PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Messner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saulo Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Messner
vs
Fernandes

174 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
22
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Messner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saulo Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandes is looking to clinch but Messner is avoiding it.

Messner gets tackled into the cage by Fernandes. Fernandes maintains the clinch.
Messner lands with a right to the head.
Messner letting Fernandes take a breather here.
Messner lands an uppercut.

Fernandes manages to break the clinch.
Fernandes misses with a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Messner as Fernandes shoots in.
An inside leg kick from Messner misses.
Messner works the jab nicely.

Fernandes looking to score a takedown here. Messner is defending well but Fernandes drives through and ends up in Messner's guard.
Fernandes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Fernandes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Messner is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Messner has escaped and now he's on top!
Messner postures up.
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!
Fernandes can't keep his opponent in guard - Messner advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messner is pressing down on Fernandes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fernandes is holding on for now.
Fernandes trying to control from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fernandes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Messner is controlling the pace.
Messner's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandes is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernandes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Messner lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Messner blocks a leg kick.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Messner sprawls well. Messner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fernandes gets slowly back to his feet.
Messner connects with a nice looking jab.
Messner stuffs the takedown.
Mike Messner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saulo Fernandes.
Fernandes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mike Messner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messner jabs Fernandes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fernandes checks a low kick from Messner.
Messner's corner calls for a 1-2. Messner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fernandes misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Messner scores with a jab. Fernandes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Messner wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Messner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Messner swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.
Messner connects with a single shot there.
Fernandes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Messner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fernandes has time to react.
Messner lands a jab to Fernandes's midsection.
Messner is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Messner sprawls well. Messner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fernandes gets slowly back to his feet.
Fernandes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Messner to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messner stuns Fernandes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Messner swings for the body but Fernandes moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messner digs a good body shot into Fernandes's ribs.
Messner scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fernandes is looking to clinch.
Fernandes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fernandes.
Fernandes looks winded!
Messner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fernandes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Messner circles away.
Fernandes fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Messner wants it to stay on the feet.
Messner tries to score with a low kick but Fernandes moves his leg out of the way.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Messner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Messner works Fernandes's body with a nice hook.
Messner works over Fernandes's head and body with a nice combination.
Fernandes tries for a takedown but Messner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fernandes fails to land the takedown.
Fernandes tries to clinch up but Messner circles away and keeps his distance.
Messner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mike Messner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saulo Fernandes.
Fernandes moves out of range of the leg kick from Messner.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Messner as he avoids it easily.
Saulo Fernandes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernandes shoots in and drives through. Messner sprawls well.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.
Messner tries to bum rush Fernandes with a series of wild strikes but Fernandes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Messner throws a leg kick but Fernandes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fernandes looks to land a right hand but Messner moved out of range.
Fernandes checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes shoots for a takedown but Messner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Messner throws a leg kick that misses.
Messner wants to slow Fernandes down by chopping away at his legs.
Messner lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Messner tries to work over Fernandes's front leg with a kick but Fernandes checks it.
Fernandes tries to close the distance and clinch but Messner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Messner is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Messner takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Fernandes moves forwards but Messner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Messner throws a chopping leg kick but Fernandes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fernandes is defended easily by Messner.
Messner's corner calls for a 1-2. Messner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner throws a leg kick but Fernandes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good exchange - Messner coming out on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fernandes.
Messner with a jab.
Fernandes moves forwards but Messner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Messner throws a leg kick but Fernandes moved away.
Mike Messner is winning the standup battle so far.
Messner digs a good hook to Fernandes's body.
Fernandes moves forwards but Messner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Messner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fernandes at a distance.
Fernandes drops his hands momentarily and Messner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Messner lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Fernandes is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Fernandes is still on wobbly legs! Can Messner finish him?
Fernandes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Messner to score with a decent uppercut.
Fernandes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mike Messner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fernandes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Messner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A left and a right from Messner both land. Nice combination.
Messner attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Messner feints a jab promting Fernandes to slip. Messner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Fernandes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
BOOM! Messner lands a beautiful left hook that drops Fernandes. Fernandes tries to recover but Messner is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Fernandes lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Messner!