PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evan Rooney (ranked 4138 p4p, 425 weight class) and Adriano Conte (ranked 3046 p4p, 327 weight class). Conte is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Giuseppe Verdi - Requiem. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rooney
vs
Conte

180 cm
21
177 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Evan Rooney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Adriano Conte!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conte moves in looking to clinch but Rooney pushes him off.
Rooney throws a quick counter kick to the body but Conte avoids it.
Conte takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice shot by Conte.
Conte lands a jab to the nose.
Rooney takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rooney goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Conte misses with a body shot.
Rooney tries a head kick but it misses.
As Rooney backs off Conte throws a huge counter combo but Rooney manages to avoid it all.
Rooney throws a head kick that misses.
Rooney avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rooney throws a counter high kick but Conte was just alert enough to avoid it.
Conte throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Conte.
Conte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rooney.
Conte throws out a loose jab but Rooney uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conte misses with a double jab
and Rooney counters with a nice low kick that buckles Conte's knee momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Conte misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Conte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Conte throws a hook but Rooney blocks it.
Rooney appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rooney has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gorilla Warfare Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Rooney keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Conte avoids the head kick by Rooney.
Rooney takes one on the button.
Conte fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Conte misses with a looping right.
Rooney looks to score with a jab to the body but Conte is just out of range.
Conte blocks a head kick by Rooney.
Conte misses the shot to the body.
Rooney throws a counter high kick but Conte was just alert enough to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Rooney.
Conte throws a big shot that misses.
Conte misses with a hook.
Conte throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rooney on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rooney connects with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Conte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Conte throws a lazy right hand but Rooney sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Conte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Conte throws a big shot that misses.
Rooney steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Conte.
Conte blocks the body kick.
Rooney tries a head kick but it misses.
Rooney throws the kick towards the body but Conte avoids it.
Conte might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Conte moves into range and clinches up with Rooney.
Conte working aggressively here.

Rooney breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rooney throws a low kick, looking for Conte's leg but Conte calmly moves out of range.
Conte digs a good hook to Rooney's body.
Rooney walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Conte throws a hook but Rooney blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conte lands with a cross.
Rooney avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rooney throws a quick counter kick to the body but Conte avoids it.
Conte throws an overhand right that lands on Rooney's shoulder, as Rooney tries to avoid the shot.
Rooney misses with a body shot.
Rooney walks into a stiff left hand from Conte.
Conte misses with a straight left.
Rooney throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Conte swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Conte connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Conte finds it's way through Rooney's defenses.

Conte moves into range and clinches up with Rooney.

Rooney breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rooney misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Conte darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
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!
Conte blocks a head kick by Rooney.
Conte jabs Rooney right on the nose. Rooney blinks but takes it well.
Rooney takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Conte, as that shot connected.

Rooney is rocked!
Rooney moves away from the strike by Conte.
The fighters circling - Conte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rooney thinks about countering with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Rooney.
Conte tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rooney misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rooney is looking to wear down Conte with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rooney tries to land a front kick but Conte steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rooney ducks under a wild hook from Conte.
Conte scores with a jab to the body.
Rooney ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rooney drops his hands momentarily and Conte takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Conte is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rooney had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Rooney ducks under a wild hook from Conte.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rooney lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rooney takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Conte dominated that round.
That's time! Rooney's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Conte misses with the combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rooney.
Rooney takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Conte misses with a double jab.
And Rooney counters with a quick kick to the body but Conte blocks it.
Both fighters circling a little - Rooney finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Conte throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rooney on the side of the head.
Conte throws a right and a left that Rooney avoids nicely.
Conte throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rooney scores with a head kick. Conte tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rooney plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conte throws the left hand but Rooney avoids the punch easily.
Conte throws a right hand that misses
and Rooney counters with a nice low kick that buckles Conte's knee momentarily.
Rooney takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Conte moves out of range of the body kick from Rooney.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney keeps the fight on the outside.
A big left from Conte misses.
Conte throws a hook but Rooney avoids it easily.
Rooney defending well as Conte loads up on a big left hand.
Conte misses with a wild body shot.
Conte scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rooney misses with a kick to the body.
Conte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Conte will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rooney looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Conte looks to clinch
and Rooney counters with a big head kick but Conte shrugs it off.
Conte has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rooney.
Conte throws a looping overhand right but Rooney ducks down to avoid it.
Rooney thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rooney looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Conte just misses with a punch to the body.
Conte swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rooney.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conte's corner calls for a 1-2. Conte obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rooney has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Conte finds it's way round the side to connect with Rooney's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conte lands a head shot.
Conte loads up on a big right hand but Rooney slips the punch.
Rooney throws a quick counter kick to the body but Conte avoids it.
Conte connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rooney takes a swing at Conte's ribcage but misses.
Conte now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rooney ducks under a wild hook from Conte.
Some wild striking there from Conte.
Rooney is looking to counter with head kicks.
Adriano Conte seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Conte throws a right and a left that Rooney avoids nicely.
Conte throws a right hand that Rooney ducks under and follows up with a left that Rooney also avoids with ease.
As Conte backs away, Rooney returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Conte throws a lazy right hand but Rooney sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Conte avoids the head kick by Rooney.
A swing and a miss from Conte.
Conte lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conte blocks a head kick by Rooney.
Conte cracks Rooney with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rooney throws a body kick that misses
letting Conte counter with a right hand.
Crunch! Rooney slams his shin into Conte's torso.

Conte has taken the fight to the clinch.
Conte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Conte working aggressively here.
Conte lands with a short shot to the head.
Oh Rooney is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Conte gets control of Rooney's arms and successfully pulls guard. Conte will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rooney seems to have got his legs back now.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Conte is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rooney postures up.
Conte manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rooney manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Conte has gone for a leg lock! Rooney slips out almost immediately though and dives into Conte's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Conte tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Conte is looking for a triangle but Rooney pushes his legs off easily.

Conte is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Conte looking for a sweep. Not yet Conte, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Conte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rooney scores with a leg kick.
Rooney ducks under a wild hook from Conte.
Conte rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rooney moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rooney misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Conte.
Conte cracks Rooney with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A cross from Conte lands.
Rooney misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Conte has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rooney.
Rooney looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Conte throws a big shot that misses.
Rooney looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conte missing with a left hand there. Rooney was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Conte avoids the head kick by Rooney.
Conte is looking for the big counter here.
Conte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rooney sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Conte connects with a jab.
Rooney throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Conte looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Conte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rooney looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rooney closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Conte forces Rooney back against the cage and clinches.
Rooney is trying to break free.
Rooney is trying to break the clinch but Conte is controlling him.
Rooney blocking some punches.
Conte is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rooney to keep the fight standing.
Conte jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rooney walks away with a smile on his face. Conte gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rooney drops his hands momentarily and Conte takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rooney connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rooney walks into a stiff left hand from Conte.
Nice defenses there by Rooney.
Rooney takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Conte moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Conte throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Rooney.
Rooney takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A punch lands to the side of Rooney 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rooney tries to land a front kick but Conte steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Conte moves into the clinch.
Conte tries to work over Rooney's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Conte lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rooney backwards.
Conte misses with some punches.
Conte swings wildly with an uppercut but Rooney uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conte fails to pull guard.
Evan Rooney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adriano Conte.
Conte has a couple of punches blocked by Rooney.
Conte tries a body shot but Rooney blocks it.
Conte tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rooney pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conte throws a body punch but Rooney moves out of range.
Conte scores with a nice strike.
Conte closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rooney takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Conte tries to clinch but Rooney moves out of range.
Rooney keeps Conte at a distance using the push kick.
Conte checks the leg kick.
Adriano Conte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rooney looks for the body kick but Conte saw that one coming.
Conte bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rooney's head.
Rooney throws a sloppy head kick
letting Conte counter with a right hand.
Conte works the jab nicely.
Rooney goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
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!
Rooney avoids the body shot from Conte.
Rooney keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Conte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rooney uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Conte.
Conte fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rooney on the side of the head.
Conte lands with an uppercut that bounces Rooney off the cage and back into range.
Rooney moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice uppercut lands for Conte. That snapped Rooney's head back.
Rooney walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Conte misses with an uppercut.
A punch lands to the side of Rooney 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Conte avoids the head kick by Rooney.
Rooney with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Conte to score with a decent uppercut.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rooney.
Rooney tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Evan Rooney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conte lands with a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adriano Conte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Conte has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Adriano Conte!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Adriano Conte!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Adriano Conte!

Adriano Conte wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Adriano Conte thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.