PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lupe Fiasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Ellenberger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fiasco kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Show Goes On. Ellenberger comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Guano Apes - Open Your Eyes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fiasco
vs
Ellenberger

183 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
179 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Red Bills clothing

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lupe Fiasco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Ellenberger!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fiasco tries to close the distance and clinch but Ellenberger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ellenberger takes a swing at Fiasco's ribcage but misses.
Ellenberger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fiasco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ellenberger moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fiasco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fiasco tries to clinch but Ellenberger is having none of it.
Ellenberger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ellenberger gets tackled into the cage by Fiasco. Fiasco maintains the clinch.
Fiasco tries to land a knee to the head but Ellenberger blocks with his arms.
Ellenberger is looking to take this one to the mat.

Ellenberger manages to break the clinch.
Fiasco doesn't manage to clinch there - Ellenberger circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fiasco tries to clinch but Ellenberger moves out of range.
Fiasco scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ellenberger blocks a jab.
No luck for Ellenberger with that takedown attempt.
Lupe Fiasco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Ellenberger.
A lazy left from Ellenberger finds it's target.
Fiasco on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ellenberger swats away the attempt to clinch by Fiasco.
Ellenberger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fiasco as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellenberger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Decent striking displayed by Fiasco there.
Ellenberger misses with the combination.
Fiasco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ellenberger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fiasco is fending him off so far but Ellenberger persists. Nope, Fiasco circles away and we're back to standing.
Ellenberger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ellenberger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ellenberger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fiasco jabs Ellenberger to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ellenberger counters with a one-two to the body.
Lupe Fiasco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ellenberger connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fiasco connects with a looping right hand.
Ellenberger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fiasco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ellenberger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ellenberger throws a big shot that misses.
Fiasco takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ellenberger connects with a body shot that sends Fiasco's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Ellenberger.
Ellenberger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fiasco wants to clinch
and Fiasco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fiasco tries to clinch up
and Ellenberger counters with a straight right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fiasco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fiasco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Ellenberger will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ellenberger drives through with a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fiasco is on top in guard.
Fiasco tries to stand but Ellenberger is controlling from the bottom.
Fiasco forces his way into half guard.
It looks like Fiasco is going to stand back up.
Ellenberger wants to improve his position but Fiasco is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fiasco tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Fiasco is trying to control. Ellenberger wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fiasco content to control rather than advance.
Ellenberger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ellenberger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellenberger being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lupe Fiasco wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fiasco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ellenberger paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Fiasco closes the distance and pushes Ellenberger back into the cage.
Fiasco gets underhooks to prevent Ellenberger's takedown attempt.
Fiasco is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ellenberger is keeping busy.
Fiasco throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ellenberger.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fiasco obliges.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ellenberger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fiasco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lupe Fiasco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Ellenberger.
Fiasco leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fiasco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ellenberger is trying to break free.
Ellenberger wants to take the fight to the mat but Fiasco manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ellenberger is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Fiasco is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco controlling the action here for a moment.
Ellenberger tries to score a body lock takedown but Fiasco shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ellenberger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fiasco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fiasco lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ellenberger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ellenberger gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ellenberger's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ellenberger controlling from the top position.
Ellenberger wants to control from the top but Fiasco keeps moving.
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 Lupe Fiasco will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fiasco moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ellenberger scores with a nice right hand.

Fiasco closes the distance and pushes Ellenberger back into the cage.
Ellenberger being controlled against the cage.
Fiasco tries to land knees in the clinch but Ellenberger avoids the damage to the body.
Fiasco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Ellenberger has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Fiasco regains guard immediately.
Fiasco trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellenberger trying to control the position from guard on top but Fiasco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellenberger throws a big right hand that misses.
Fiasco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ellenberger manages to get himself to full guard.
Fiasco tries to stand but Ellenberger is controlling from the bottom.
Fiasco is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ellenberger has his hands on Fiasco's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ellenberger trying to keep a closed guard but Fiasco is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ellenberger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fiasco as he jumps to the side.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ellenberger.
Ellenberger misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fiasco throws a head kick that misses.
Fiasco swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fiasco is looking to clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Ellenberger there.
Fiasco wants to clinch
and Ellenberger counters with a left and a right that stings Fiasco.
Ellenberger throws an overhand right that lands on Fiasco's shoulder, as Fiasco tries to avoid the shot.
Fiasco avoids the body shot from Ellenberger.
Fiasco wants to clinch.
Ellenberger misses with a hook
and Fiasco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lupe Fiasco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Ellenberger with that takedown attempt.

Fiasco gets a clinch.

Ellenberger gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fiasco has one foot on Ellenberger's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Fiasco takes one to the side of the head.
Fiasco lands a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fiasco wants to clinch up but Ellenberger keeps it at a distance.
Nick Ellenberger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fiasco wants to clinch but Ellenberger slips to the side
and Ellenberger counters with a series of strikes. Fiasco will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ellenberger shoots for a takedown but Fiasco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Ellenberger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ellenberger 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Ellenberger!
Our winner, Nick Ellenberger, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.