PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darius Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett McCurley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ellis's entrance music is D-Town Boogie. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ellis
vs
McCurley

203 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brett McCurley!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCurley fails with a takedown attempt.

Ellis closes the distance and clinches.

Ellis gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
McCurley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McCurley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ellis is looking to advance position but McCurley has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ellis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ellis tries to control McCurley's head but McCurley pushes him back down and moves quickly to lock up an arm here - he's swung around for an armbar! Will he get it??? Yes! Ellis is tapping out! Lovely Jiu Jitsu there!
Ellis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ellis tries to hold on but McCurley pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis regains half guard.
Ellis tries to get to full guard but McCurley has control of the leg.
McCurley is keen to just control but Ellis is a slippery customer.

Ellis is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but McCurley pulls his head out easily.
Ellis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ellis is refusing to be controlled, as McCurley sits in half guard.
Ellis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCurley.
McCurley trying to control from half guard but Ellis is working away.
Ellis tries to roll over but McCurley keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ellis has managed to clinch.

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.
McCurley trying to stall but Ellis improves his position.
Ellis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCurley can't break the clinch.
McCurley gets underhooks to prevent Ellis's takedown attempt.
Ellis wants to break free but McCurley has control.
Ellis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCurley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ellis has him pressed against the cage.
Ellis tries to stall but McCurley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McCurley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ellis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McCurley has had enough of the clinch but Ellis keeps him there for the moment.
Ellis leaning against his opponent.
Nice elbow from McCurley.
Ellis managing to block the knees to the body from McCurley.
McCurley dodges an elbow strike from Ellis.

McCurley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McCurley checks a leg kick.

Ellis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ellis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ellis is breathing heavily.
Ellis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McCurley because Ellis loaded up on that one.
McCurley is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCurley is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ellis looking to control and managing it successfully.
McCurley flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
McCurley sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ellis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ellis is tying to control. McCurley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McCurley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ellis is tying to control. McCurley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ellis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ellis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McCurley works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four 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.
McCurley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ellis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCurley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ellis as he jumps to the side.
Darius Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett McCurley.
Nice shot by McCurley.
Ellis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCurley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ellis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ellis.
McCurley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ellis with a nice head shot there.
McCurley keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCurley is trying to keep Ellis in close.

Ellis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McCurley, up you get!
McCurley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Ellis 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.

Ellis scores a takedown into full mount!
McCurley is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCurley wants to hold on but Ellis pushes him away.
McCurley is squirming around, avoiding Ellis's attempts to control the action.
Ellis fails to take his opponent's back.
McCurley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McCurley is squirming around, avoiding Ellis's attempts to control the action.
McCurley working to try and regain half guard.
Ellis is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McCurley is looking to escape.
Ellis unloads with some shots from mount but McCurley bucks and avoids them well.

Ellis is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, McCurley has managed to escape the submission attempt.
McCurley is trying to stand.

Ellis has hold of McCurley's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and McCurley manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ellis with shots to the head and body - McCurley looks very uncomfortable down there.
McCurley tries to hold on but Ellis pushes him away.
McCurley has given up his back.

McCurley is in a bad position with Ellis working for a choke. McCurley manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.
Ellis is controlling McCurley's posture.
McCurley wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Ellis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McCurley is controlling him.
Ellis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ellis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McCurley doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McCurley manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McCurley wants to stand but Ellis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing McCurley from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCurley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ellis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McCurley wants to sweep here but Ellis controlling him for the moment.

Ellis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McCurley dives on top into guard.
McCurley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCurley postures up.
Ellis tries to strike from the bottom.
Ellis pulls McCurley in to control the position.
Darius Ellis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCurley trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
Ellis controls McCurley momentarily but McCurley frees himself.
McCurley is fighting to break Ellis's control of his arms but Ellis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCurley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ellis striking off his back but it's not causing McCurley any problems.
McCurley wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Ellis working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ellis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Ellis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McCurley sprawls well initially but Ellis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ellis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McCurley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McCurley won't allow Ellis to pass to mount.
Ellis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Ellis dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ellis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ellis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McCurley is avoiding damage well.

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

Ellis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ellis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCurley knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ellis tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellis working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCurley is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ellis throws an elbow but McCurley slips to the side and avoids it well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCurley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Ellis shoots in and bounces McCurley off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ellis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCurley is keeping the position for now.
Ellis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Ellis drops back looking for a leg! McCurley is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McCurley manages to kick Ellis off! Ellis jumps back into McCurley's guard.
Ellis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCurley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCurley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ellis controls the pace.
Ellis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCurley is keeping the position for now.
Ellis wants to control from the top but McCurley keeps moving.
Ellis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ellis moves into full mount! McCurley won't be happy about that!
Ellis wants to control the pace but McCurley is squirming around nicely.
McCurley taking shots to the head.
Ellis trying to control but McCurley is having none of it.

Ellis is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McCurley is surviving well by controlling Ellis's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCurley wants to hold on but Ellis pushes him away.

Ellis goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now McCurley is on top in guard.
McCurley wants to control from the top but Ellis keeps moving.
Ellis trying to keep a closed guard but McCurley is proving a slippery customer.
Ellis wants to sweep here but McCurley controlling him for the moment.
Ellis is looking to stand up but McCurley isn't so interested in that idea.

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.
Ellis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

McCurley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ellis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCurley misses with a takedown
and Ellis counters with a nice uppercut.
McCurley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ellis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McCurley's guard now.
McCurley keeping full guard, as Ellis tries to pass.
McCurley throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Brett McCurley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McCurley is looking for a triangle but Ellis pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darius Ellis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ellis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

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