PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joel Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rheinhold Messener (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gonzalez comes to the cage accompanied by Cyanide by Metallica. 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.

Gonzalez
vs
Messener

150 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

174 cm
20
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joel Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rheinhold Messener!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messener shoots in for a takedown but Gonzalez shows good takedown defense.

Gonzalez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gonzalez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messener keeps working.
Gonzalez thows a huge punch but Messener dodges it nicely.
Gonzalez tries to pass to full mount but Messener defends it.
Gonzalez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gonzalez trying to control but Messener is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Gonzalez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzalez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Messener can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Gonzalez trying to control but Messener is having none of it.

Gonzalez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Messener can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Messener can't escape the position.
Messener is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Messener is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Messener is trying desperately to improve position.

Gonzalez looking for a guillotine from mount but Messener is having none of it.
Messener is wriggling around trying to escape.
Messener slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Messener is trying to control but can't.
Gonzalez wants to pass to mount but Messener is defending the position.
Messener looks gassed!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gonzalez is trying to control the action in half guard but Messener is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gonzalez is trying to work for a kimura but Messener is defending well.
Gonzalez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messener gets full guard.
Messener keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Messener tries to clinch there but Gonzalez circles away.
Messener misses with a takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a single leg into guard. Messener didn't expect that.
Gonzalez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messener is keeping the position for now.
Gonzalez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gonzalez tries to free his leg and advance position but Messener is retaining full guard.
Messener is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Messener is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gonzalez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gonzalez pushing down on Messener's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nice strikes from Gonzalez there.
Messener is staying active underneath Gonzalez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Messener is in trouble now - Gonzalez has advanced to mount!
Gonzalez controlling the pace for now.
Gonzalez landing strikes from the mount and Messener is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gonzalez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gonzalez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Messener is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gonzalez trying to control the action but Messener is working from the bottom.

Gonzalez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gonzalez just content to control the position.
Gonzalez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messener is trying to get back to half guard.
Messener is breathing heavily.
Messener is not content to let Gonzalez control the position.

Gonzalez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gonzalez cracks Messener with a big elbow.
Messener looks to move to half guard but instead Gonzalez has passed into mount! Damn!
Messener keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gonzalez scoring with strikes but Messener is staying in there.
Messener tries to improve his position but instead Gonzalez has taken his back!

Gonzalez is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Messener defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Joel Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Messener trying to control but not successfully.

Gonzalez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Messener has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Messener showing good submission defense here.
Gonzalez trying to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is really struggling to control Messener but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Messener is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Gonzalez is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Messener won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Gonzalez off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joel Gonzalez!