PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Pape (ranked 4153 p4p, 4191 weight class) and Gershon Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pape
vs
Ellis

182 cm
22
158
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Emmanuel Pape!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gershon Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Pape. No joy for Ellis on that attempt.
Pape keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Pape wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pape connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ellis misses with a two punch combination.
A nice combination there by Ellis.

It looks like Emmanuel Pape has been cut.
Ellis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pape swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ellis tries to close the distance and clinch but Pape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ellis drops his hands momentarily and Pape takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.
Emmanuel Pape has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gershon Ellis.
Pape scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Pape finds it's way through Ellis's defenses.
A head kick misses from Ellis.
Pape stuffs the takedown.
Pape scores with a nice strike.
Pape clobbers Ellis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown but Pape shows good takedown defense.
Pape cracks Ellis with an open hand slap.
Ellis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ellis is looking to clinch but Pape is avoiding it.
A little feinted left hand from Pape on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ellis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pape throwing a counter right hand but Ellis manages to avoid it.
Ellis looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Pape lands.
Pape paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ellis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ellis looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A lazy body kick from Ellis
and Pape connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ellis takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pape with a jab.
Ellis throws a leg kick but Pape checks it.
Pape misses the jab.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis avoids it easily.
Gershon Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pape dips to his left and cracks Ellis with an uppercut!
Pape connects with a looping right hand.
Pape misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pape circles away.
Pape with a hook.
Emmanuel Pape is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pape works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis avoids it easily.
Pape with a hook.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown. Pape tries to sprawl out of it but Ellis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pape manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Pape wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ellis misses with a takedown
and Pape counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ellis throws a body kick that misses.
Pape bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ellis's head.
Pape looks to land a left hand but Ellis moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis throws an off balance right hand
and Pape cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pape is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Pape throws a shot from downtown. Ellis moves away and avoids it.
And Ellis tries to counter it with a takedown but Pape pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pape bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ellis's head.
Ellis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pape connects with a looping right hand.
Pape tests Ellis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pape waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ellis.
Ellis has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pape finds it's way round the side to connect with Ellis's head.
A shot to the body from Ellis misses
and Pape cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pape connects with a right hand. Ellis shakes it off.
Pape throws a shot from downtown. Ellis moves away and avoids it.
Ellis takes a swing at Pape's ribcage but misses.
Ellis slips a straight right by Pape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Pape dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emmanuel Pape's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ellis tries for a takedown but Pape circles away easily
and Pape counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pape looks to throw the jab but Ellis is out of range.
Ellis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ellis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ellis drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pape listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ellis tries to clinch there but Pape circles away.
Pape is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ellis can do to turn this around?
Ellis closes the distance and clinches up with Pape, looking for a takedown. Ellis pushes Pape against the cage but Pape circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Emmanuel Pape has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gershon Ellis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ellis clinches up with Pape and pushes him back against the cage.
Pape is trying to force a seperation but Ellis has the dominant position.
Pape is trying to force a seperation but Ellis has the dominant position.
Ellis jumps guard but Pape stands there with Ellis around his waist. Ellis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Pape breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pape connects with a looping right hand.
Ellis motions for Pape to come forward. Ellis throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pape throws a jab but it's blocked by Ellis.
Ellis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pape throws a lazy right hand but Ellis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis avoids it easily.
Pape throws a good cross that connects.
Ellis throws a head kick that Pape semi-blocks.
Ellis is breathing heavily.
Ellis slips under a jab.
And Ellis tries to counter it with a takedown but Pape pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ellis misses with a takedown attempt - Pape sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pape throwing a counter right hand but Ellis manages to avoid it.
Pape misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis defending well as Pape loads up on a big left hand.
Ellis needs to keep his hands up - Pape had a free shot at his head there.
Ellis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emmanuel Pape is winning the standup battle so far.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis blocks it.
Pape misses with a looping left.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pape defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ellis.
Ellis closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pape counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pape misses with a hook. Ellis ducked under it nicely.
Pape avoids the body shot from Ellis.
Pape scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries to clinch
and Pape connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pape misses with an uppercut. Ellis saw that one coming.
Ellis wants to counter the offense by Pape and move into the clinch position.
Pape thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pape scores with the left hand. Ellis knows he should have avoided that one.
Pape paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ellis gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gershon Ellis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ellis needs to keep his hands up - Pape had a free shot at his head there.

Ellis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pape manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Pape kicks Ellis off and gets to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ellis ducks under a wild hook from Pape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis tries a head kick but it misses.
Pape was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A lazy body kick from Ellis
and Pape makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pape stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pape throws a one two combo.
The fighters circling - Pape throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ellis throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Pape to counter with a crisp jab.
Pape throws a big shot that misses.
Ellis looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ellis moves in looking to clinch but Pape pushes him off.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis blocks it.
Pape throws a hook but Ellis avoids it easily.
Pape misses with a straight left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Pape dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Emmanuel Pape's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ellis looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pape is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ellis.
Ellis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ellis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pape manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pape misses with a hook.
Ellis with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Pape counter with a right hand.
Pape slips under a jab.
Pape works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pape looks to throw the jab but Ellis is out of range.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pape as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pape misses with a looping right.
Ellis doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pape counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Emmanuel Pape has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gershon Ellis.
Pape lands a lovely overhand right.
Ellis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pape looks to land a right hand but Ellis moved out of range.
Ellis ducks under a wild hook from Pape.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown but Pape manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ellis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pape misses with a straight right.
Ellis gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pape keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pape misses with a looping right.
Ellis feints the counter takedown.
Ellis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ellis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ellis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pape lands a glancing blow to the side of Ellis's head.
Pape throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis needs to keep his hands up - Pape had a free shot at his head there.
Pape scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ellis doesn't seem bothered though.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab from Pape misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ellis or perhaps it was just good defense by Pape, which made it look bad.
Pape appears to be looking for a big counter.
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!
Ellis takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pape misses with a straight right.
Pape misses with an uppercut. Ellis saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from Pape.
Pape keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pape.
Pape connects with a single shot there.
A jab from Pape does it's job there.
Pape smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pape throws a big shot that misses.
Ellis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pape.
Ellis darts in trying to clinch
and Pape counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ellis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ellis walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pape throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ellis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis walks into a left hand.
Ellis blocks a jab.
Ellis walks into a jab.
Pape is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellis slips under a jab from Pape.
Ellis only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ellis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pape scores with a jab.
Pape throws a right hand that misses
and Ellis counters with a good, hard body kick but Pape shrugs it off.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Pape wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gershon Ellis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pape misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Pape showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pape, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Pape!