PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leo Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spede Jussi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leo Messi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Spede Jussi's chin.

Messi
vs
Jussi

168 cm
23
147 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
27
144 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Messi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Spede Jussi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messi scores with a push kick.
Jussi looks to land a right hand but Messi moved out of range.

Jussi clinches up with Messi and pushes him back against the cage.

Messi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Messi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jussi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Jussi takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Messi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Messi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jussi at a distance.
Jussi tries to clinch up
and Messi counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Jussi finds it's way through Messi's defenses.
Jussi defending well as Messi loads up on a big left hand.
Jussi scores with a nice right hand.
Messi jabs Jussi to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jussi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Messi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Messi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Jussi's head backwards.
Nice body punch from Messi.
No joy there for Messi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messi takes a swing at Jussi's ribcage but misses.
Jussi fails with a takedown attempt.
Messi is looking to wear down Jussi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Messi throws the left hand but Jussi avoids the punch easily.
Jussi slips under a jab.
Messi throws a jab when Jussi was well out of range.
Messi throws a body punch but Jussi moves out of range.
Jussi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Messi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jussi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A left lands for Messi.
Jussi shoots in for a takedown but Messi shows good takedown defense.
Jussi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Messi. Messi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jussi lands a nice shot to the body.
Jussi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A big left from Messi misses.
Jussi looks to score with a jab to the body but Messi is just out of range.
Donk. Messi catches Jussi right on the button with a cross.
Jussi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jussi looks to land a right hand but Messi moved out of range.
Leo Messi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messi throws an overhand right that lands on Jussi's shoulder, as Jussi tries to avoid the shot.
Jussi takes one on the button.
Jussi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jussi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jussi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jussi throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Jussi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Messi wants to control but Jussi is having none of it.
Jussi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Messi hang on?
Jussi throws a wild left hand from mount and Messi manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Jussi is nestled in close to Messi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Jussi seems to be working for a kimura but Messi defends the submission attempt.
Messi is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Messi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Messi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jussi advances position into side control!
Jussi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Messi some visible discomfort.
Messi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Jussi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Messi regains half guard, as Jussi was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Messi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jussi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jussi checks a leg kick nicely.
Jussi closes the distance and clinches up with Messi, looking for a takedown. Jussi pushes Messi against the cage but Messi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Messi swings for the body but Jussi moves out of range.
Jussi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Messi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Messi tries to sprawl but Jussi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Jussi thows a huge punch but Messi dodges it nicely.
Messi wants to improve his position but Jussi is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messi wants to control but Jussi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jussi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jussi trying to control the action but Messi is working from the bottom.

Jussi seems to be working for a kimura but Messi defends the submission attempt.
Messi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jussi lands a couple of elbows.
Jussi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Messi has his hands on Jussi's head, controlling the position.
Jussi with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jussi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jussi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jussi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jussi trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Messi looking for a guillotine here but Jussi defends easily.
Messi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Messi working a defensive guard but Jussi passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jussi connects with a nice short shot to Messi's temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jussi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jussi is thwarting Messi's attempts to control the position.
Jussi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Jussi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Jussi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Messi gets full guard.
Jussi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messi is keeping the position for now.
Messi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jussi throws a big elbow that misses.
Jussi tries to free his leg and advance position but Messi is retaining full guard.
Jussi trying to control but Messi is working from the bottom.
Jussi throws an elbow that misses. Messi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jussi's guard. Nice move by Messi!
Messi stopping the sweep attempt from Jussi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi trying to control but Jussi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spede Jussi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jussi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Messi as he jumps to the side.
Jussi takes a swing at Messi's ribcage but misses.
Leo Messi is winning the standup battle so far.
Jussi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Jussi as he connects with a hook.
Jussi fails with the takedown.

Jussi looking to score a takedown here. Messi is defending well but Jussi drives through and ends up in Messi's guard.
Jussi won't allow Messi to sweep him here.
Jussi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jussi trying to control the position from guard on top but Messi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jussi is looking to work some ground and pound but Messi has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jussi trying to control but Messi is working from the bottom.
Messi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jussi manages to get himself to full guard.
Jussi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jussi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Jussi goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Messi turns into him and now he's in Jussi's guard.
Jussi wants to sweep here but Messi controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messi trying to control but Jussi is working from the bottom.
Spede Jussi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Jussi is looking for a triangle but Messi pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jussi is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Messi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jussi is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jussi.
Jussi stands up over Messi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Jussi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Messi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Messi has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jussi looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Messi has picked Jussi up and slammed him! Jussi can't keep hold of the triangle and Messi manages to pass to side control!
Jussi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jussi is not content to let Messi control the position.
Jussi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Messi's best efforts.
Jussi wants to sweep but Messi has passed to side control!
Jussi is trying to improve his position.
Messi controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jussi is looking for a sweep.
Jussi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Messi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Messi is looking to take a break and control but Jussi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jussi is looking for a sweep.
Messi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jussi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jussi keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spede Jussi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jussi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spede Jussi!
After the fight, Spede Jussi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.