PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Al Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Connick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rossi
vs
Connick

172 cm
20
142 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

165 cm
21
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Al Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ali Connick!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connick takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rossi throws out a loose jab but Connick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Connick's sensitive parts.

Rossi has managed to clinch.
Rossi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rossi throws an elbow but it misses.
Connick tries to score a body lock takedown but Rossi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rossi lands a damaging elbow.
Rossi working Connick over with knees to the body.
Rossi tries a knee to the head but Connick blocks it.
Rossi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rossi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rossi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rossi misses with a knee strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Rossi.
Connick drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rossi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Connick moves away from the strike by Rossi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a leg kick that misses.
Rossi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rossi scoring well with a low kick there.
Rossi slaps away a takedown attempt from Connick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Al Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Connick.
Connick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
Connick doesn't manage to clinch there - Rossi circles away.
Rossi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Connick is able to avoid easily.
A head kick misses from Rossi.
Rossi misses with a head kick.

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.
Connick bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rossi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rossi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rossi cracks Connick with a good jab.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Connick saw that one coming.
Rossi tries to clinch up but Connick circles away and keeps his distance.
Rossi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Connick. That did some damage!
Rossi throws a head kick but Connick moves out of range.
Rossi throws a series of strikes that have Connick backpedaling.
Rossi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rossi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rossi tries to bum rush Connick with a series of wild strikes but Connick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rossi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Connick has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Connick and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rossi.
Rossi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Connick gets a clinch.
Connick has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rossi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A short body shot lands from Rossi as the two fighters clinch.
Connick fails to pull guard.
Rossi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rossi controlling the action here for a moment.

Connick manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Connick throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connick working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rossi has passed into half guard!

Rossi decides to return to a standing position.
Rossi throws the left hand but Connick avoids the punch easily.
Rossi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Al Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rossi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rossi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi lands a head kick. Connick smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Connick closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Rossi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rossi doesn't manage to clinch there - Connick circles away.
Rossi throws a nice head kick!

Rossi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Connick drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rossi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rossi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rossi!
Connick is trying to improve his position.
Rossi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Connick on the ground.
Connick tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connick sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Connick has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Rossi escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Rossi!
Connick is breathing heavily.
Connick is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Connick strikes from the bottom but Rossi passes into mount!
Rossi prevents Connick from getting the reversal.
Connick is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Connick has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rossi stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Rossi throws a right hand that Connick ducks under and follows up with a left that Connick also avoids with ease.
Rossi leaves Connick with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rossi delivers a nice body kick.
Rossi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rossi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Connick.
Connick drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rossi closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connick moves away from the strike by Rossi.
Connick looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rossi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connick walks into a stiff left hand from Rossi.
Connick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rossi.
An inside leg kick lands from Rossi.
Rossi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Connick. That did some damage!
Rossi throws out a loose jab but Connick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi lands a jab to the head.
Connick displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connick moves out of range as Rossi throws a body kick.
Rossi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rossi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Connick checks a low kick from Rossi.
Rossi lands a nice shot to the body.
Connick with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rossi to score with a decent uppercut.
Connick takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rossi misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi misses with a series of wild punches.
Al Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Connick fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Rossi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rossi tests Connick's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rossi.
Rossi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rossi thumps Connick with a low kick.
Connick's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rossi tries to bum rush Connick with a series of wild strikes but Connick uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Connick displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.
Connick fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rossi jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rossi has Connick up against the cage in a clinch.
Connick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Connick avoids a wild elbow strike from Rossi.
Connick dodges an elbow strike from Rossi.
Connick managing to block the knees to the body from Rossi.
Rossi is struggling to control the position.
Rossi misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rossi.
Connick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Connick tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rossi tries a knee to the head but Connick blocks it.
Rossi lands an elbow inside.

Connick has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rossi regains guard immediately.

Connick postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rossi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Connick, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi is looking to stand up but Connick won't let him.

Connick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rossi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Connick, up you get!
Al Rossi is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Connick sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi tests Connick's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rossi is looking to chop away at Connick's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connick takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rossi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rossi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rossi looks to throw the jab but Connick is out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rossi.
Rossi throws a head kick but Connick moves out of range.
Rossi wants to clinch up but Connick keeps it at a distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rossi.

Rossi rushes Connick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rossi lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi lands a right hand.
Rossi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Connick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Al Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Connick.
Rossi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rossi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Connick's brow.
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Connick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi lands a good knee to the midsection. Connick won't want to take too many of those.
Al Rossi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rossi tries a knee to the head but Connick blocks it.
Connick tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ali Connick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rossi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rossi lands an elbow just above Connick 's eye.
Rossi lands an elbow that stopped Connick in his tracks for a moment.
Rossi avoiding damage as Connick throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Rossi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rossi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Rossi!