PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Rooney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rooney
vs
Pearson

191 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Rooney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jay Pearson !
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rooney bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rooney trying to control the position but Pearson is working away.
Pearson is looking for a sweep.
Rooney content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Rooney passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pearson !
Rooney tries to control but Pearson wriggling away.
Pearson gets back to half guard.
Pearson is looking to control Rooney's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pearson avoid being mounted?
Rooney is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Pearson looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rooney prevents Pearson from improving his position.
Pearson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rooney takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pearson wants to control but Rooney is keeping busy.
Rooney tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pearson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pearson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rooney throws a series of strikes that have Pearson backpedaling.

It looks like Jay Pearson has been cut.
Pearson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rooney throws a half hearted mid kick.

Rooney closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pearson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rooney is breathing heavily.
Pearson is trying to control the position but Rooney postures up.
Pearson wants to stand up but Rooney is controlling him.

Rooney stands up and waves to Pearson to follow him.

Rooney decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pearson wants to improve his position but Rooney is controlling well.
Rooney slows the pace down in half guard.
Rooney will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson gets back to full guard.

Pearson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rooney doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rooney manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rooney pushing down on Pearson 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rooney is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pearson is just riding it out for now. Rooney eventually gives up the hold.
Pearson trying to control here.
Rooney is looking to advance position but Pearson won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson is trying to control but can't.
Pearson has a hand on Rooney's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rooney takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Pearson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rooney controlling his opponent.
Rooney trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rooney looking to finish Pearson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pearson !
Pearson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Rooney looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Rooney dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Pearson 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rooney looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rooney throws a head kick but Pearson moves out of range.

Rooney shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rooney was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pearson can't escape the position.
Pearson tries to hold on but Rooney pushes him away.
Pearson is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pearson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pearson tries to reverse the position but Rooney maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson tries to hold on but Rooney postures up.
Pearson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rooney has a good base and remains in mount.
Rooney controlling the position easily from mount.
Pearson tries to hold on but Rooney pushes him away.
Rooney is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rooney lands a big elbow.
Rooney with a couple of short strikes.
Pearson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rooney get's back to his feet.
Jay Pearson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Pearson . No joy for Rooney on that attempt.
Pearson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rooney is looking to clinch.

Rooney feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Rooney decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rooney closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pearson is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rooney wants to pass to mount but Pearson is defending the position.
Rooney content to control rather than advance.
Pearson trying to control but Rooney postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Pearson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rooney pulls his head out easily.
Pearson tries to roll over but Rooney keeps him under control.
Rooney tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pearson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pearson wants to clinch but Rooney slips to the side

and Rooney counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Rooney is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pearson is just riding it out for now. Rooney eventually gives up the hold.

Pearson looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney wants to stand but Pearson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rooney seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rooney working over Pearson with some ground and pound. Pearson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rooney trying to control the pace.
Rooney seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Pearson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rooney controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Rooney dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Pearson 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rooney gets a clinch.
Rooney prevents the takedown attempt.

Rooney jumps into guard, dragging Pearson to the mat.
Pearson wants to pass the guard but Rooney is keeping the position.
Pearson wants to stand and escape but instead Rooney has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rooney stopping the sweep attempt from Pearson .
Pearson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rooney controls the pace.
Rooney trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rooney wants to stand but Pearson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pearson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pearson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rooney trying to control but Pearson is working from the bottom.
Rooney slips nicely into half guard.
Pearson is looking for a sweep. Rooney is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rooney takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rooney is thwarting Pearson 's attempts to control the position.
Rooney tries to pass to full mount but Pearson defends it.
Pearson trying to get back to full guard but Rooney takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pearson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rooney sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rooney trying to control but Pearson is having none of it.
Pearson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rooney looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rooney trying to control but Pearson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson tries to lock up and control but Rooney gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pearson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pearson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rooney content just to control the position here.

Rooney working for a guillotine from mount but Pearson is in no mood to give up.

Rooney has control of Pearson 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Pearson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Jay Pearson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pearson tries to lock up and control but Rooney gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rooney lands a heavy elbow.
Pearson is working to get back to half guard.
Rooney controlling the pace for now.
Pearson is trying to escape the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rooney lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Rooney showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rooney has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Rooney!