PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neymar Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uncle Ben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Messi
vs
Ben

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Neymar Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Uncle Ben!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ben waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Messi.
Ben is trying hard to land a takedown here. Messi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ben uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Messi.

Ben closes the distance and clinches.
Ben is stalling here.
Ben tries for a takedown. No joy.
Messi is working for takedown but Ben is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ben pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Messi tries to clinch up but Ben circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Ben or perhaps it was just good defense by Messi which made him look bad.
Neymar Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Uncle Ben.
Messi avoids the head kick by Ben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben looks for a takedown but Messi sprawls well.
Ben wants to clinch up but Messi keeps it at a distance.
Messi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ben fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ben wants to clinch up but Messi keeps it at a distance.
Ben will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Uncle Ben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ben fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ben tries a head kick but it misses.

Messi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ben is trying to defend but Messi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Messi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Messi wants to take a breather but Ben is having none of it.
Messi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Messi drops an elbow to the side of Ben's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Messi connects with a nice short shot to Ben's temple.
Ben throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ben is staying active underneath Messi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Messi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Messi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Messi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ben's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ben can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ben trying to control but Messi postures up.
Messi slips a nice elbow through Ben's hands, connecting with Ben's forehead.
Messi is thwarting Ben's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi is looking to take a break and control but Ben is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Messi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Messi lands a nice short elbow.
Messi wants to take a breather but Ben is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messi working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Messi there.
Messi working over Ben with some ground and pound. Ben looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Messi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ben with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ben defending well though.
Messi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Messi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Messi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Messi connects with a nice short shot to Ben's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice strikes from Messi there.
Messi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Messi there.
Ben has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Messi is working away from the top position though.
Messi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ben defending well though.
Ben is trying to stand back up but Messi is controlling him
Messi trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi wants to free his trapped foot but Ben is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Messi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ben defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Messi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Ben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Messi keeps the fight on the outside.
Ben throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ben fails with the takedown.
Ben misses with a takedown attempt

and Messi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Messi.

Ben is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Messi defends well.
Messi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ben is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ben has momentary wrist control but Messi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ben looking for a sweep. Not yet Ben, not yet.
Messi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Messi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Messi throwing strikes from guard but Ben blocks nicely.
Messi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Messi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ben is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Messi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Messi trying to control but Ben is working from the bottom.
Messi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Messi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ben on the ground.
Messi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ben working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Messi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi stands up over Ben, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Messi postures up and lands a big shot to Ben's brow.
Messi throws an elbow that misses. Ben uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Messi's guard. Nice move by Ben!
Ben throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ben prevents Messi from getting back to his feet.
Ben controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Messi wants to stand and escape but Ben is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ben is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Uncle Ben hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A head kick misses from Ben.
Ben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Messi swats away the attempt to clinch by Ben.
Ben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Messi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Messi throws an elbow that misses. Ben uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Messi's guard. Nice move by Ben!
Messi wants to stand up but Ben is controlling him.
Ben wants to pass the guard but Messi is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Messi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ben rushes Messi and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Ben.
Messi tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ben manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ben looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ben closes the distance and clinches up with Messi, looking for a takedown. Ben pushes Messi against the cage but Messi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ben was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Ben tries to clinch but Messi is having none of it.
Ben misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi takes a swing at Ben's ribcage but misses.
Uncle Ben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi takes a swing at Ben's ribcage but misses.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ben was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Ben throws the kick towards the body but Messi avoids it.
Ben tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Messi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Messi swings for the body but Ben moves out of range.
Messi misses with a body shot.
Ben fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ben throws a leg kick but Messi sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ben was well out of range. Poor timing from Messi.
Messi thows a body shot but no joy.
Ben shoots in and drives through. Messi sprawls well.
Neymar Messi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Uncle Ben.
Messi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ben as he avoids it easily.
Ben throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messi tries to clinch up but Ben circles away and keeps his distance.
Ben throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Messi's waist but Messi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ben off to one side.
Messi throws a body punch but Ben moves out of range.
Messi takes a swing at Ben's ribcage but misses.
Messi blocks a head kick by Ben.
Messi is looking to wear down Ben with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ben shoots in looking for a takedown but Messi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ben's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ben takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ben moves away.
Messi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ben.
Uncle Ben seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ben fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Messi is looking to clinch.

Messi gets tackled into the cage by Ben. Ben maintains the clinch.
Messi being controlled against the cage.
Ben taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ben's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Messi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ben has a takedown stuffed.
Messi swings for the body but Ben moves out of range.
Messi swings for the body but Ben moves out of range.
Ben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ben fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ben attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uncle Ben comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Messi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

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