PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Pudzilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Pudzilla
vs
Messi

188 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mario Pudzilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pudzilla dodges the punch combination from Messi.

Messi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Messi tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messi lands an elbow.
Pudzilla is looking for a sweep.
Messi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Messi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pudzilla rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Messi's guard! Nice work there by Pudzilla!
Messi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pudzilla trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pudzilla thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Messi has control of Pudzilla's left arm, preventing Pudzilla from doing any damage.
Messi keeping moving, preventing Pudzilla from controlling successfully.
Messi trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messi wants to sweep here but Pudzilla controlling him for the moment.
Pudzilla working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Messi pushes Pudzilla off and gets back to his feet.
Pudzilla uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Messi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Pudzilla shoots in but no luck this time.
Pudzilla swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Messi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pudzilla looking to control.
Messi wants to control from the top but Pudzilla keeps moving.
Messi wants to stand and escape but instead Pudzilla has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Messi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pudzilla stops Messi from standing up.
Messi looks gassed!
Pudzilla's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messi has his foot on Pudzilla's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pudzilla works his way back into a safe position though.
Pudzilla throwing strikes from guard but Messi blocks nicely.
Messi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pudzilla is controlling him.
Pudzilla has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Messi is proving hard to escape from.

Pudzilla stands up and waves to Messi to follow him.
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pudzilla scores a takedown into full mount!
Messi is looking to get to half guard.
Pudzilla thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Pudzilla takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Pudzilla is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Messi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pudzilla goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Messi turns into him and now he's in Pudzilla's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Messi 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.

Pudzilla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Messi circles away.
Messi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pudzilla.
Pudzilla shoots in looking for a takedown. Messi tries to sprawl out of it but Pudzilla keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Messi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Messi looks to land a combination but Pudzilla avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Messi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pudzilla sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pudzilla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messi throws a leg kick
and Pudzilla counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Messi walks into a left hand.
Messi misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Messi does no damage.
Messi is breathing heavily.
Pudzilla fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Pudzilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Messi.
Messi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pudzilla circles away.
Pudzilla lands with a nice body kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pudzilla.
Pudzilla tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Messi swivels and escapes.
Pudzilla shoots in and drives through. Messi sprawls well.
Pudzilla looks for a takedown but Messi sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi fails with the takedown.
Messi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pudzilla moves out of range as Messi strikes.
Pudzilla throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Messi misses.
A left and a right from Pudzilla both land. Nice combination.
Pudzilla tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Messi swivels and escapes.
Lionel Messi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Messi has a takedown stuffed.
Pudzilla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Messi sprawls well. Messi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pudzilla gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi cracks a nice hook into Pudzilla's ribs.
Messi stuffs the takedown.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Messi shoots in and drives through. Pudzilla sprawls well.
No luck for Pudzilla with that takedown attempt.
Messi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pudzilla fails to land the takedown.
Messi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pudzilla as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi misses with an uppercut. Pudzilla saw that one coming.
Pudzilla darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Messi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mario Pudzilla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pudzilla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Messi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Pudzilla counters with a series of strikes. Messi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Horrible takedown by Messi or perhaps it was just good defense by Pudzilla which made him look bad.
Messi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pudzilla defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Messi tries to clinch there but Pudzilla circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mario Pudzilla will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pudzilla's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pudzilla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Messi shoots for a takedown but Pudzilla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Messi is defended easily by Pudzilla.

Pudzilla closes the distance and clinches.

Pudzilla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi shoots in and drives through. Pudzilla sprawls well.
Mario Pudzilla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lionel Messi.
Pudzilla shoots in but no luck this time.
Messi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That kick from Pudzilla tenderised Messi's leg. Messi is trying to keep his angry face on.

Pudzilla has closed the distance and engaged Messi in a clinch.
Pudzilla taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi tries to break free but Pudzilla pushes him back against the cage.

Pudzilla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pudzilla changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Messi tries to avoid it but Pudzilla manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Messi to the ground. Messi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pudzilla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pudzilla shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Messi but Messi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Pudzilla tries to close the distance and clinch but Messi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pudzilla lands a nice shot to the body.
Messi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pudzilla paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pudzilla doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Messi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pudzilla's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Messi wants to control from the top but Pudzilla keeps moving.

Messi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pudzilla has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Messi has managed to get both his arms back between Pudzilla's legs - danger averted.
Messi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Messi is fighting to break Pudzilla's control of his arms but Pudzilla is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pudzilla keeping moving, preventing Messi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi throwing strikes from guard but Pudzilla blocks nicely.
Messi trying to control but Pudzilla is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lionel Messi hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.

Pudzilla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pudzilla is working for takedown but Messi is calmly controlling the position for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pudzilla tries to avoid it but Messi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pudzilla to the ground. Pudzilla escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pudzilla looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pudzilla.
Messi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pudzilla.
Messi throws a sloppy head kick and Pudzilla moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Messi.
Pudzilla showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Messi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pudzilla has a takedown stuffed.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lionel Messi.
I think Messi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lionel Messi!