PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sherwood Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Small
vs
Ellis

180 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sherwood Small!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henry Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellis shoots in for a double leg but Small sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Small darts in and clinches Ellis up against the cage.
Ellis wants to take the fight to the mat but Small manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Small misses with an elbow strike.
Ellis avoiding damage as Small throws knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Ellis.
Ellis blocks the elbow strike.
Ellis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ellis looking to score a takedown here. Small is defending well but Ellis drives through and ends up in Small's guard.
Small is wriggling around but Ellis manages to pass to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Small wants to get back to his feet.

Small manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ellis keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis blocks an elbow strike from Small.
Ellis creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Small tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ellis's elbow.
Ellis blocks a body shot from Small.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Small avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Small appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ellis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Small is fending him off so far but Ellis persists. Nope, Small circles away and we're back to standing.
Sherwood Small has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Ellis.
Ellis looks winded!
Small shoots in but Ellis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Small has managed to clinch.
Small could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A head punch on the inside from Small fails to land.
Ellis avoiding damage as Small throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis working Small over with knees to the body.
Ellis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ellis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ellis moves into range and clinches up with Small.
Ellis blocks an elbow strike from Small.
Ellis stalls.
Small is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ellis is defending well for now.
Small stalling.
Ellis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Small fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ellis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Small.
Ellis is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Ellis drives through with a 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!
Small wants to get back to his feet but Ellis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
Ellis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Small holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Small is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ellis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ellis is looking to stand up but Small won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been informed that Ellis has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Small shoots in but no luck this time.
Ellis tries for a takedown but Small circles away easily
and Small counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Ellis gets a double leg takedown into Small's guard.
Ellis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Small wriggles free and stands up.

Ellis pushes Small up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sherwood Small will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ellis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Small pulls Ellis in close to his closed guard and prevents Ellis from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ellis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Small wants to stand and escape but Ellis is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Small is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ellis is controlling him.
Small utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis tries to free his leg and advance position but Small is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Ellis clinches up with Small and pushes him back against the cage.
Small doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Small missing with knees to the body.

Ellis manages to break the clinch.
Small gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ellis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ellis.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellis avoiding damage as Small throws knees to the body.

Ellis pulls guard.
Ellis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Small postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ellis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Small, into his guard.

Ellis is pushing down on Small's leg trying to pass to half guard. Small is fighting to maintain full guard but Ellis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Small is refusing to be controlled, as Ellis sits in half guard.
Small tries to get to full guard but Ellis has control of the leg.
Ellis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small is trying to control but Ellis passes into side control!

Ellis stands up and beckons Small to his feet.

Small tries to keep at a distance but Ellis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ellis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ellis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Small with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ellis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ellis works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is pushing down on Small's leg trying to pass to half guard. Small is fighting to maintain full guard but Ellis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ellis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Ellis has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Small is trying to stand up here but Ellis is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Ellis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ellis throws a head kick but Small moves out of range.
Small goes for a double leg but Ellis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ellis continues to drive forward.
Horrible takedown attempt by Small or perhaps it was just good defense by Ellis, which made it look bad.

Ellis has closed the distance and engaged Small in a clinch.
Small missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellis is struggling to control the position.
Small misses with a punch to the body.
Small trying to stall but Ellis improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis goes for a takedown attempt but Small pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Small with a poor takedown

and Ellis counters with a takedown into side control.

Small sneaks out the side door and pushes Ellis away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sherwood Small. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.
Henry Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ellis clinches.
Ellis has Small pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small tries to land knees in the clinch but Ellis avoids the damage to the body.
Small misses with a body punch.
Ellis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Small smiles and moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Small doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ellis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Small's guard.
Small is looking to stand back up but Ellis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Small.

Ellis passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis dominating with strikes here.
Small is squirming around, avoiding Ellis's attempts to control the action.
Ellis landing strikes from the mount.
Ellis controlling the pace for now.
Ellis trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis controlling his opponent.
Small wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Small tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Small tries to lock up and control but Ellis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Ellis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ellis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Ellis!