PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mako Choliman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Messler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Mako Choliman has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mako Choliman seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Choliman
vs
Messler

170 cm
26
143 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

171 cm
26
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mako Choliman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felix Messler!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Lou da Vinci and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messler fails to land the takedown.
Messler scores with a decent looking hook.
Messler fails in his attempt to clinch.

Messler shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Choliman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Messler tries to score with some ground and pound. Choliman controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Messler working the head with strikes.
Choliman is looking for a sweep.
Choliman is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Nonprofit Vegas Elite $50 ($1000 value) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Messler wants to control but Choliman is keeping him busy.
Choliman is trying to improve his position.
Messler working the ground and pound but Choliman is defending the strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Choliman regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Choliman tries to get to full guard but Messler has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Messler passes to side control.
Choliman is not content to let Messler control the position.
Choliman is looking to regain half guard here but Messler keeps moving and retains side control.
Messler fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Messler sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Choliman is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Messler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Choliman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Choliman tries to bench press Messler off him but Messler keeps the position.
Messler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Choliman keeps working.
Messler works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Choliman is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Messler is putting a hurting on Choliman here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Messler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Choliman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Choliman is looking for a sweep.
Choliman regains half guard.
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!
Messler working Choliman over with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Messler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Choliman pushes Messler off looking to stand but Messler dives back in and keeps control.
Choliman wants to get back to full guard.
Messler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Messler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Choliman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Messler winds up and cracks Choliman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Choliman trying to control from the bottom.
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. Messler connects with a nice short shot to Choliman's temple.
Choliman gets full guard.
Messler trying to control but Choliman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choliman wants to sweep here but Messler controlling him for the moment.
Choliman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Choliman tries to get out of the position.
Messler is looking to work some ground and pound but Choliman has wrist control.
Messler distracts Choliman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Messler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Choliman's head.
Messler trying to control the position from guard on top but Choliman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Messler pushes down on Choliman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Choliman is trying to control but can't.
Messler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Choliman wants to improve his position but Messler is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choliman is working hard here to advance position.
Messler working Choliman over with strikes.
Messler thows a huge punch but Choliman dodges it nicely.
Messler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Choliman keeps working.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ground and pound from Messler.
Messler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Choliman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Messler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Messler prevents Choliman from improving his position.
Messler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Messler is looking to take a break and control but Choliman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Messler dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Messler tries to clinch but Choliman moves away

and Choliman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Messler wants to control but Choliman is keeping busy.
Messler tries to get to full guard but Choliman has control of the leg.
Messler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Choliman is working away from the top position though.
Choliman trying to control the action but Messler is working from the bottom.
Choliman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Messler is squirming around, avoiding Choliman's attempts to control the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Messler is desperately trying to improve his position but Choliman has a good base and remains in mount.
Choliman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choliman in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Choliman working Messler over with strikes here.
Messler is looking to get to half guard.
Choliman scoring with strikes but Messler is staying in there.
Choliman with the ground and pound from mount.
Messler is trying to escape the mount.
Choliman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Messler wants to hold on but Choliman pushes him away.
Choliman with shots to the head and body - Messler looks very uncomfortable down there.
Messler tries to hold on but Choliman pushes him away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Choliman wants to control the pace but Messler is squirming around nicely.
Messler regains half guard.
Messler is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messler tries to get to full guard but Choliman has control of the leg.
Choliman controlling the action here.
Choliman prevents Messler from standing back up.
Choliman working Messler over with strikes.
Choliman is controlling the pace.
Felix Messler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Choliman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Choliman in particular looking to stall.

Messler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Choliman pulls his head out easily.
Choliman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choliman trying to control from half guard but Messler is working away.
Still in half guard, Choliman seems content to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Choliman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messler keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mako Choliman just wasn't active enough.
Messler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Messler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Choliman sprawls well. Choliman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Messler gets slowly back to his feet.
Messler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Choliman defends it nicely.
Messler shoots in for a takedown but Choliman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mako Choliman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Messler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Messler does no damage.
Felix Messler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messler tries to clinch but Choliman moves out of range.
Messler throws a right hand that Choliman ducks under and follows up with a left that Choliman also avoids with ease.
Choliman walks into a left hand.
Messler wants to clinch.
Messler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messler lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mako Choliman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Choliman dives in and grabs Messler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Messler pushes down on Choliman's head and hops out.
Messler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Choliman circles away.
Messler goes for a double leg but Choliman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Choliman continues to drive forward.
Messler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Choliman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mako Choliman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Messler.
Messler's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Messler duly obliges.
Messler wants to clinch

and Choliman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Messler won't be happy with that.
Messler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Choliman creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Messler is looking for a sweep.
Messler takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Choliman wants to control but Messler is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messler is looking to regain half guard here but Choliman keeps moving and retains side control.
Messler takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Choliman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messler keeps working.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Choliman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messler keeps working.
Choliman controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Choliman.
Choliman controlling from side mount.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Choliman lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choliman prevents Messler from escaping the position.
Messler wants to control but Choliman postures up.
Messler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Choliman lands an elbow.
Messler is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes there by Choliman.
Choliman trying to control the action but Messler is working from the bottom.
Messler is trying to get back to half guard.
Messler is still trying to improve position.
Choliman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Choliman working the ground and pound.
Messler pushes Choliman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Choliman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choliman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Messler's face as Choliman controls the position.
Choliman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Choliman lands a nice forearm strike.
Choliman trying to control the position but Messler is working away.
Choliman taking a breather here.
Choliman is looking to take a break and control but Messler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messler is trying to get back to half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Mako Choliman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Messler tries to clinch but Choliman moves away

and Choliman counters by moving into the clinch.

Choliman jumps into guard, dragging Messler to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Messler working some strikes from top position.
Choliman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Choliman is trying to keep Messler in close.
Messler stopping the sweep attempt from Choliman.
Choliman is pulling down on Messler's head to control his posture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Choliman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mako Choliman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Choliman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mako Choliman!