PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ran Farquer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Farquer
vs
Messi

179 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
19
146 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ran Farquer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi throws a front kick aimed at Farquer's knee but Farquer avoids it well.
Farquer blocks the body kick.
Farquer moves out of range as Messi throws a body kick.
Farquer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Farquer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Farquer misses with a body kick.
Farquer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Farquer tries to clinch up but Messi circles away and keeps his distance.
Messi throws the kick towards the body but Farquer avoids it.
Farquer blocks a head kick by Messi.
Farquer throws a solid leg kick but Messi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Farquer.
Messi throws a front kick aimed at Farquer's knee but Farquer avoids it well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Messi.
Farquer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Farquer tries a low kick but Messi avoids it.
Farquer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Farquer tries to clinch there but Messi circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquer tries a head kick but it misses.
Farquer moves out of range of the body kick from Messi.
Ran Farquer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messi is looking to land body kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Farquer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Farquer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Farquer takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Messi moves out of range of the body kick.
Farquer scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Messi.
Farquer throws a wild body kick that Messi sees coming a mile off.
Messi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Messi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Farquer.
Farquer tries a head kick but it misses.
Messi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Messi thumps Farquer with a low kick.

Messi tries to keep at a distance but Farquer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Messi stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi trying to control the position but instead, Farquer has worked for underhooks and has pushed Messi into the cage.

Messi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Messi throws a sloppy head kick and Farquer moves out of range easily.
Messi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Messi blocks a low kick nicely.
Farquer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Messi.
Messi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Messi motions for Farquer to come forward. Messi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Messi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Farquer.
Farquer looks for the body kick but Messi saw that one coming.
Farquer moves out of range of the body kick from Messi.
Farquer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Messi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Messi looks to land a body kick but Farquer moved away.
Messi avoids the head kick by Farquer.
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Farquer takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Farquer tries a head kick but it misses.
Messi misses with a body kick.
Farquer moves in looking to clinch but Messi pushes him off.
Messi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Farquer misses with a head kick.
Farquer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Messi is out of range.
Farquer misses with a body kick.
Farquer blocks the body kick.
Farquer misses with a body kick.
Farquer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Farquer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Farquer takes a step back to recover.
Messi looks for the body kick but Farquer saw that one coming.

Farquer has Messi up against the cage in a clinch.
Farquer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Messi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Farquer throws an elbow that misses.
Farquer throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Farquer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Messi is looking to break free of the clinch but Farquer has double underhooks.
Messi tries to break free but Farquer pushes him back against the cage.
Farquer lands an elbow inside.
Farquer keeps control of Messi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Farquer is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Farquer keeps control of Messi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lionel Messi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Farquer misses with a kick to the body
and Messi counters with an inside leg kick.
Lionel Messi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Farquer on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Farquer thows a leg kick but Messi checks it
and Messi counters with a nice body kick.
Farquer has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A head kick misses from Messi.
Messi throws a wild body kick that Farquer sees coming a mile off.
Farquer avoids the head kick by Messi.
Farquer throws a low kick, looking for Messi's leg but Messi calmly moves out of range.
Farquer will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Messi avoids the head kick by Farquer.
Messi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Messi avoids the head kick by Farquer.
Messi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Messi pushes Farquer away with a front kick.
Farquer misses with a wild body shot.
Messi looks to land a body kick but Farquer moved away.
Farquer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Farquer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Messi lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Messi.
Farquer throws a sloppy head kick and Messi moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Farquer tries to clinch up but Messi circles away and keeps his distance.
Messi throws a nice head kick!
Farquer avoids a kick to the body.
Farquer throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messi is looking to slow Farquer down with leg kicks.
Farquer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Farquer throws a sloppy head kick and Messi moves out of range easily.
Messi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Messi throws a head kick that misses.
Farquer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Farquer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farquer blocks a head kick by Messi.
Messi throws a wild body kick that Farquer sees coming a mile off.
Farquer misses with a body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Farquer.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Messi. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Farquer tries to clinch up but Messi circles away and keeps his distance.
Messi is looking to slow Farquer down with leg kicks.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Messi.
Farquer avoids the head kick by Messi.
Farquer throws a head kick but Messi moves out of range.
Messi fakes the leg kick and cracks Farquer in the body.
Farquer throws a low kick but Messi moves out of range easily.
Messi misses with a body kick.
Farquer moves out of range of the body kick from Messi.
Messi throws a head kick but Farquer moves out of range.
Farquer takes a kick to the side of the head.
Messi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Farquer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Messi.
Messi checks a low kick from Farquer.
Lionel Messi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Messi connects with a high kick.
Messi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Farquer tries to score with a low kick but Messi moves his leg out of the way.
Farquer throws a leg kick that misses.
Farquer tries to close the distance and clinch but Messi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Farquer if he has to take too many more of those.
Farquer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Farquer throws a sloppy head kick
and Messi counters with a head kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Messi, right into the meat.
Farquer is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Messi moves out of range of the body kick from Farquer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farquer tries to clinch up.
Messi avoids the head kick by Farquer.
A nice leg kick lands there from Farquer.
Farquer lands with a thumping leg kick.
Farquer moves out of range of the body kick.
Farquer avoids the head kick by Messi.
Messi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farquer gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Messi counters with a low kick, right behind Farquer 's knee.

Farquer moves into the clinch.
Farquer lands a nice elbow.
Farquer tries to land a knee to the head but Messi blocks with his arms.
Messi is trying to break the clinch but Farquer is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi can't break the clinch.
Farquer is stalling here.
Messi blocks an elbow strike from Farquer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Messi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Messi looks to land a body kick but Farquer moved away.
Messi fakes the leg kick and cracks Farquer in the body.
Messi throws a head kick but Farquer moves out of range.
Messi lands a nice looking body kick.
Messi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Farquer thows a leg kick but Messi checks it
and Messi counters with a leg kick.
Messi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Farquer tries to land a front kick but Messi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Farquer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Messi misses with a kick to the body.
Farquer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Messi.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Messi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Messi connects with a high kick.
Messi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Farquer clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messi manages to break the clinch.
Messi fakes the leg kick and cracks Farquer in the body.
A solid body kick from Messi.
Farquer scores with a push kick.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Messi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Farquer counters with a body kick.
Messi cracks the inside of Farquer's front leg.
Messi throws a head kick but Farquer moves out of range.
Messi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Messi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Messi throws a front kick aimed at Farquer's knee but Farquer avoids it well.
Farquer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Messi is able to avoid easily.
Messi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Messi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Messi is looking to slow Farquer down with leg kicks.
Messi thumps Farquer with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Messi.
Messi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Farquer. That one must have hurt.
Messi is looking to land body kicks.
Farquer misses with a low kick.
Messi throws the kick towards the body but Farquer avoids it.
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 head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Farquer throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The fight stays on the outside here - Farquer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Messi avoids the head kick by Farquer.
Messi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Farquer crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Messi - the referee stops the clock and Farquer gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Messi. Farquer manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Messi thuds his shin into the meat of Farquer's side.
Farquer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ran Farquer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farquer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Messi.
Farquer throws a body kick that misses.
Farquer throws a leg kick that misses.
Farquer throws a sloppy head kick and Messi moves out of range easily.
Farquer throws a body kick the misses
and Messi counters with a head kick. That will keep Farquer thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Farquer throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Messi lands a head kick. Farquer smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Farquer doesn't manage to clinch there - Messi circles away.
Messi throws a sloppy head kick and Farquer moves out of range easily.
Messi lands with a slapping head kick.
Farquer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Farquer throws a leg kick
and Messi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Farquer misses with a low kick.
Farquer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi thuds his shin into the meat of Farquer's side.
A thudding body kick lands there by Messi!
Farquer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Messi.
Farquer darts in trying to clinch
and Messi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Farquer tries to clinch there but Messi circles away.
Farquer throws the kick towards the body but Messi avoids it.
Messi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
That kick from Messi tenderised Farquer's leg. Farquer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Messi moves out of range of the body kick from Farquer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi keeps Farquer at a distance using the push kick.
Farquer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Messi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Messi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lionel Messi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Messi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

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