PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Ambrose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khairi Fortt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ambrose
vs
Fortt

188 cm
24
195 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

188 cm
22
202 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ezekiel Ambrose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khairi Fortt!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fortt drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fortt wants to control from the top but Ambrose keeps moving.
Fortt pushes down on Ambrose's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Fortt prevents Ambrose from improving his position.
Fortt frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fortt wants to control but instead Ambrose manages to regain half guard.
Fortt wants to pass the guard but Ambrose is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambrose is not content to let Fortt control the position.
Ambrose keeping hold of Fortt's head, controlling as best he can.
Ambrose is trying to get back to full guard.
Fortt moves into full mount! Ambrose won't be happy about that!
Ambrose squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Fortt is working for a guillotine from mount but Ambrose frees his head quite easily.
Fortt fails to move to back control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose tries to hold on but Fortt pushes him away.
Ambrose tries to reverse the position but Fortt maintains control.
Fortt moves to back control.
Fortt tries to get the hooks in deep but Ambrose pushed the leg off.
Fortt is not going to allow Ambrose to sit and survive in this position.

Ambrose preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Fortt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ambrose is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose holding both Fortt 's hands and preventing any damage.
Fortt controlling the position well here. Ambrose rolled but Fortt kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Fortt not allowing Ambrose to control his hands.
Ambrose is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Fortt controlling well, preventing Ambrose from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, with Fortt on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ambrose is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Ambrose rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Fortt works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ambrose is controlling an arm, preventing Fortt from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Ambrose bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Fortt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ambrose defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ambrose scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khairi Fortt dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ambrose has Fortt up against the cage in a clinch.
Ambrose fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ambrose is trying to pull guard but Fortt has him pressed against the cage.
Fortt throws a head punch that misses.
Ambrose is trying to force a seperation but Fortt has the dominant position.
Fortt keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ambrose's efforts to push away.
Fortt has Ambrose pressed against the cage, preventing Ambrose from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Fortt throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Ambrose manages to break the clinch.
Fortt throws an off balance right hand

and Ambrose decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fortt's guard.
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!

Fortt looking for subs off his back but Ambrose has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortt is looking to improve his position.
Fortt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fortt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ambrose wants to pass the guard but Fortt is defending well.

Fortt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ambrose pulls his head out easily.
Khairi Fortt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ambrose trying to pass the guard but Fortt defending well.
Fortt is not content to let Ambrose control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ambrose tries to stand and escape but Fortt is controlling the position.
Ambrose trying to control the action but Fortt is working from the bottom.

Fortt looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ambrose lands with a punch from half guard.
Ambrose throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fortt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ambrose is working away from the top position though.
Ambrose looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fortt regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fortt has his foot on Ambrose's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ambrose works his way back into a safe position though.
Fortt keeping full guard, as Ambrose tries to pass.
Fortt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ambrose manages to get himself to full guard.
Ambrose is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fortt stopping the sweep attempt from Ambrose.
Fortt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ambrose swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fortt is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ambrose keeping full guard, as Fortt tries to pass.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Ezekiel Ambrose has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ambrose tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fortt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ambrose shoots in for a double leg but Fortt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezekiel Ambrose. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ambrose.
Fortt circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekiel Ambrose dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A slow jab from Ambrose misses its intended target.
Fortt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fortt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ezekiel Ambrose is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fortt throws a hook but Ambrose avoids it easily.
Fortt on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ambrose scores with a jab. Fortt acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Khairi Fortt has been cut.
Ambrose with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fortt to score with a decent uppercut.
Ambrose leaves Fortt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ambrose misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fortt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambrose looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Fortt instigates a clinch.
Ambrose prevents the takedown attempt.
Fortt lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ambrose blocking some punches.
Fortt keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ambrose's efforts to push away.

Fortt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fortt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fortt tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose shoots in for a double leg but Fortt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fortt missing with a left hand there. Ambrose was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ambrose uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fortt.
Fortt moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ambrose throws a combination that misses
and Fortt counters with a stiff right hand.
Ambrose throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fortt.
Fortt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ezekiel Ambrose has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khairi Fortt.
A big left from Fortt misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortt scores with a decent looking hook.

Fortt moves into the clinch successfully.
Fortt wants a takedown but no success here.
Ambrose throws a punch but it's blocked by Fortt.

Ambrose breaks the clinch.
Ambrose wants to clinch
and Fortt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ambrose uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fortt.
Ambrose tries to clinch but Fortt moves out of range.
No luck for Fortt with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ambrose keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fortt tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ambrose counters with a big head kick but Fortt shrugs it off.
Ambrose throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ambrose 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ambrose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fortt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ambrose looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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 Ezekiel Ambrose.
I think Ambrose 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ezekiel Ambrose!
A victorious Ezekiel Ambrose thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.