PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aulis Makkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makkonen comes to the cage accompanied by Metsämiehen Laulu. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Makkonen
vs
Messi

184 cm
22
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
18
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aulis Makkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi thumps Makkonen with a low kick.
A low kick from Makkonen is predictable there
and Messi counters with a nice leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Makkonen
and Messi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Makkonen really felt that one!
Messi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Messi misses with a body kick.
Makkonen misses with a straight right.
Makkonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Messi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Messi.
Messi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Makkonen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Makkonen digs a right hand underneath Messi's ribcage. Messi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Makkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Messi has had enough of the clinch but Makkonen keeps him there for the moment.
Makkonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Makkonen as Messi tries to tie him up.
Makkonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Messi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Messi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Makkonen up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makkonen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Messi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Messi avoiding damage.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Messi.
Crunch! Messi slams his shin into Makkonen's torso.
Messi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Messi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Messi throws a head kick that misses
and Makkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Messi.
Messi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Makkonen tries to clinch
and Messi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Makkonen's knee momentarily.

Makkonen moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Makkonen fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Messi.
Messi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Messi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Messi looks to land a body kick but Makkonen moved away.
Messi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Makkonen tries to clinch
and Messi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Makkonen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A head kick by Messi misses
and Makkonen counters with a three punch combo that has Messi backing up. Messi nods at Makkonen to acknowledge the strikes.
Messi gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Makkonen to counter with a crisp jab.

Messi is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi throws a lazy head kick

and Makkonen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Messi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Messi is pushing Makkonen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Makkonen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Messi.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Messi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Makkonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Messi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A head kick from Makkonen lands but Messi takes it in his stride.
Messi tries to land a front kick but Makkonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Messi scores with a nice body kick.
Makkonen closes the distance but Messi moves to the side
and Messi counters with a good, hard body kick but Makkonen shrugs it off.
Messi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Makkonen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Makkonen tries to land a knee to the head but Messi blocks with his arms.
Makkonen trying to control the position but instead, Messi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Makkonen into the cage.
Makkonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Messi is pushing Makkonen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Messi has had enough of the clinch but Makkonen keeps him there for the moment.
Makkonen lands a nice shot to the body.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makkonen tries to clinch
and Messi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Messi misses with a body kick.
Messi lands a leg kick that knocks Makkonen off balance momentarily.
Makkonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makkonen closes the distance but Messi moves to the side
and Messi counters with a big head kick but Makkonen shrugs it off.
Makkonen takes a kick to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aulis Makkonen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Messi cracks the inside of Makkonen's front leg.
Makkonen wants to clinch
and Messi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Messi throws a sloppy head kick
and Makkonen counters with a left and a right that stings Messi.
Makkonen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Messi.

Oooh a lovely combination from Makkonen sends Messi down but not out. Makkonen dives into side control looking to finish.
Messi is still in real trouble! Can Makkonen finish him?

It looks like Lionel Messi has been cut.
Messi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Messi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Makkonen has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Messi!
Messi is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Makkonen has taken his back!
Makkonen scores with punches from the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Messi avoids the strikes from Makkonen.
Messi seems to have recovered his senses.
Makkonen trying to control momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi is trying to stand back up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Messi prevents Makkonen from getting a body triangle.
Messi is trying to get back to his feet but Makkonen has full control of the position and if anything, Messi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Messi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Makkonen.
Makkonen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Makkonen wants to control but Messi is keeping busy.

Makkonen working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Messi is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Makkonen has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Messi taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aulis Makkonen!