PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zee Zeezeeloo (ranked 5179 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rooney (ranked 5265 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.

Zeezeeloo
vs
Rooney

188 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zee Zeezeeloo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe Rooney!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeezeeloo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rooney swivels and escapes.
Rooney keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rooney stalling the fight.
Rooney tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zeezeeloo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zeezeeloo is trying to drag Rooney to the mat but Rooney just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zee Zeezeeloo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Come on Rooney - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rooney looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney looking for a takedown.
Rooney is trying to force a seperation but Zeezeeloo has the dominant position.
Rooney pressing his opponent against the cage.

Zeezeeloo manages to pull guard.
Rooney sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zeezeeloo wants to stand but Rooney is controlling the position.
Zeezeeloo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zeezeeloo tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rooney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rooney trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeezeeloo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zeezeeloo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rooney on the ground.
Rooney stops Zeezeeloo from standing up.
Rooney not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zeezeeloo keeping full guard, as Rooney tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice takedown defense from Rooney. No joy for Zeezeeloo on that attempt.
Zeezeeloo stuffs the takedown.
Rooney avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zeezeeloo drives through with a takedown into Rooney's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rooney working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zeezeeloo.
Zeezeeloo stopping the sweep attempt from Rooney.
Zeezeeloo throwing strikes from guard but Rooney blocks nicely.
Rooney lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zeezeeloo keeping moving, preventing Rooney from controlling successfully.
Rooney looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zeezeeloo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rooney asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Rooney will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zeezeeloo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zeezeeloo has Rooney up against the cage in a clinch.
Rooney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rooney tries to pull guard but Zeezeeloo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zeezeeloo wants to take the fight to the mat but Rooney manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rooney wants to get back to striking at distance but Zeezeeloo won't allow it.
Rooney changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zeezeeloo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zee Zeezeeloo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeezeeloo shoots for a double leg takedown but Rooney sprawls well. He's pushed Zeezeeloo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rooney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zeezeeloo defends it nicely.
Zee Zeezeeloo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Rooney.

Zeezeeloo gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zeezeeloo.
Zeezeeloo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rooney defending well though.
Zeezeeloo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zeezeeloo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zeezeeloo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zeezeeloo prevents Rooney from improving his position.
Zeezeeloo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zeezeeloo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeezeeloo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zeezeeloo throwing shots but Rooney is blocking nicely.
Zeezeeloo winds up and cracks Rooney with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeezeeloo prevents Rooney from improving his position.
Zeezeeloo working the head and body with strikes.
Rooney punching from the bottom.
Zeezeeloo winds up and cracks Rooney with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Zeezeeloo there.

Rooney pushes Zeezeeloo off and gets back to his feet.
Rooney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zeezeeloo defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney tries to clinch up.
Rooney avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zeezeeloo.
Zeezeeloo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rooney swivels and escapes.
Zeezeeloo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rooney can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Rooney. No joy for Zeezeeloo on that attempt.
Rooney fails with the takedown.

Rooney closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rooney's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeezeeloo looking for a takedown.

Rooney jumps into guard, dragging Zeezeeloo to the mat.
Zeezeeloo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zeezeeloo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zeezeeloo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rooney's guard.
Rooney is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zeezeeloo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zeezeeloo's back!

Zeezeeloo showing good submission defense here.

Zeezeeloo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rooney gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zee Zeezeeloo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zeezeeloo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A nice combination there by Zeezeeloo.
Good exchange - Rooney coming out on top.
Rooney changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zeezeeloo tries to avoid it but Rooney manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zeezeeloo to the ground. Zeezeeloo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rooney shoots for a double leg takedown but Zeezeeloo sprawls well. He's pushed Rooney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rooney slaps away a takedown attempt from Zeezeeloo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rooney tries to clinch but Zeezeeloo moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeezeeloo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zeezeeloo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zeezeeloo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zeezeeloo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rooney defends well and Zeezeeloo ends up having to push Rooney into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zee Zeezeeloo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Rooney with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rooney is defended easily by Zeezeeloo.
It looked like Zeezeeloo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rooney tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zeezeeloo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rooney changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zeezeeloo tries to avoid it but Rooney manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zeezeeloo to the ground. Zeezeeloo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zeezeeloo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rooney sprawls and moves away.

Zeezeeloo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Zeezeeloo turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zeezeeloo manages to end up in side control.
Zeezeeloo working the ground and pound but Rooney is defending the strikes.
Rooney sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Zeezeeloo decides to stand up.
Rooney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zeezeeloo defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Zeezeeloo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zeezeeloo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zeezeeloo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rooney but Rooney pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rooney rushes Zeezeeloo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Zeezeeloo is trying to trip Rooney. He has hold of a leg but Rooney is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zeezeeloo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Rooney has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Zeezeeloo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Zeezeeloo looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rooney gets control of Zeezeeloo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rooney will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Zeezeeloo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rooney is trying to control the position but Zeezeeloo postures up.

Rooney uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zeezeeloo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Rooney closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rooney lands with a left to the head.
Rooney misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zeezeeloo.
Rooney tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zeezeeloo wants to take the fight to the mat but Rooney manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zeezeeloo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zeezeeloo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rooney prevents it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zeezeeloo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rooney is defending well.
A frustrated look appears on Rooney's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zee Zeezeeloo.
I think Zeezeeloo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zee Zeezeeloo!