PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Boone Bunker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lionel Messi acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Bunker
vs
Messi

170 cm
18
136 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
146 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boone Bunker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi connects with a high kick.
Bunker looks to land a combination but Messi avoids it well.
Bunker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Messi counters with a leg kick.
Bunker throws a nice looking combination but Messi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Boone Bunker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Messi - that will leave a mark!
Messi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bunker.
A jab from Bunker misses.
Bunker steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Messi. That one must have hurt.
Bunker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Messi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Messi lands a front kick.
Messi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bunker's head.
Bunker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bunker misses with the combination.
Messi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bunker misses with a double jab
and Messi counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bunker.
A jab from Bunker misses.
Bunker looks to land a combination but Messi avoids it well.
Messi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bunker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Messi manages to avoid it.
Bunker just misses with a punch to the body.
Bunker misses with the combination.
Bunker thows a body shot but no joy.
Messi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bunker throws a hook but Messi avoids it easily.
Bunker is looking to wear down Messi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Messi. Bunker shrugs it off though.
Messi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bunker takes a step back to recover.
Bunker throws a left and a right that both miss
and Messi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Messi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Messi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
An inside leg kick lands from Messi.
Messi lands a head kick. Bunker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Good standup being displayed there by Bunker as he connects with a hook.
Bunker takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A solid body kick from Messi.
Messi feints and then cracks Bunker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bunker down.
Bunker misses with a few strikes there.
Bunker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bunker is breathing heavily.
Bunker throws a shot from downtown. Messi moves away and avoids it.
Bunker walks forward, straight into a front kick from Messi.
A big left from Bunker misses.
Messi scores with a push kick.
Bunker has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Messi.
Bunker throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bunker has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Messi.
Bunker swinging wildly here.
Messi lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands a front kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Messi.
Bunker takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bunker is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Messi's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Bunker misses with a combination
and Messi counters with a head kick.
Bunker misses with an uppercut.
Messi scores with a leg kick.
Messi throws a head kick that Bunker semi-blocks.
Bunker swinging wildly here.
Messi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice body kick from Messi.
Bunker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Messi counters with a good low kick that Bunker was not able to check.
Bunker throws a series of punches but Messi moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Messi - that will leave a mark!
Messi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Messi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Messi moves away from the strike by Bunker.
Bunker scores with a body shot.
Bunker misses with a series of wild punches.
A slow jab from Bunker misses its intended target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Messi - that will leave a mark!
Bunker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Messi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Messi connects with a solid leg kick.
Messi cracks the inside of Bunker's front leg.
Bunker jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi thows a body kick. Bunker tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Bunker takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Crunch! Messi slams his shin into Bunker's torso.
Messi throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Messi lands with a kick to the temple. Bunker shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bunker will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Messi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A swing and a miss from Bunker.
Bunker misses with a wild body shot.
Messi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bunker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Messi keeps Bunker at a distance using the push kick.
Messi tries a head kick but it misses.
Messi throws a head kick that Bunker semi-blocks.
Bunker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Messi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Messi lands a high kick!
Bunker throws a big shot that misses.
Bunker swinging wildly here.
Bunker misses with a few strikes there.
Bunker misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Messi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Lionel Messi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bunker misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Messi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Messi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Messi lands with a slapping head kick.
Bunker thows a body shot but no joy.
Messi lands a leg kick that knocks Bunker off balance momentarily.
Bunker misses with a two punch combination.
Messi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Messi feints and then cracks Bunker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bunker down.
Bunker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bunker connects with a crisp jab.
Bunker on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Bunker.
Bunker sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Bunker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messi slips a straight right by Bunker.
Messi lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bunker walks forward, straight into a front kick from Messi.
Messi thows a body kick. Bunker tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Messi moves out of range as Bunker strikes.
Messi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Messi moves out of range of the strikes.
Messi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Messi scores with a head kick. Bunker tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
Boone Bunker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bunker works the jab nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Messi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bunker misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands with a nice body kick.
Messi connects with an inside leg kick.
Bunker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bunker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Messi.
Messi throws a head kick that half lands.
Messi throws a front kick that sends Bunker stumbling back into the cage.
Messi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bunker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bunker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Messi scores with a spinning back kick!
Messi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Bunker might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Bunker on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Messi thuds his shin into the meat of Bunker's side.
Bunker misses with a wild combination.
Bunker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Messi at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Messi.
Messi pushes Bunker away with a front kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Both fighters circling a little - Messi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Bunker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Messi counters with a solid body kick.
Messi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bunker.
Messi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bunker.
Messi thows a body kick. Bunker tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Messi scores with a head kick. Bunker tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Messi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messi scores with a nice body kick.
Bunker misses with a wild combination.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Messi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Messi keeps Bunker at a distance using the push kick.
Messi slips a jab and a cross from Bunker.
Messi misses with a head kick.
Bunker takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Messi, right into the meat.
Messi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A solid body kick from Messi.
Messi connects with a high kick.
Bunker on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Messi scores with a push kick.
Bunker scores with a punch to the head.
Messi dodges the punch combination from Bunker.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bunker swinging wildly here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bunker!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Messi.
Messi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Bunker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messi was well out of range. Poor timing from Bunker.
Bunker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bunker throws an off balance right hand
and Messi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Messi throws a front kick that sends Bunker stumbling back into the cage.
Messi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Messi lands a front kick.
Messi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bunker.
Bunker has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Messi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bunker. Messi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bunker misses with a lunging right hand
and Messi counters with a leg kick.
Bunker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Messi can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Messi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Messi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bunker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messi was well out of range. Poor timing from Bunker.
Bunker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Messi was well out of range. Poor timing from Bunker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bunker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Messi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bunker thows a body shot but no joy.
Bunker fails to land with a series of punches.
Messi delivers a nice body kick.
Bunker misses with a wild body shot.
Messi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bunker.
Messi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bunker.
Messi lands a head kick!
Bunker throws a combination. Messi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunker lands a jab to the head.
Messi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A shot to the liver by Bunker. Beautiful body shot.
Messi keeps Bunker at a distance using the push kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Messi.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bunker crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Messi - the referee stops the clock and Bunker gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Messi. Bunker manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nice body kick there by Messi.
Messi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bunker will feel that in the morning.
Messi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bunker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bunker misses with a body shot
and Messi counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bunker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Messi pushes Bunker away with a front kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bunker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bunker throws a right hand that Messi ducks under and follows up with a left that Messi also avoids with ease.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Messi keeps Bunker at a distance using the push kick.
Messi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Messi scores with a leg kick.
Messi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Messi.
Bunker scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Messi scores with a push kick.
Bunker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bunker throws a jab but it's blocked by Messi.
Bunker misses with a series of wild punches.
Boone Bunker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick from Messi lands but Bunker takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lionel Messi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Messi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lionel Messi!
Lionel Messi took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.