PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Ellenberger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ellenberger has chosen Guano Apes - Open Your Eyes as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sabre
vs
Ellenberger

174 cm
25
178 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
182 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%
Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $75)

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Sabre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Ellenberger!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabre lands a nice looking body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabre.
Sabre throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ellenberger makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ellenberger fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sabre on the side of the head.
Sabre throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Ellenberger to counter with a crisp jab.
Sabre misses with a combination
and Ellenberger counters with a nice uppercut.
Ellenberger moves out of range as Sabre strikes.
Sabre scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabre throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sabre throws a looping overhand right but Ellenberger ducks down to avoid it.
Sabre throws a nice looking combination but Ellenberger bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ellenberger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sabre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ellenberger moves away.
Ellenberger connects with a jab.
Sabre misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sabre misses with a hook.

Sabre scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sabre wants to take a breather but Ellenberger is having none of it.
Ellenberger wants to improve his position but Sabre is controlling well.
Ellenberger tries to kick Sabre off but Sabre keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sabre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sabre sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ellenberger defending well though.
Sabre thows a huge punch but Ellenberger dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sabre not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ellenberger's head.
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!
Ellenberger looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sabre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ellenberger's head.
Sabre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ellenberger's head.
Ellenberger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sabre.
Ellenberger wants to improve his position but Sabre is controlling well.
Ellenberger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sabre.
Sabre missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ellenberger wants to control but Sabre is keeping busy.
Sabre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre is keen to just control but Ellenberger is a slippery customer.
Ellenberger keeping control of the position.
Sabre is trying to control. Ellenberger wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sabre not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellenberger is looking to control Sabre's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ellenberger avoid being mounted?
Sabre landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sabre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellenberger keeps working.
Ellenberger is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellenberger is looking to improve his position.
Sabre lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sabre throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ellenberger to regain full guard.
Sabre prevents Ellenberger from getting back to his feet.
Sabre trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellenberger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sabre throws a strike but Ellenberger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ellenberger working some strikes from top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

Sabre looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sabre looks to score with a jab to the body but Ellenberger is just out of range.
Sabre closes the distance and clinches up with Ellenberger, looking for a takedown. Sabre pushes Ellenberger against the cage but Ellenberger circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matt Sabre is winning the standup battle so far.
Ellenberger bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sabre's head.
Sabre fails to land with a series of punches.
Ellenberger's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sabre under the eye.
Nick Ellenberger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sabre is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ellenberger.
Sabre is looking to wear down Ellenberger with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ellenberger lands a head shot.

It looks like Matt Sabre has been cut.
A bone on bone clash there as Ellenberger blocks the leg kick.
Ellenberger throws a nice looking combination but Sabre bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice body punch from Sabre.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabre swings for the body but Ellenberger moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Ellenberger - just one landing.

Ellenberger gets the takedown into side control.
Ellenberger lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellenberger tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ellenberger looks up at the clock and then as Sabre takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ellenberger smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sabre seems a little lost for a moment, as Ellenberger dominates the positioning.
Sabre is looking to regain half guard here but Ellenberger keeps moving and retains side control.
Sabre taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ellenberger working the head with strikes.
Sabre is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ellenberger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Ellenberger gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sabre misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre misses with a body shot.
Sabre misses with a double jab.
Sabre lands a nice hook to Ellenberger's body. Ellenberger takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sabre, as that shot connected.
Sabre throws a right hand that misses
and Sabre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ellenberger lands with a straight right. Sabre didn't see that one coming.
Ellenberger misses with a straight left.
Sabre just misses with a punch to the body.
Sabre shoots for a takedown but Ellenberger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ellenberger looking to score a takedown here. Sabre is defending well but Ellenberger drives through and ends up in Sabre's guard.
Ellenberger controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nick Ellenberger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ellenberger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellenberger trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellenberger won't allow Sabre to sweep him here.
Ellenberger is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ellenberger preventing the sweep.
Ellenberger sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ellenberger landing some decent shots from guard.
Ellenberger postures up and lands a big shot to Sabre's brow.
Ellenberger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sabre is keeping the position for now.
Sabre keeping moving, preventing Ellenberger from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ellenberger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ellenberger advances to half guard.
Sabre trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sabre manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ellenberger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sabre looking to control.

Sabre escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ellenberger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Ellenberger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Ellenberger there.
Ellenberger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sabre.
Matt Sabre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ellenberger.
Sabre misses with a left hand
and Ellenberger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ellenberger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sabre swings for the body but Ellenberger moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sabre. Ellenberger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Sabre.
Ellenberger bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sabre's head backwards.
Ellenberger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ellenberger lands with a hook. Sabre tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sabre is defended easily by Ellenberger.
Ellenberger cracks a nice hook into Sabre's ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sabre fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ellenberger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A slow jab from Sabre misses its intended target.
Ellenberger's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sabre under the eye.
Ellenberger leaves Sabre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ellenberger connects with a looping right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellenberger tries to bum rush Sabre with a series of wild strikes but Sabre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sabre with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabre gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sabre throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ellenberger stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Ellenberger gets a takedown into half guard.
Ellenberger lands strikes from half guard.
Sabre has hold of Ellenberger's hands but Ellenberger slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sabre trying to control from the bottom.
Sabre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sabre is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellenberger is keen to just control but Sabre is a slippery customer.
Ellenberger winds up and cracks Sabre with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sabre is looking for a sweep. Ellenberger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ellenberger seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Ellenberger.
Ellenberger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sabre is not content to let Ellenberger control the position.
Ellenberger slows the pace down in half guard.
Ellenberger looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabre is trying to get back to full guard.
Ellenberger lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ellenberger is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sabre is staying active underneath Ellenberger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ellenberger is controlling the pace.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ellenberger working Sabre over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Ellenberger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ellenberger 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Ellenberger!
An out of breath Nick Ellenberger thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.