PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Cunns II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and lionell messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cunns II
vs
messi

194 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

CBK MMA Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Cunns II!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, lionell messi!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunns II throws the kick towards the body but messi avoids it.
messi leaves Cunns II with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cunns II clinches up against the cage.
Cunns II can't get the takedown.
Cunns II wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Cunns II. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunns II lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of messi backwards.
Cunns II 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.

Cunns II has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics messi uses from the top position.

messi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
messi wants to get up but he can't break Cunns II's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
messi cracks Cunns II with a solid left hand.
Cunns II on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cunns II tries to get out of the position.
messi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunns II is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunns II knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for messi on the ground.
Cunns II controls messi momentarily but messi frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
messi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunns II is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
messi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cunns II is keeping the position for now.
Cunns II is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
messi won't allow Cunns II to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
messi misses with a takedown

and Cunns II counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
messi stops a takedown attempt from Cunns II.
messi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cunns II avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cunns II misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from messi.
Cunns II taking a breather.
Cunns II wants a takedown.
Cunns II jumps guard but messi stands there with Cunns II around his waist. Cunns II gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
messi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cunns II gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cunns II lands a body shot.

Cunns II's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
messi checks the leg kick.
messi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cunns II counters by clinching up.
messi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cunns II tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. messi just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II stalling.
Cunns II has messi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. messi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cunns II is breathing heavily.
messi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cunns II is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
messi wants a takedown but no success here.
messi tries to pull guard but Cunns II won't allow it.
Cunns II could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cunns II tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cunns II misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from messi.

Cunns II breaks from the clinch.
messi misses with a head kick.
Cunns II uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by messi.
messi stuffs the takedown attempt from Cunns II. Cunns II gets slowly back to his feet.
Cunns II on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cunns II tries a head kick but it misses.

Cunns II closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. messi did well to prevent Cunns II getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
messi is looking to escape.
messi is trying to get back to full guard.
messi is not content to let Cunns II control the position.
messi pushes Cunns II off looking to stand but Cunns II dives back in and keeps control.
Cunns II is trying to control. messi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
messi wants to control but Cunns II is keeping busy.
Cunns II controlling the action here.
messi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Cunns II dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

messi misses with a double jab

and Cunns II counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cunns II.
messi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cunns II manages to get himself to full guard.
messi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunns II swivels though and keeps the full guard.
messi wants to control from the top but Cunns II keeps moving.

messi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
messi is breathing heavily.
Cunns II wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cunns II 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 is looking to stand up but Cunns II won't let him.
messi wants to control from the top but Cunns II keeps moving.
messi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
messi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cunns II walks away with a smile on his face. messi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cunns II scores a takedown into full mount!
messi is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
messi wants to hold on but Cunns II pushes him away.
Cunns II content just to control the position here.
Cunns II throwing strikes here but messi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cunns II lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
messi working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cunns II cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II looking to control but messi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cunns II unloads with some shots from mount but messi bucks and avoids them well.
messi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Cunns II is pressing down on messi's thigh, looking to free his foot. messi is holding on for now.
Cunns II missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cunns II trying to control the action but messi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
messi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cunns II is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Cunns II moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from messi.

Cunns II is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. messi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
messi is trying to control Cunns II's posture but Cunns II avoids it.
Cunns II laying and praying for a moment but messi takes advantage and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Cunns II dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

messi misses with a kick to the body.

Cunns II darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cunns II not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

messi pushes Cunns II off and gets back to his feet.
messi lands with a nice body punch.
Cunns II is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
messi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Cunns II or perhaps it was just good defense by messi which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
messi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cunns II counters with a series of strikes. messi will be more careful next time no doubt.
messi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mark Cunns II is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
messi looks to land a combination but Cunns II avoids it well.
messi throws a head kick that misses.
messi throws a series of punches but Cunns II avoids them all with ease.

Cunns II drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
messi wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on messi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
messi tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Cunns II presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II looking to control but messi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
messi is working to get back to half guard.
Cunns II unloads with some shots from mount but messi bucks and avoids them well.
Cunns II can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as messi is looking to escape.
Mark Cunns II overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
messi can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
messi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
messi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
messi holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cunns II tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cunns II lands with some vicious ground and pound - can messi hang on?
messi tries to hold on but Cunns II pushes him away.
messi is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cunns II controlling the pace for now.
messi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
lionell messi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cunns II controlling the position easily from mount.
messi tries to hold on but Cunns II pushes him away.
Mark Cunns II is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
messi is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Cunns II showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cunns II, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Cunns II!