PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Petr Van Hooven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Van Hooven
vs
Messi

185 cm
21
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

186 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Petr Van Hooven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lionel Messi!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Hooven shoots and misses

and Messi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Hooven's guard now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Messi distracts Van Hooven with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Messi trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Hooven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Van Hooven is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Messi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Messi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Messi is working Van Hooven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Messi landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Van Hooven is rocked!
Messi lands a couple of elbows.
Oh Van Hooven is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Van Hooven is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Messi is aware though and is defending well.
Messi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Hooven's head.
Van Hooven seems to have got his legs back now.
Messi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Messi distracts Van Hooven with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Messi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van Hooven's head.
Messi distracts Van Hooven with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Messi passes Van Hooven's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Messi prevents Van Hooven from improving his position.
Messi stops Van Hooven from getting back to his feet.
Messi slips a nice elbow through Van Hooven's hands, connecting with Van Hooven's forehead.
Messi lands with a punch from half guard.
Messi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Messi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Messi prevents Van Hooven from standing back up.
Van Hooven on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van Hooven tries to get out of the position.
Messi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Van Hooven knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Messi on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice elbow there by Messi.
Van Hooven takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Messi's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lionel Messi!
Lionel Messi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.