PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brian Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Messinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Messinger will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Walsh
vs
Messinger

150 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
139 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Will Messinger!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walsh scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Walsh takes a swing at Messinger's ribcage but misses.

Messinger pushes Walsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Messinger goes for a takedown in the clinch but Walsh prevents it.
Messinger tries to score a body lock takedown but Walsh shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Messinger jumps into guard, dragging Walsh to the mat.
Walsh trying to control but Messinger is working from the bottom.
Walsh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Walsh is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Messinger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walsh controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Messinger is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Walsh is aware though and is defending well.

That's two 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.

Walsh stands up from Messinger's guard - Walsh perhaps looking for a knockout.
Walsh ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messinger moves away.
Walsh misses with a looping right.
Walsh jabs at Messinger's body.

Messinger rushes Walsh and presses him up against the cage.
Walsh taking a breather.

Messinger breaks the clinch.
Messinger throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Messinger fails with a takedown attempt.
Brian Walsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Messinger.
Messinger misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Walsh misses the target.
Walsh lands a jab to Messinger's midsection.
Messinger looks gassed!
Messinger misses with a double jab.
Walsh throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Walsh throws a series of punches but Messinger moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Walsh throws a looping overhand right but Messinger ducks down to avoid it.
Messinger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh misses with a wild body shot.
Walsh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Walsh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brian Walsh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Walsh scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Messinger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Walsh. Messinger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Walsh jabs at Messinger's body.
Walsh swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Walsh slips a jab and a cross from Messinger.
Messinger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Walsh's waist but Walsh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Messinger off to one side.
Walsh misses with an uppercut. Messinger saw that one coming.
Walsh digs a good body shot into Messinger's ribs.
Messinger avoids a punch combination nicely.
Walsh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Walsh.
Walsh throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Messinger counters with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Walsh.
Walsh misses with a body shot.
Messinger lands a head kick. Walsh smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Walsh is looking to wear down Messinger with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Messinger slips a jab from Walsh.
Walsh misses with a series of wild punches.
Walsh throws a jab when Messinger was well out of range.
A combination from Walsh does no damage.

Messinger rushes Walsh and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Messinger breaks from the clinch.

Messinger shoots in and bounces Walsh off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Messinger thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Messinger accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Messinger stands up and waves to Walsh to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Walsh scores with a sloppy right hand. Messinger should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Walsh fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Messinger manages to avoid it.
Walsh swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Messinger bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Walsh's head backwards.
Messinger fails to land the takedown.
Messinger shoots in for a takedown but Walsh shows good takedown defense.
Messinger lands a nice looking kick to the body. Walsh takes a step back to recover.
Walsh cracks a nice hook into Messinger's ribs.
Messinger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Walsh.
Walsh misses with a hook.
Walsh lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Messinger at a distance.
Walsh throws a right hand that Messinger ducks under and follows up with a left that Messinger also avoids with ease.
Walsh misses with an uppercut.
Walsh digs a good body shot into Messinger's ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Walsh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Messinger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Brian Walsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Walsh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Walsh.
Messinger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Walsh.
Messinger lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Walsh at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Walsh.

Messinger pushes Walsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Messinger utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Messinger keeps control of Walsh as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Messinger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Walsh lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Walsh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Messinger crunches a lovely knee into Walsh's ribcage.
Walsh is looking to control Messinger's arms but Messinger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Walsh has his back to the cage.
Messinger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Messinger jumps guard and drags Walsh to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Messinger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walsh gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Walsh wants to stand but Messinger has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Messinger working for a triangle but Walsh defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messinger being controlled here, momentarily.
Messinger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Walsh is refusing to be controlled, as Messinger sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh tries to get to full guard but Messinger has control of the leg.
Walsh is trying to control but Messinger manages to pass to mount!
Messinger looking to control but Walsh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Walsh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Messinger punching from mount but Walsh doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walsh keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Walsh on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Walsh tries to get out of the position.
Messinger thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Messinger throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Walsh is trying to escape the mount.
Messinger punching from mount but Walsh doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Messinger throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Messinger throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Walsh because Messinger loaded up on that one.
Messinger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Walsh tries to lock up and control but Messinger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Messinger looking for a guillotine from mount but Walsh is having none of it.
Walsh wants to hold on but Messinger pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Messinger looking to control but Walsh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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 Brian Walsh will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Walsh scores with a jab to the head.
Messinger has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Walsh connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Messinger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Messinger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Walsh tries to avoid it but Messinger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Walsh to the ground. Walsh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Walsh throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messinger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Messinger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Walsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Walsh connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Messinger momentarily.
Walsh throws a predictable looking body shot
and Messinger counters with a head kick.
Brian Walsh is winning the standup battle so far.
Crunch! Messinger slams his shin into Walsh's torso.
Walsh throws out a loose jab but Messinger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Messinger defending well as Walsh loads up on a big left hand.
Messinger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Walsh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Walsh throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters circling - Walsh throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Walsh looks to score with a jab to the body but Messinger is just out of range.
Messinger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Messinger lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh swings for the body but Messinger moves out of range.

Messinger has Walsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Messinger is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Messinger unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Messinger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Walsh lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Messinger drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Walsh gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Brian Walsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Messinger.
Messinger tries to land a knee to the head but Walsh blocks with his arms.
Walsh tries to break the clinch but Messinger is controlling the position.
Messinger misses with a knee to the head.
Messinger leaning against his opponent.
Messinger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Walsh pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Walsh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Walsh trying to control the position but instead, Messinger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Walsh into the cage.
Messinger crunches a lovely knee into Walsh's ribcage.

Messinger drags the fight down to the ground.
Walsh trying to control but Messinger is working from the bottom.
Brian Walsh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messinger is looking to stand up but Walsh isn't so interested in that idea.
Messinger keeping moving, preventing Walsh from controlling successfully.
Walsh wants to stand but Messinger is controlling his posture from full guard.
Walsh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Messinger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Walsh's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Messinger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Messinger controlling from the top position.
Walsh knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Messinger on the ground.
Messinger being controlled here momentarily.
Messinger is looking to work some ground and pound but Walsh has wrist control.
Messinger wants to control from the top but Walsh keeps moving.
Messinger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Walsh's guard.

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.
Walsh controlling the position.
Walsh working a defensive guard here.
Walsh has a closed guard, preventing Messinger from standing up.
Messinger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Walsh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Walsh swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Messinger counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Walsh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Messinger missing with knees to the body.
Messinger lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Will Messinger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Messinger blocks a body shot from Walsh.
Walsh misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brian Walsh.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Walsh, 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Walsh!