PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Ackley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Conforti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Ackley looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Ackley
vs
Conforti

195 cm
21
221 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
28
240 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Ackley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Conforti!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ackley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ackley has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Bear's Den ($300) in the buildup to the fight.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Horrible takedown attempt by Ackley or perhaps it was just good defense by Conforti, which made it look bad.
Ackley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Conforti misses with a few strikes there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ackley is defended easily by Conforti.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Ackley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conforti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conforti misses with the combination.
Ackley tries to counter with a takedown but Conforti is quick to defend against it.
Conforti throws a series of punches but Ackley moves out of range.

Ackley rushes Conforti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Conforti tries to break the clinch but Ackley is controlling the position.
Ackley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conforti wants to get back to striking at distance but Ackley won't allow it.

Ackley breaks the clinch.

Ackley takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conforti lands an uppercut.
Ackley stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ackley is looking for a takedown.
Ackley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Conforti wants to break free but Ackley has control.
Conforti is looking to break free of the clinch but Ackley has double underhooks.

Ackley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Conforti misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conforti fails to land with a series of punches.
Ackley is looking to counter the offense by Conforti and move into the clinch.
Conforti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Conforti wants it to stay on the feet.
Conforti throws a series of punches but Ackley avoids them all with ease.

Ackley clinches with his opponent.
Ackley tries to pull guard but Conforti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ackley looking to slow down the pace here.
Conforti pushes Ackley back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conforti is looking to break free of the clinch but Ackley has double underhooks.
Ackley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Conforti walks away with a smile on his face. Ackley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Conforti moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ackley looks for the body kick but Conforti saw that one coming.
Conforti feints the counter takedown.

Ackley closes the distance and clinches.
Ackley unloads a knee to the mid-section. Conforti lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Ackley manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice sprawl there from Conforti as Ackley shoots in.
Conforti tries to bum rush Ackley with a series of wild strikes but Ackley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Conforti tries to get set, Ackley tries to push him back and clinch up but Conforti manages to avoid the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Conforti dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Ackley with that takedown attempt.
Conforti unleashes a big counter combination but Ackley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A punch combination from Conforti misses.

Ackley clinches up against the cage.
Conforti wants to break free but Ackley has control.

Ackley breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conforti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ackley.
Ackley shoots for a double leg takedown but Conforti sprawls well. He's pushed Ackley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Conforti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Conforti misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackley is looking to clinch.
Ackley tries to clinch but Conforti moves out of range.
Conforti tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Conforti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ackley.
Conforti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ackley shoots in for a takedown but Conforti shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Conforti with the counter takedown but Ackley avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Ackley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ackley with a lazy takedown attempt
and Conforti counters with a three punch combo that has Ackley backing up. Ackley nods at Conforti to acknowledge the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Conforti. Those never looked like landing.
Ackley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Conforti's waist but Conforti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ackley off to one side.
Jason Ackley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conforti misses with a series of wild punches.
Ackley misses with a takedown attempt
and Conforti counters with a left and a right that stings Ackley.
Ackley throws a series of punches but Conforti moves out of range.
Conforti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ackley.
Michael Conforti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conforti keeps the fight on the outside.
Ackley throws a head kick but Conforti moves out of range.
Conforti tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ackley has a takedown stuffed.
Michael Conforti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ackley feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Conforti's calf.

Conforti gets tackled into the cage by Ackley. Ackley maintains the clinch.

Ackley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conforti fails to land with a series of punches.
Ackley darts in looking for a takedown but Conforti gets double underhooks and turns Ackley into the cage.
Conforti throws a series of punches but Ackley avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ackley lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Ackley closes the distance and clinches.

Ackley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jason Ackley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conforti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ackley misses with a takedown

and Conforti counters by clinching up.
Conforti leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Conforti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Conforti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Conforti gets tackled into the cage by Ackley. Ackley maintains the clinch.
Ackley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Conforti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ackley is looking for a takedown.
Conforti is trying to break the clinch but Ackley is controlling him.
Ackley keeps control of Conforti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ackley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ackley misses with a hook to the ribs.

Conforti manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ackley is defended easily by Conforti.
As Ackley backs off Conforti throws a huge counter combo but Ackley manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Ackley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conforti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Conforti unleashes a big counter combination but Ackley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Conforti misses with a two punch combination.
Ackley tries to clinch up.
Ackley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Conforti looks to land a combination but Ackley avoids it well.
Ackley doesn't manage to clinch there - Conforti circles away.
Conforti tries to counter by closing the distance.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Conforti circles away.
Conforti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ackley misses with a takedown

and Conforti counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Conforti.
Conforti manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ackley wants a takedown.
Conforti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conforti is trying to force a seperation but Ackley has the dominant position.
Ackley jumps guard but Conforti stands there with Ackley around his waist. Ackley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ackley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ackley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Conforti slips a jab and a cross from Ackley.
Conforti throws a nice looking combination but Ackley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Conforti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ackley.
Ackley ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ackley with a poor takedown

and Conforti counters by clinching up.

Ackley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Conforti throws a nice looking combination but Ackley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ackley misses with a takedown attempt - Conforti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Conforti slaps away a takedown attempt from Ackley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Conforti is looking for the big counter here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conforti throws a series of punches but Ackley avoids them all with ease.
Jason Ackley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Conforti is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Conforti avoids the head kick by Ackley.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Conforti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Conforti winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Conforti!