PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Ellis had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ellis
vs
Souza

185 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrew Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Travis Souza!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza tries to clinch up.

Souza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Souza showed some decent athleticism there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Souza tries to pass to full mount but Ellis defends it.
Ellis is trying to control but can't.
Souza controlling the action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ellis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ellis controls Souza momentarily but Souza frees himself.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ellis is controlling Souza's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Souza gets a double leg takedown into Ellis's guard.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza postures up.
Ellis has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Souza has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Ellis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Souza stands up and beckons Ellis to his feet.
Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ellis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis avoids the head kick by Souza.
Souza motions for Ellis to come forward. Souza throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ellis keeps the fight on the outside.
Souza tries to clinch but Ellis moves out of range.
That kick from Souza tenderised Ellis's leg. Ellis is trying to keep his angry face on.
Souza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Souza shoots in and bounces Ellis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellis trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Souza postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
Souza should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ellis trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ellis is looking to stand up but Souza isn't so interested in that idea.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ellis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Souza wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Travis Souza was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Souza is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ellis's half guard.
Ellis trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Souza manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries to lock up and control but Souza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Souza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ellis is squirming around, avoiding Souza's attempts to control the action.
Ellis wants to control but Souza is having none of it.
Souza controlling his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Souza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrew Ellis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Souza tries to close the distance and clinch but Ellis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Souza scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza slows the pace down in half guard.
Ellis is positioning himself well to prevent Souza advancing to mount.
Ellis is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ellis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Ellis persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.

Ellis gets caught napping as Souza dives in and scores a takedown. Ellis manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis is trying to keep Souza in close.
Ellis striking off his back but it's not causing Souza any problems.
Ellis working a defensive guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ellis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Andrew Ellis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Souza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown by Ellis or perhaps it was just good defense by Souza which made him look bad.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch but Ellis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza gets a takedown into half guard.
Souza is thwarting Ellis's attempts to control the position.
Ellis trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Souza manages to pass to mount!

Souza jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ellis manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Souza wants to control for a moment but Ellis uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.
Ellis is pressing down on Souza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ellis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Souza defends it easily.

Ellis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza passes Ellis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Souza is keen to just control but Ellis is a slippery customer.
Souza is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Ellis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ellis.

Ellis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ellis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis wants to stand but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrew Ellis's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

No joy there for Souza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ellis shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Souza scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Souza looks to land a combination. Ellis sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Souza wants to clinch.
Travis Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ellis rushes Souza and presses him up against the cage.

Souza decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to keep a closed guard but Ellis is proving a slippery customer.
Souza has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ellis trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Travis Souza was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Souza wants to clinch up but Ellis keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis circles away from the clinch attempt.

Souza fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ellis to the ground. Souza is now in Ellis's guard.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ellis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Souza defends well.
Souza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Souza wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ellis is keeping the position for now.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Ellis has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is working Souza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Souza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ellis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ellis stands up from Souza's guard - Ellis perhaps looking for a knockout.

Souza fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ellis to the ground. Souza is now in Ellis's guard.
Souza tries to stand but Ellis is controlling from the bottom.

Ellis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Souza defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.

Souza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ellis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Souza has managed to get both his arms back between Ellis's legs - danger averted.

Ellis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Andrew Ellis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Travis Souza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Souza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Souza!