PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Ellagrande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Backstrom kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Let the bodies hit the floor. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Backstrom
vs
Ellagrande

182 cm
20
186 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
175 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, David Backstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Ellagrande!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backstrom jabs at Ellagrande's body.
Backstrom fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ellagrande manages to avoid it.
Backstrom lands a jab to the nose.
Backstrom works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ellagrande moves out of range as Backstrom strikes.
Backstrom misses with a leg kick.
Ellagrande misses with a body kick.
Ellagrande staying out of range there.

Ellagrande closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ellagrande winds up and cracks Backstrom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ellagrande trying to pass the guard but Backstrom defending well.

Ellagrande looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ellagrande throws a strike but Backstrom avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellagrande advances to half guard.
Backstrom tries to roll over but Ellagrande keeps him under control.
Backstrom regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ellagrande throwing strikes from guard but Backstrom blocks nicely.
Backstrom is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ellagrande keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Backstrom's head.
Ellagrande preventing the sweep.
Ellagrande looking to pass the guard.
Backstrom avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Backstrom looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ellagrande is one step ahead there.
Ellagrande trying to control the position from guard on top but Backstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellagrande stopping the sweep attempt from Backstrom.
Backstrom keeping full guard, as Ellagrande tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Backstrom is trying to control the position but Ellagrande postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Backstrom throws a hook but Ellagrande avoids it easily.
Backstrom digs a good hook to Ellagrande's body.
Backstrom scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Brandon Ellagrande has been cut.
Backstrom throws a lazy right hand but Ellagrande sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellagrande keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ellagrande lands a body shot.
Ellagrande tries to clinch but Backstrom is having none of it.
Backstrom stuffs the takedown attempt from Ellagrande. Ellagrande gets slowly back to his feet.
Backstrom misses with a jab to the body

and Ellagrande counters with a nice double leg into side control. Backstrom won't be happy with that.
Backstrom wants to control but Ellagrande postures up.
Backstrom being controlled for a moment.
Ellagrande is looking to take a break and control but Backstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Backstrom is looking to regain half guard here but Ellagrande keeps moving and retains side control.
Backstrom is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ellagrande wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Backstrom, who protects the arm well.
Check out the look on Ellagrande's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Backstrom struggling a bit here.
Ellagrande wants to lay and pray for a moment but Backstrom keeps working.
Backstrom takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Ellagrande is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Backstrom is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Backstrom is trying to control Ellagrande's posture but Ellagrande avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brandon Ellagrande will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brandon Ellagrande's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Backstrom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Backstrom throws a leg kick that is checked

and Ellagrande counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ellagrande content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ellagrande seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Backstrom does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Backstrom wants to get back to full guard.
Ellagrande wants to pass the guard but Backstrom is defending well.
Ellagrande wants to lay and pray for a moment but Backstrom keeps working.

Brandon Ellagrande has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Backstrom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backstrom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ellagrande ducks under a wild hook from Backstrom.
Ellagrande circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ellagrande counters by moving into the clinch.
Ellagrande takes a knee right on the jaw!

Backstrom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
David Backstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Backstrom swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick by Backstrom misses

and Ellagrande counters with a single leg into guard. Backstrom didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellagrande postures up in Backstrom's guard and throws a big left but Backstrom blocks it.
Ellagrande is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ellagrande postures up.
Ellagrande trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom is trying to hold Ellagrande in close to prevent damage but Ellagrande has managed to pass into half guard.
Ellagrande stalling.
Ellagrande not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Backstrom moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ellagrande has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Backstrom can't keep his opponent in guard - Ellagrande advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Brandon Ellagrande has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ellagrande trying to control the pace.
Ellagrande throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ellagrande seems to be working for a kimura but Backstrom defends the submission attempt.
Ellagrande seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Backstrom does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ellagrande wants to work for an arm triangle but Backstrom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ellagrande not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Backstrom regains full guard. Nicely done.
Backstrom trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellagrande trying to control but Backstrom is working from the bottom.
Backstrom is looking to sweep but instead, Ellagrande has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ellagrande not doing much here.
Ellagrande works his foot free and advances to mount.
Backstrom is looking to improve his position but Ellagrande isn't that keen on the idea.
Ellagrande wants to control the pace but Backstrom is squirming around nicely.
Backstrom tries to reverse the position but Ellagrande maintains control.
Backstrom is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Ellagrande showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brandon Ellagrande's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ellagrande circles away from the clinch attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Ellagrande is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Backstrom's half guard.
Ellagrande working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ellagrande is thwarting Backstrom's attempts to control the position.
Backstrom is refusing to be controlled, as Ellagrande sits in half guard.
Backstrom is trying to control but can't.
Ellagrande looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellagrande looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ellagrande trying to control the action but Backstrom is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brandon Ellagrande wasn't active enough on the ground.
Backstrom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ellagrande tries for a takedown but Backstrom circles away easily
and Backstrom counters with a three punch combo that has Ellagrande backing up. Ellagrande nods at Backstrom to acknowledge the strikes.
Ellagrande tries for a takedown but Backstrom sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ellagrande gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ellagrande blocks an elbow strike.
Ellagrande creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Backstrom's defenses.
Ellagrande tries to pull guard but Backstrom holds him up against the cage and eventually Ellagrande drops back down to his feet.
David Backstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Ellagrande.
Backstrom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Backstrom lands with a short shot to the head.
Ellagrande on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ellagrande landing knees to the head.
Ellagrande is trying to break the clinch but Backstrom has him pressed against the cage.
Ellagrande throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Backstrom pushes off an throws an elbow but Ellagrande leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Backstrom tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ellagrande avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellagrande drops down looking for an ankle pick but Backstrom pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ellagrande on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Backstrom cracks Ellagrande with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ellagrande fails with the takedown
and Backstrom counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ellagrande keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Backstrom missing with a left hand there. Ellagrande was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Backstrom misses with a straight right.
Ellagrande misses with a takedown attempt

and Backstrom counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ellagrande gets back to half guard.
Ellagrande wants to control but Backstrom is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom is keen to just control but Ellagrande is a slippery customer.
Ellagrande gets back to full guard.
David Backstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ellagrande is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Backstrom throwing strikes from guard but Ellagrande blocks nicely.
Ellagrande not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Backstrom works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ellagrande is trying to stand up here but Backstrom is controlling him well.
Backstrom throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four 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.

Backstrom is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ellagrande defends it well.
Backstrom stops Ellagrande from getting back to his feet.
Backstrom thows a huge punch but Ellagrande dodges it nicely.
Backstrom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellagrande keeps working.
Ellagrande tries to kick Backstrom off but Backstrom keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Backstrom is looking for a kimura here.
Brandon Ellagrande is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Backstrom missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Backstrom showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ellagrande has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!