an elbow over the top.
Messi lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi working aggressively here.
Messi blocks an elbow strike from Durant.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Durant just misses with a elbow thrown towards Messi's brow.
Messi struggles to land a body shot inside as Durant controls his hands.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Durant misses with a wild body shot.
Durant works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Messi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Durant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Messi avoids a kick to the body.
Messi misses with a wild combination.
Durant dodges the punch combination from Messi.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durant scores with a jab. Messi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Durant throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Messi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Messi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Durant to score with a decent uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Durant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lionel Messi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Durant moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Messi misses with a double jab.
Durant showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Messi.
Messi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Messi tried to score with a low kick but Durant checks it.
Durant keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Messi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Durant moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi swinging wildly here.
Durant throws a looping overhand right but Messi ducks down to avoid it.
Messi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Durant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slapping leg kick lands for Durant.
Messi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Messi is breathing heavily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Durant.
Durant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Durant scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Messi moves out of range of the body kick from Durant.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi misses with a two punch combination.
Messi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Messi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Durant counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Joe Durant is winning the standup battle so far.
Messi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lionel Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Durant lands.
Messi looks to land a combination but Durant avoids it well.
Durant scores with a nice head shot.
Durant stuns Messi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
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!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Durant, right into the meat.
Durant scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Durant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Messi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Durant fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Messi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Durant throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Durant does it's job there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Durant darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Messi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durant fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Messi, pushing him back against the cage.
Messi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Durant backwards.
Messi avoids a wild elbow strike from Durant.
Messi throws a head punch that misses.

Durant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durant avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Durant.
Messi swinging wildly here.
Durant lands with a thumping leg kick.
Messi throws a combination that misses
and Durant counters with a stiff right hand.
Durant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.

Durant moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durant using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Durant manages to break the clinch.

Durant instigates a clinch.
Messi throws a head punch that misses.
Messi blocks an elbow strike.
Messi working aggressively here.
Durant pushes off an throws an elbow but Messi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Messi fails to land.
Durant misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Messi.
Messi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Messi blocks an elbow strike from Durant.
Durant swings wildly with an uppercut but Messi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Messi keeps control of Durant as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Durant lands a left hand that snaps the head of Messi backwards.
Durant misses with the head strike.
Durant blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Messi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Durant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Messi throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Messi.
Messi avoiding damage as Durant throws knees to the body.
Durant working aggressively here.
Messi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Durant throws an elbow that misses.
Durant creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Messi gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Messi lands strikes from half guard.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Durant defending well though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi working Durant over with strikes.
Messi trying to control from half guard but Durant is working away.
Messi working over Durant with some ground and pound. Durant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Durant dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lionel Messi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A good leg kick by Durant.
Messi throws a combination that misses
and Durant counters with a nice kick to the body.
Durant tries to clinch there but Messi circles away.
Messi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Durant with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durant circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Messi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Durant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Messi tries to bum rush Durant with a series of wild strikes but Durant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Messi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Durant connects with a body shot.
Messi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from Durant misses.
Messi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Messi swinging wildly here.
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 looks to land a combination but Durant avoids it well.
Messi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Messi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Messi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Durant missing with a left hand there. Messi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Durant connects with a body shot.
Messi misses with a combination
and Durant connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good leg kick by Durant there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
An inside leg kick lands from Durant.

Durant gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Durant throws an elbow but it misses.
Messi trying to stall but Durant improves his position.
Durant lands an elbow that stopped Messi in his tracks for a moment.
Messi misses with a punch on the inside.
Durant is pressed up against the cage. Messi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Durant down to the mat. Durant avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Durant throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
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!
Durant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Durant misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant throws a nice looking combination but Messi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Durant clinches with his opponent.

Durant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Durant thows a left - swing and a miss!
Messi throws a right hand that Durant ducks under and follows up with a left that Durant also avoids with ease.
Messi is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Messi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Durant.
Messi tries to bum rush Durant with a series of wild strikes but Durant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durant misses with an attempted mid kick.
Messi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Durant counters with a nice body shot.
Durant lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice body punch from Durant.
A combination from Messi does no damage.
Durant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Messi manages to avoid it.
Messi moves forwards but Durant connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Durant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice uppercut lands for Durant. That snapped Messi's head back.
Durant paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lionel Messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Durant lands with a straight right. Messi didn't see that one coming.
Durant tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messi was well out of range. Poor timing from Durant.
Durant misses with a hook.
A combination from Messi does no damage.
Messi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durant circles away quickly and effectively.
Durant connects with a nice looking jab.
A cross from Durant lands.
Some wild striking there from Messi.
Durant wants to slow Messi down by chopping away at his legs.
Messi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Durant counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Durant slips a jab and a cross from Messi.
Messi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Durant lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A cross from Durant lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durant with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Durant connects with a good right hand that stumbles Messi. Messi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Joe Durant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Durant lands a nice leg kick that just misses Messi's sensitive parts.
Durant dodges the punch combination from Messi.
Durant fails to land with a series of punches.
Durant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Messi misses with the combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi fails to land with a series of punches.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Durant, right into the meat.
Durant looks to score with a jab to the body but Messi is just out of range.
Messi throws a nice looking combination but Durant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Durant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Durant, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Joe Durant!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Joe Durant!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Joe Durant!

Joe Durant wins by unanimous decision!
Joe Durant very nearly forgot to thank Hilo Nutrition Laundry 95 % amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.