PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Ellison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jyrgen Byrgen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ellison
vs
Byrgen

196 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacques Ellison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jyrgen Byrgen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellison avoids the head kick by Byrgen.
Ellison takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Byrgen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Byrgen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ellison napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Byrgen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Ellison parries the strikes from Byrgen easily there. Byrgen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ellison to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Ellison's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Byrgen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrgen controls the position.
Ellison prevents Byrgen from moving into mount.
The ground and pound from Byrgen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ellison wants to control but Byrgen postures up.
Ellison is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Byrgen happy to just control the position for now.
Ellison can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.

Byrgen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ellison is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Byrgen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ellison's head.
Byrgen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ellison working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Byrgen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrgen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ellison swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Byrgen wants to get up but he can't break Ellison's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Byrgen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ellison is holding on to half guard well.

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.
Byrgen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Byrgen is taking a breather. Ellison says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ellison could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
It looks like Byrgen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Ellison is looking to control Byrgen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ellison avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrgen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrgen Byrgen dominated that round.
That's time! Ellison's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Byrgen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Byrgen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ellison seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Byrgen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Byrgen wants to pass the guard but Ellison is keeping the position.
Byrgen wants to stand but Ellison is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellison keeping moving, preventing Byrgen from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellison keeping full guard, as Byrgen tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ellison tries to keep at a distance but Byrgen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Byrgen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ellison is defended easily by Byrgen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Byrgen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ellison keeping moving, preventing Byrgen from controlling successfully.
Byrgen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ellison is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellison trying to control the position.
Byrgen is stalling in the full guard.
Byrgen trying to control but Ellison is working from the bottom.
Ellison has a closed guard, preventing Byrgen from standing up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Byrgen gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Ellison counters with a shoot takedown. Byrgen fights it but they end up in guard.
Jyrgen Byrgen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ellison stands up over Byrgen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ellison with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Byrgen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ellison doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ellison manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ellison is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrgen trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrgen Byrgen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Byrgen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Byrgen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ellison avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Byrgen.
Byrgen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Byrgen with the ground and pound but Ellison uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrgen being controlled here momentarily.
Byrgen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrgen content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Byrgen pushes Ellison up against the cage in a clinch.
Byrgen content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Ellison manages to break the clinch.

Ellison rushes Byrgen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrgen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Byrgen manages to end up in side control.
Ellison regains half guard.
Byrgen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Byrgen wants to take a breather but Ellison is having none of it.
Byrgen wants to stand but Ellison has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Byrgen wants to pass the guard but Ellison is defending well.
Byrgen with the ground and pound but Ellison uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Byrgen throws a strike but Ellison rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrgen is trying to keep Ellison in close.
Ellison cracks Byrgen with a solid left hand.
Byrgen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ellison trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Byrgen trying to keep a closed guard but Ellison is proving a slippery customer.

Byrgen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ellison passes into side control.
Byrgen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Byrgen gets back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Ellison there.
Byrgen looks like he's trying to stand up.

Ellison is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Byrgen defends it well.
Jacques Ellison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jyrgen Byrgen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ellison is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Byrgen is just riding it out for now. Ellison eventually gives up the hold.

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 Jacques Ellison.
Well Byrgen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jyrgen Byrgen!