PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denise Kormier (ranked 4013 p4p, 4001 weight class) and Leonard Messi (ranked 0 p4p, 277 weight class). Denise Kormier has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kormier
vs
Messi

160 cm
23
145
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
145
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Denise Kormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leonard Messi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kormier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Messi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Messi is looking to advance position but Kormier won't allow it.
Kormier is looking to escape.

Messi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kormier has managed to free his arm - good work.
Messi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kormier is trying to stand back up but Messi is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kormier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Messi trying to mount his opponent but Kormier defends it.
Messi is keen to just control but Kormier is a slippery customer.
Kormier trying to control here.
Kormier regains full guard. Nicely done.
Messi won't allow Kormier to get back to his feet.
Kormier working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Messi chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Messi wants to get up but he can't break Kormier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kormier wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kormier misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Messi slaps away a takedown attempt from Kormier, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kormier moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Kormier is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Messi can't fight it off and eventually Kormier manages to take the fight to the floor. Messi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Messi is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Kormier has his hands clasped together but Messi extends and breaks Kormier's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Messi.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leonard Messi!