PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darius Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Hennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ellis
vs
Hennings

185 cm
26
165 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

180 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darius Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shane Hennings!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hennings is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ellis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hennings sprawls well. Hennings wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet.
Hennings fails with a takedown attempt.
Hennings is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ellis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Darius Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Hennings.
Hennings closes the distance and clinches up with Ellis, looking for a takedown. Hennings pushes Ellis against the cage but Ellis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hennings fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hennings shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ellis defends it nicely.

Ellis gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ellis jumps guard and drags Hennings to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ellis is controlling Hennings's posture.
Hennings controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hennings looking to pass the guard.
Hennings slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shane Hennings.
Ellis feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Henningss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hennings fails with a takedown attempt.
Hennings shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ellis defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hennings 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.
Ellis looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Hennings advances to half guard.

Hennings seems to be working for a kimura but Ellis defends the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hennings wants to control but Ellis is keeping him busy.
Ellis pushes Hennings off looking to stand but Hennings dives back in and keeps control.
Hennings trying to pass the guard but Ellis defending well.
Ellis trying to control here.
Ellis controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hennings is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Darius Ellis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hennings misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ellis throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Hennings drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hennings wants to control but Ellis is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis can't do much from the bottom here.
Hennings looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ellis is avoiding damage well.
Hennings advances nicely into full mount.
Hennings can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ellis is looking to escape.
Ellis takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Hennings dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hennings shoots in but Ellis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ellis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hennings.
Hennings closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ellis circles away.
Darius Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Hennings.
Hennings shoots in looking for a takedown. Ellis tries to sprawl out of it but Hennings keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ellis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ellis tries to clinch but Hennings is having none of it.

Ellis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ellis letting Hennings take a breather here.
Hennings wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ellis has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennings managing to block the knees to the body from Ellis.
Ellis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hennings drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ellis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ellis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hennings.
Ellis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hennings is defending well.
Hennings can't get the takedown.
Ellis lands with a light punch inside.
Ellis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hennings lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hennings is breathing heavily.
Ellis prevents Hennings from breaking the clinch.
Hennings tries for a takedown but Ellis manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Ellis.
Ellis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ellis working Hennings over with knees to the body.
Ellis misses with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ellis.
Hennings drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ellis wants to take the fight to the mat but Hennings manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellis using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hennings takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ellis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hennings avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hennings's face.

Ellis breaks from the clinch.
Darius Ellis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hennings gets tackled into the cage by Ellis. Ellis maintains the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hennings takes an elbow to the forehead.

Ellis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ellis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Hennings. No joy for Ellis on that attempt.
Hennings shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ellis pinned against the cage. Ellis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ellis checks a low kick from Hennings.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hennings drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ellis can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hennings's best efforts.
Shane Hennings has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ellis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ellis.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ellis wants to control but Hennings passes easily into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis is looking for a sweep. Hennings 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.

Darius Ellis dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ellis tries to keep at a distance but Hennings has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ellis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ellis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hennings fails to land the takedown.

Hennings closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hennings lands in his opponent's guard.
Hennings landing with the ground and pound.
Hennings wants to pass the guard but Ellis is keeping the position.
Hennings connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennings wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Hennings tries to free his leg and advance position but Ellis is retaining full guard.
Hennings throws a big elbow that misses.
Ellis controlling the position.
Hennings postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hennings throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ellis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hennings showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hennings shoots and misses

and Ellis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennings tries to pull guard but Ellis won't allow it.
Darius Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Hennings.
Hennings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hennings tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ellis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ellis looking to throw knees to the head but Hennings is blocking nicely.
Ellis throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ellis as Hennings tries to tie him up.
Ellis missing with knees to the body.
Ellis tries to throw a body punch but Hennings avoids it by throwing Ellis back against the cage.
Hennings changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ellis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ellis thuds his shin into the meat of Hennings's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hennings looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ellis is fending him off so far but Hennings persists. Nope, Ellis circles away and we're back to standing.
Ellis tries to clinch there but Hennings circles away.
Ellis tries to clinch up.
Hennings tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ellis defends well and Hennings ends up having to push Ellis into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ellis missing with knees to the body.
Ellis wants to stall.
Ellis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ellis avoiding damage.
Hennings managing to block the knees to the body from Ellis.
Hennings tries to land knees in the clinch but Ellis avoids the damage to the body.
Hennings is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis stalling.
Ellis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hennings.
Hennings takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ellis trying to land knees to the body.
Hennings tries to score a body lock takedown but Ellis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hennings takes a knee to the side of the body.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck for Hennings with that takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellis tries to clinch up.

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 Darius Ellis.
I think Ellis 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shane Hennings!
Darius Ellis spoke after the fight, saying 'He is an excellent fighter and had a good gameplan. Nothing else to do now but get back in the gym'.