PBP Commentary

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

Hennings
vs
Ellis

180 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
165 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shane Hennings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darius Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hennings misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ellis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hennings moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ellis stuffs the takedown attempt from Hennings. Hennings gets slowly back to his feet.

Hennings clinches up with Ellis and pushes him back against the cage.
Ellis landing knees to the body.
Hennings tries to stall but Ellis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Hennings has clasped his hands together around Ellis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ellis is trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hennings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennings is looking to take a break and control but Ellis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hennings looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

We're going to have a standup here because Shane Hennings wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hennings gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Ellis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ellis misses with a knee strike.
Ellis throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hennings has Ellis pushed against the cage.
Hennings drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Hennings. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ellis crunches a lovely knee into Hennings's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ellis breaks from the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hennings.
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.
Hennings is breathing heavily.
Hennings gets underhooks to prevent Ellis's takedown attempt.
Ellis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ellis tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ellis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ellis tries to score a body lock takedown but Hennings shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hennings has a couple of punches blocked by Ellis.
Ellis tries to land knees in the clinch but Hennings avoids the damage to the body.
Ellis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hennings avoids it.
Ellis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hennings walks away with a smile on his face. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Ellis as Hennings shoots in.
Hennings shoots in and drives through. Ellis sprawls well.

Hennings darts in and clinches Ellis up against the cage.
Ellis with a knee to the head.
We've been informed that Ellis has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hennings is trying to stall.
Ellis has Hennings pushed against the cage.
Hennings blocks an elbow strike.
Ellis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hennings effectively controlling the action here.
Ellis lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hennings takes a knee to the side of the body.

Ellis breaks the clinch.

Hennings closes the distance and pushes Ellis back into the cage.
A knee to the head by Ellis.
Hennings creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ellis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hennings blocks the elbow strike.

Ellis successfully pulls guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hennings won't allow Ellis to sweep him here.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing Hennings from controlling successfully.
Ellis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hennings!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darius Ellis will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ellis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hennings throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ellis tries to close the distance and clinch but Hennings swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hennings gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ellis lands a nice knee to the body.
Ellis lands with a right to the head.

Ellis jumps guard and drags Hennings to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hennings trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hennings throws a big right hand that misses.
Hennings stays in close to Ellis's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Shane Hennings wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Hennings clinches.
Ellis landing knees to the head.
Hennings can't get the takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Ellis.

Hennings breaks from the clinch.
Shane Hennings is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hennings throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ellis is defended easily by Hennings.

Hennings has managed to clinch.
Hennings managing to block the knees to the body from Ellis.
Ellis goes for a takedown attempt but Hennings pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A head kick by Hennings misses
and Ellis counters with a nice leg kick.

Hennings closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ellis to the mat! Ellis manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hennings stays in close to Ellis's body and controls the position.
Ellis looking for a sweep. Not yet Ellis, not yet.
Ellis being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hennings is one step ahead there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hennings showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Shane Hennings has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Ellis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ellis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing Hennings from controlling successfully.
Ellis wants to sweep here but Hennings controlling him for the moment.
Hennings looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ellis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ellis keeping full guard, as Hennings tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Hennings dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hennings is defended easily by Ellis.
Ellis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hennings is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ellis's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellis wants to control but Hennings is keeping busy.
Shane Hennings overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hennings wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellis keeps working.
Hennings throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennings trying to control the pace.
Hennings working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ellis's thigh. Ellis counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Ellis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ellis 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.
Hennings lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis wants to sweep but no luck.
Hennings postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing Hennings from controlling successfully.
Hennings controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shane Hennings.
Horrible takedown by Ellis or perhaps it was just good defense by Hennings which made him look bad.
Ellis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hennings throws out a leg kick but Ellis moves out of range and Hennings only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hennings fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ellis tries to clinch up but Hennings circles away and keeps his distance.
Ellis is looking to clinch but Hennings is avoiding it.
Ellis thumps Hennings with a low kick.
Ellis lands a two punch combo.

Ellis forces Hennings back against the cage and clinches.

Ellis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hennings tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shane Hennings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hennings looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Hennings. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hennings rushes Ellis and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis lands a body punch.
Ellis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hennings wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellis lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ellis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hennings looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hennings has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good shot there by Ellis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hennings has Ellis up against the cage in a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Ellis.

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 Shane Hennings.
I think Hennings 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!