PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tipene Rawhiti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dallas Rooney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rawhiti
vs
Rooney

186 cm
18
266 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
19
240 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tipene Rawhiti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dallas Rooney!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rooney throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rawhiti blocks a head kick by Rooney.
Rooney is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Rooney.

Rawhiti closes the distance and clinches.

Rawhiti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rawhiti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA New York in the buildup to the fight.

Rawhiti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rawhiti successfully pulls guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rawhiti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rooney being controlled here momentarily.

Rawhiti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rooney gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney is looking to stand up but Rawhiti won't let him.
Rawhiti has his hands on Rooney's head, controlling the position.
Rawhiti is breathing heavily.
Rawhiti looking for a sweep. Not yet Rawhiti, not yet.
Rooney tries to stand but Rawhiti is controlling from the bottom.
Rooney is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rawhiti pulls Rooney in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tipene Rawhiti just wasn't active enough.
Rooney dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rooney has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rawhiti is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rooney fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rooney throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick by Rooney misses

and Rawhiti counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rooney's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rawhiti is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rawhiti could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tipene Rawhiti just wasn't active enough.
Rooney misses with a double jab
and Rawhiti counters with a nice leg kick.

Rawhiti moves into the clinch.
Rooney is trying to force a seperation but Rawhiti has the dominant position.
Rawhiti can't get the takedown.
Rawhiti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rooney backwards.

Rawhiti wants the takedown. Rooney is fighting it off but Rawhiti persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rooney's guard against the cage.
Rawhiti wants to stand but Rooney has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rawhiti wants to control from the top but Rooney keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tipene Rawhiti.
Rooney scores with a nice strike.
Rooney will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rooney fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rawhiti changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rooney looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rawhiti thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rooney tries to escape but Rawhiti is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tipene Rawhiti dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rooney misses the jab.
Rooney throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rooney closes the distance and clinches.
Rawhiti prevents Rooney from breaking the clinch.

Rawhiti manages to pull guard.
Rooney tries to stand but Rawhiti is controlling from the bottom.
Rawhiti pulls Rooney in close to prevent any damage.
Rooney is looking to stand up but Rawhiti won't let him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Rawhiti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rooney gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney tries to stand but Rawhiti is controlling from the bottom.
Rawhiti on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rawhiti tries to get out of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rawhiti 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.
Rawhiti slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tipene Rawhiti.
Rawhiti wants to clinch up but Rooney keeps it at a distance.
Rooney throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rooney wants to clinch up but Rawhiti keeps it at a distance.
Rawhiti wants to clinch
and Rooney counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Rawhiti closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rooney quickly recovers to half guard.
Rawhiti content to control rather than advance.
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 is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tipene Rawhiti.
Rooney swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rawhiti decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rooney's guard.
Rawhiti controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tipene Rawhiti just wasn't active enough.
Rooney throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rawhiti shoots in looking for a takedown but Rooney manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rawhiti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rooney lands a nice shot that snaps Rawhiti's head back.
Rooney looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rooney misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Rawhiti counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rawhiti working some strikes from top position.
Rawhiti pushing down on Rooney's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rawhiti seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rawhiti is keen to just control but Rooney is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rooney really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rawhiti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tipene Rawhiti.
Rooney misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tipene Rawhiti dominated that second round.
That's time! Rawhiti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rawhiti shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rooney manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rooney is looking to stand up but Rawhiti isn't so interested in that idea.
Rawhiti works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tipene Rawhiti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rawhiti with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tipene Rawhiti wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rooney misses the shot to the body.
Rooney scores with a body shot.
Rooney lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rawhiti circles away quickly and effectively.
Rooney moves out of range of the body kick.
Rawhiti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rooney swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rooney lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rawhiti circles away quickly and effectively.
Tipene Rawhiti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Rawhiti misses.
Horrible takedown by Rawhiti or perhaps it was just good defense by Rooney which made him look bad.
Dallas Rooney is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rooney swinging wildly here.
Rooney will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Rawhiti gets a takedown into half guard.
Rawhiti performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tipene Rawhiti has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rawhiti takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rawhiti dodges the punch combination from Rooney.
Rooney fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rooney misses with the combination.
Rawhiti lands a glancing blow to the side of Rooney's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawhiti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dallas Rooney seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rawhiti takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rooney circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rawhiti fails to land the takedown.
Rawhiti moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A shot to the liver by Rooney. Beautiful body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rooney.

Rooney gets a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rawhiti has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rooney avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tipene Rawhiti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rooney is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dallas Rooney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tipene Rawhiti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch on the inside from Rooney fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tipene Rawhiti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rawhiti, 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tipene Rawhiti!