Last week’s CW 189 may have been shining a spotlight on the new wave of Italian MMA, but the card’s Irish contingent did their fair share to steal the limelight. Three athletes representing the length and breadth of the Emerald Isle would leave the Eternal City with their hands raised, and the entire contingent got it done in emphatic fashion.
Gary Rooney Makes a Big Impression
They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression; thankfully that’s not something Gary Rooney will have to worry about following one of the most spectacular Cage Warriors debuts in recent memory on Saturday night’s prelims.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt in his mid-20’s (the youngest to have the honour bestowed upon him by coach John Kavanagh), Rooney’s opponent Enrico Di Gangi surely knew what the young Dubliner’s intentions were heading into the their bout…that doesn’t mean he was any closer to avoiding them.
Rooney dominated when the fight hit the canvas, hopping onto a dynamic armbar for the finish with plenty of time remaining on the clock in the first round.
Paddy McCorry Smokes the Opposition
To say that Paddy McCorry has had a rollercoaster couple of weeks would be quite the understatement. All primed and ready to compete against Ghassan Abdenabi in Dublin at the end of April, the Irishman was devastated to learn that his opponent had been withdrawn on medical grounds just as he was about to get his hands wrapped.
CW’s strength of schedule once again saved the day, and McCorry was rebooked just a couple of weeks later, this time against promotional newcomer Shuki Farage.
And while the Israeli stood strong in the face of a relentless barrage of punishment, ultimately it was one way traffic for the duration and that was reflected on the judges’ scorecards.
It was another strong showing for the surging middleweight; a crack at Cage Warriors gold, or a shot on this Summer’s Contender Series could be within touching distance.
Ryan Shelley Returns to Form
Carrying a turbulent run of form into CW 189’s co-main event – where he was pencilled-in to face hometown hero Simone D’Anna in his opponent’s own back yard – it’s probably fair to say that Ryan Shelley felt like the deck was stacked against him.
Things were fairly nip-and-tuck for the duration of their clash; D’Anna was able to score multiple takedowns, but each time the Team KF man would deftly return to his feet.
With the clock ticking down in the second round, Shelley finally found his way to ‘The Tiger’s back; clamping down tight on a rear-naked choke to remind the world that he’s much more than just a striker, and that he remains a serious problem for anyone in the featherweight division.
With a return to Dublin for CW 194 just months away, keep it locked to Cage Warriors for the next chapter of the Irish MMA revolution!