PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brian Blessed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Ellagrande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blessed
vs
Ellagrande

175 cm
19
181 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

Amber Swan CBK

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Blessed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Ellagrande!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellagrande shoots in and drives through. Blessed sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ellagrande is defended easily by Blessed.
Ellagrande scores with a one two! Blessed had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Blessed closes the distance and clinches.
Ellagrande lands an elbow just above Blessed 's eye.

It looks like Brian Blessed has been cut.

Ellagrande breaks from the clinch.

Ellagrande clinches.
Blessed tries to break free but Ellagrande pushes him back against the cage.
Ellagrande tries to stall but Blessed uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ellagrande drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blessed pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Ellagrande.
Blessed throws a series of punches but Ellagrande avoids them all with ease.
Blessed swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ellagrande counters with a good, hard body kick but Blessed shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellagrande closes the distance but Blessed moves to the side
and Blessed counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blessed avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blessed misses with a double jab
and Ellagrande counters with a nice leg kick.
Blessed throws a nice looking combination but Ellagrande bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blessed swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ellagrande counters with a nice low kick that buckles Blessed's knee momentarily.
Ellagrande shoots in but Blessed avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ellagrande shoots for a takedown but Blessed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blessed throws a nice looking combination but Ellagrande bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ellagrande closes the distance and pushes Blessed back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellagrande stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ellagrande lands an elbow that stopped Blessed in his tracks for a moment.
Ellagrande lands a knee to the body.
Ellagrande tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ellagrande landing knees to the body.
Blessed is breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Ellagrande.

Ellagrande breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brian Blessed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Ellagrande with that takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blessed looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brandon Ellagrande seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ellagrande dodges the punch combination from Blessed.
Ellagrande closes the distance but Blessed moves to the side
and Blessed counters with a two punch combo.

Ellagrande changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blessed looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blessed wants to control but Ellagrande postures up.
Ellagrande throws an elbow but Blessed slips to the side and avoids it well.

Ellagrande working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Blessed is looking to reverse the position.
Blessed on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blessed tries to get out of the position.
Ellagrande is looking to take a break and control but Blessed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ellagrande laying and praying for a moment but Blessed takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ellagrande with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blessed wants to control but Ellagrande is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Ellagrande dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Blessed's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blessed circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ellagrande takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Ellagrande closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellagrande takes a shot to the head.
Blessed is looking to break free of the clinch but Ellagrande has double underhooks.
Blessed is trying to break free.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ellagrande is trying to drag Blessed to the mat but Blessed just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Blessed is trying to break the clinch but Ellagrande has him pressed against the cage.
Ellagrande tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ellagrande misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Blessed.
Blessed blocks an elbow strike.
Ellagrande unloads a knee to the mid-section. Blessed lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ellagrande lands an elbow inside.
Ellagrande tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blessed gets underhooks to prevent Ellagrande's takedown attempt.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Ellagrande.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellagrande prevents Blessed from breaking the clinch.
Blessed gets underhooks to prevent Ellagrande's takedown attempt.
Ellagrande creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Ellagrande pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ellagrande shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blessed but Blessed pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ellagrande is breathing heavily.
Ellagrande avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ellagrande takes one on the button.
Blessed is looking to clinch.
Brian Blessed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ellagrande tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blessed paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ellagrande shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blessed pinned against the cage. Blessed gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blessed looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blessed lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Brandon Ellagrande has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ellagrande.
Blessed scores with a nice strike.
Ellagrande blocks the body kick.
Blessed avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blessed thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blessed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blessed wants it to stay on the feet.
Blessed is looking to clinch but Ellagrande is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blessed is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ellagrande.

Brian Blessed's cut is getting worse.
Ellagrande tries to clinch

and Blessed counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blessed.
Blessed lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ellagrande backwards.
Ellagrande blocks the elbow strike.
Ellagrande lands an elbow inside.
Ellagrande landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blessed as Ellagrande tries to tie him up.
Ellagrande looking to throw knees to the head but Blessed is blocking nicely.
Ellagrande trying to land knees to the body.
Ellagrande tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Blessed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ellagrande has him pressed against the cage.
Blessed lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ellagrande pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ellagrande lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ellagrande tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blessed avoids it.
Ellagrande throws a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Blessed's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ellagrande drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blessed looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blessed working hard to break the clinch.

Ellagrande manages to break the clinch.
Ellagrande shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blessed counters with a series of strikes. Ellagrande will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ellagrande looks for a takedown but Blessed sprawls well.
Blessed connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ellagrande. Ellagrande circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Blessed forces Ellagrande back against the cage and clinches.
Ellagrande stalls.

Ellagrande escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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 Brian Blessed will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Blessed misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blessed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blessed wants it to stay on the feet.
Ellagrande tries to clinch up
and Blessed counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Blessed throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ellagrande.
Blessed lands with a hook. Ellagrande tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellagrande fails with the takedown.
Ellagrande shoots in and drives through. Blessed sprawls well.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Ellagrande.
Ellagrande takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ellagrande tries to clinch up
and Blessed counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blessed closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellagrande drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blessed pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ellagrande has his takedown stuffed
and Blessed counters with a nice uppercut.
Ellagrande tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Blessed counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blessed lands a jab-cross combination.
Blessed fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ellagrande checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blessed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ellagrande tries to clinch but Blessed moves away
and Blessed counters with a one-two to the body.

Ellagrande is rocked!

Blessed closes the distance and pushes Ellagrande back into the cage.
Ellagrande is still on wobbly legs! Can Blessed finish him?
Ellagrande's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Blessed wants to break the clinch but can't.
Blessed with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blessed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ellagrande has him pressed against the cage.
Blessed tries to break free but Ellagrande pushes him back against the cage.
Blessed wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ellagrande seems to have recovered his senses.
Ellagrande with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ellagrande is trying to drag Blessed to the mat but Blessed just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Blessed manages to break the clinch.
Ellagrande is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blessed sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blessed tries a head kick but it misses.
Ellagrande shoots in for a double leg but Blessed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blessed falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ellagrande moves into the clinch.
Ellagrande with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ellagrande goes for a takedown attempt but Blessed pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ellagrande shoots in for a double leg but Blessed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blessed throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ellagrande avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blessed fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ellagrande, pushing him back against the cage.
Blessed has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ellagrande prevents Blessed from breaking the clinch.
Blessed looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ellagrande breaks the clinch.
Blessed swinging wildly here.
Blessed throws a lazy right hand but Ellagrande sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Brian Blessed is winning the standup battle so far.
Ellagrande tries to clinch up
and Blessed counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ellagrande closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blessed circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Blessed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blessed 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Blessed!