PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Alexander Ellis has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Alexander Ellis seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ellis
vs
Maia

185 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Ellis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damian Maia!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ellis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ellis tries to pass to full mount but Maia defends it.
Ellis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ellis passes to full mount!

Ellis goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Maia turns into him and now he's in Ellis's guard.
Maia trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Ellis has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Ellis has wrist control.
Maia wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Ellis is pulling down on Maia's head to control his posture.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Damian Maia hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maia checks a leg kick.

Ellis 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.
Maia wants to sweep here but Ellis controlling him for the moment.
Ellis stands and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ellis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maia is just riding it out for now. Ellis eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ellis is trying to work for a kimura but Maia is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ellis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maia sees it coming and defends easily.

Ellis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ellis is looking for a kimura here.

Ellis seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is pressing down on Ellis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maia trying to keep a closed guard but Ellis is proving a slippery customer.
Ellis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ellis trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ellis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ellis passes into half guard.
Maia trying to control but Ellis postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ellis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Ellis.
A big right from Maia misses.
Maia pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ellis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maia!

Ellis looking for a guillotine from mount but Maia is having none of it.
Maia gets back to half guard.

Ellis seems to be working for a kimura but Maia defends the submission attempt.
Ellis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia trying to control but Ellis postures up.

Maia is defending against the submission attempts here by Ellis.
Maia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ellis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ellis's back!
Ellis is really stuck here.
Ellis looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ellis staying busy and making it hard for Maia to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries to roll but Maia sticks to his back.
Maia punches the canvas rather than the man.
Even with his hooks in, Maia manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Maia trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Maia is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ellis has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Maia thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Alexander Ellis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maia has the hooks in. Ellis is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ellis 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 Maia gets his way!
Maia struggling to keep hold of the position.

Maia working for the choke.

Maia looking for the choke but no joy.
Ellis turns into Maia and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to control the position here.
Ellis trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia looking to control.
Ellis wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Ellis passes Maia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maia is trying to maintain the position but Ellis is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ellis slips a straight right by Maia.
An inside leg kick from Ellis misses.
Maia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ellis blocks a head kick by Maia.
Maia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ellis throws a hook but Maia avoids it easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ellis enables Maia to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ellis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ellis keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Ellis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maia looking to sit in guard and control but Ellis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maia throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia 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.
Maia throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ellis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia working a defensive guard but Ellis passes into half guard.
Maia moves into full guard.
Maia strikes from his own guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
Ellis throwing strikes but missing.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ellis won't allow Maia to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.

Ellis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maia looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maia looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maia!
Ellis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Maia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ellis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maia in side control, throwing shots but Ellis defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ellis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ellis wants to free his trapped foot but Maia is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ellis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Maia really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ellis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maia napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ellis wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

Ellis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ellis trying to control the position but Maia is working away.

Ellis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ellis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The strikes coming from Ellis are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maia has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
Maia keeps Ellis under control for a moment.

Ellis tries for a kimura but Maia is defending well.
Maia is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ellis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ellis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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Ellis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia struggling a bit here.

Ellis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Ellis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maia, who protects the arm well.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ellis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maia manages to get back to half guard.
Maia trying to control from the bottom.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Ellis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ellis had his way with Damian Maia in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ellis avoids the head kick by Maia.
Ellis tries for a takedown but Maia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ellis defending well as Maia loads up on a big left hand.
Ellis throws out a leg kick but Maia moves out of range and Ellis only half commits.
Ellis throws a leg kick but Maia checks it.

Maia shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Maia was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ellis regains half guard.

Maia wants to work for an arm triangle but Ellis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Maia is looking for a kimura here.
Ellis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maia wants to pass to mount but Ellis is defending the position.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ellis to regain full guard.
Maia distracts Ellis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maia throwing strikes from guard but Ellis blocks nicely.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ellis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ellis controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.
Maia throwing strikes but missing.
Maia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maia postures up in Ellis's guard and throws a big left but Ellis blocks it.
Maia postures up in Ellis's guard and throws a big left but Ellis blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ellis is keeping the position for now.
Ellis trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Maia controlling from the top position.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maia throws a shot from downtown. Ellis moves away and avoids it.
Ellis checks a leg kick nicely.
Alexander Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maia tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ellis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maia avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Ellis. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Ellis shoots and misses

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Ellis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ellis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses.
Maia advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia stalling away here and it's allowed Ellis to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Andi Peters scores the fight for Damian Maia!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Damian Maia!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Damian Maia!

Damian Maia wins by unanimous decision!
Damian Maia is the new middleweight champion!