PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antoine Rushe (ranked 5490 p4p, 5884 weight class) and Connor Royale (ranked 564 p4p, 593 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rushe
vs
Royale

182 cm
19
180
2 - 3 - 1

175 cm
25
170
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Hot Spunk

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 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antoine Rushe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Royale!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rushe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rushe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Royale sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rushe has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Royale misses with a body shot.
Royale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Royale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Royale throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
It looked like Rushe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Royale scoring well with a low kick there.
Rushe misses with a hook.
Nice shot lands for Rushe.
Rushe misses with a low kick.
Rushe checks a low kick from Royale.
Rushe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Royale.
Royale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rushe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royale tries to bum rush Rushe with a series of wild strikes but Rushe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Royale wants to slow Rushe down by chopping away at his legs.
Royale swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rushe counters with a straight right hand.
Royale fails to land with a series of punches.
Rushe fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Royale has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Royale drives through and clinches with Rushe against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Royale.
Royale avoids a wild elbow strike from Rushe.
Royale is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rushe throws a punch but it's blocked by Royale.

Royale breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Royale fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rushe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Royale with a nice cross.
Royale avoids the body shot from Rushe.
Rushe sizes up Royale with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rushe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Royale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Royale buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Royale scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Royale throws a sloppy head kick and Rushe moves out of range easily.
Royale lands a jab to the head.
Royale lands a head kick. Rushe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Royale throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Royale on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Royale lands a nice looking body shot.

Royale has managed to clinch.
Rushe pushes off an throws an elbow but Royale leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rushe lands an elbow inside that Royale shrugs off.
Royale avoids a wild elbow strike from Rushe.
Rushe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rushe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Royale has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Royale scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rushe throws a punch but it's blocked by Royale.
Royale has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rushe seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Royale can turn it around.
Rushe throws a punch but it's blocked by Royale.
Rushe swings wildly with an uppercut but Royale uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale blocking some punches.
Royale blocks an elbow strike from Rushe.
Rushe letting Royale take a breather here.
Rushe misses with an elbow strike.

Royale manages to break the clinch.
Rushe tries to clinch up but Royale circles away and keeps his distance.
Royale unleashes a big counter combination but Rushe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Royale throws a right hand that Rushe ducks under and follows up with a left that Rushe also avoids with ease.
Royale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Royale tries a head kick but it misses.
Royale buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Royale throws a front kick aimed at Rushe's knee but Rushe avoids it well.
Rushe circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to the liver by Royale. Beautiful body shot.
Royale needs to keep his hands up - Rushe had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale keeps the fight on the outside.
Royale scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Antoine Rushe has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Royale connects with a body shot.
Royale scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Royale with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rushe.
Royale lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rushe or not.
A head punch on the inside from Rushe fails to land.
The referee calls for Royale to work.
Rushe throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Royale dodges an elbow strike from Rushe.
Royale blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Royale dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antoine Rushe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rushe staying out of range there.
Royale misses the jab.
Royale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Royale throws a nice looking combination but Rushe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Royale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Royale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Royale swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Royale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Royale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rushe misses with a looping right.
Rushe cracks Royale with an open hand slap.
Connor Royale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royale is looking to clinch.
Royale moves out of range of the leg kick from Rushe.
Rushe misses with an uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Royale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royale swings for the body but Rushe moves out of range.
Rushe moves in looking to clinch but Royale pushes him off.
Royale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rushe is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice body kick there by Royale.
Royale throws a series of punches but Rushe moves out of range.
Royale ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Royale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rushe rather than just go for the knockout.
Royale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Royale moves out of range of the body kick.
Royale moves out of range of the strikes.
Royale with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rushe to score with a decent uppercut.

Rushe tries to keep at a distance but Royale has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rushe misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royale avoids a wild elbow strike from Rushe.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Royale.
A head punch on the inside from Rushe fails to land.
Royale blocking some punches.
Rushe misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rushe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Royale's brow.
Antoine Rushe has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Royale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Royale goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Royale. Rushe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Connor Royale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Royale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Royale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Royale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rushe tries to land a leg kick but Royale saw it coming and moves away.
Royale moves out of range of the body kick from Rushe.

Royale fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rushe, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale dodges an elbow strike from Rushe.
Royale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rushe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rushe lands an elbow just above Royale 's eye.
Royale blocks an uppercut.
Royale lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Rushe fails to land.
Rushe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rushe.

Royale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rushe misses with a kick to the body.
Royale misses with a low kick.
Rushe quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Royale throws a head kick that misses.
Rushe was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Royale misses with the combination.
Royale fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rushe is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rushe connects with a crisp jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Royale.
Royale is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rushe.
A shot to the liver by Royale. Beautiful body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rushe checks a leg kick.
Rushe lands a glancing blow to the side of Royale's head.
Royale misses with a head kick.
Royale digs a good hook to Rushe's body.
Royale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rushe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rushe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Royale in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Royale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rushe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Royale lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Royale lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Royale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Royale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antoine Rushe's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Royale explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rushe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Royale has time to react.
Royale throws a nice looking combination but Rushe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rushe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Royale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rushe swinging wildly here.
Rushe throws a lazy right hand but Royale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Royale moves out of range as Rushe throws a body kick.
Rushe lands with a kick to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rushe throws a hook but Royale avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Royale throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rushe slips under a jab.
Royale dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Royale drops his hands momentarily and Rushe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royale throws a body shot but no joy.
Royale on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Royale throws a sloppy body shot
and Royale takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Royale throws a body punch but Rushe moves out of range.
Royale misses with a series of wild punches.
Rushe blocks a jab.
Rushe misses with a looping left.
Royale throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rushe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rushe misses with a left hand
and Royale counters with a left and a right that stings Rushe.
Royale connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rushe momentarily.
Rushe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rushe blocks a low kick nicely.
Royale takes a head kick and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rushe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Royale changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Royale lands a leg kick that knocks Rushe off balance momentarily.
Royale misses with a combination
and Royale takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Royale swats away the attempt to clinch by Rushe.

Rushe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Royale takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rushe pushes off an throws an elbow but Royale leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rushe working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Royale.
Rushe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Royale manages to break the clinch.
Royale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rushe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Royale.
A slapping leg kick lands for Royale.
Royale throws a series of punches but Rushe avoids them all with ease.
Rushe was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Royale avoids the head kick by Rushe.
Royale misses with a jab, cross combination.
Royale blocks a head kick by Rushe.
Royale will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Royale fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rushe, pushing him back against the cage.
Royale scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Royale.
Good body shot from Royale.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushe throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rushe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Royale's brow.
Rushe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rushe misses with some punches.

Royale breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Royale swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rushe.
Royale lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Royale.
Royale lands a nice hook to Rushe's body. Rushe takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Royale moves out of range of the strikes.
Royale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rushe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rushe throws the kick towards the body but Royale avoids it.
Rushe misses with a right hand
and Royale counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Royale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rushe.
Antoine Rushe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connor Royale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Royale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Royale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Royale 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Royale!
Connor Royale managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Conquer, into his post fight interview.