PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ellison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the cage accompanied by Amazing. Anthony Ellison has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cage
vs
Ellison

189 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

FUEL Nutrition

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nicolas Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Ellison!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ellison gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ellison trying to control the position here.
Cage stays in close to Ellison's body and controls the position.
Ellison keeping full guard, as Cage tries to pass.

Ellison is looking for a triangle but Cage pushes his legs off easily.
Ellison keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.

Ellison is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellison thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cage slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellison manages to get to full guard.
Ellison keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Ellison looking for a sweep. Not yet Ellison, not yet.
Cage wants to pass the guard but Ellison is keeping the position.

Cage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage postures 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.

Ellison looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cage wants to pass the guard but Ellison is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ellison instigates a clinch.
Cage looking for a takedown.
Ellison scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ellison has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cage avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ellison is working for takedown but Cage is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cage goes for a takedown attempt but Ellison pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Cage fails to land with a series of punches.
Ellison tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cage swivels and escapes.
Nicolas Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Ellison.
Ellison is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellison fails with the takedown

and Cage counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ellison looking for submissions off his back.
Ellison is staying active underneath Cage, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cage moves nicely into side control.

Cage decides to stand back up. Cage steps back and let's Ellison get back to his feet.
Cage tests Ellison's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Ellison feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ellison trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage 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.
Ellison postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cage working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ellison.
Ellison trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Cage dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ellison looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cage!
Ellison unloading with bombs!
Cage slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ellison is looking to take a break and control but Cage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ellison throwing shots but Cage is blocking nicely.
Ellison is trying to control. Cage wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellison is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage wants to control but Ellison is keeping busy.

Ellison is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Cage has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ellison throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ellison is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Cage has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cage wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ellison thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cage's head.
Cage is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ellison scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ellison is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cage circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ellison with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cage counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to control the action but Ellison is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellison manages to get back to half guard.
Ellison is in trouble now - Cage has advanced to mount!
Ellison really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ellison is squirming around, avoiding Cage's attempts to control the action.
Ellison tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cage mounts Ellison! Really nice guard pass there!
Ellison is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cage can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ellison is looking to escape.
Ellison sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cage is pressing down on Ellison's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ellison is holding on for now.
Ellison wants to improve his position but Cage is controlling well.
Ellison trying to control here.
Ellison tries to roll over but Cage keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Ellison will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ellison rushes Cage and presses him up against the cage.
Cage prevents the takedown attempt.
Ellison stalling in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ellison.
The is referee keeping an eye on Ellison - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ellison is working for takedown but Cage is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ellison gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ellison stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ellison throws a strike but Cage rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellison throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Cage wants to pass the guard but Ellison is keeping the position.
Cage trying to control but Ellison is working from the bottom.

Ellison is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cage wants to control from the top but Ellison keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cage pushing down on Ellison's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Ellison kicks Cage off and gets back to his feet.
Cage jabs Ellison right on the nose. Ellison blinks but takes it well.
Ellison throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage lands a glancing blow to the side of Ellison's head.
Ellison shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cage decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ellison's guard.
Nicolas Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Ellison.
Cage tries to free his leg and advance position but Ellison is retaining full guard.
Ellison manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nicolas Cage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cage is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellison content just to control the position here.
Ellison throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ellison misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ellison jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cage is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cage and Ellison has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

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

Ellison goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cage rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ellison's guard! Nice work there by Cage!
Ellison wants to stand and escape but Cage is having none of it.

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 Nicolas Cage.
I think Cage 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nicolas Cage!