PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Terry (ranked 5980 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Ellis (ranked 5989 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.

Terry
vs
Ellis

195 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sammy Terry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Terry fails with a takedown attempt.
Ellis misses with a takedown attempt - Terry sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ellis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Terry dives in and grabs Ellis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ellis pushes down on Terry's head and hops out.
Terry shoots in but Ellis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Ellis misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Terry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Terry counters with a body kick that stops Ellis in his tracks momentarily.

Ellis closes the distance and clinches.
Ellis tries to pull guard but Terry holds him up against the cage and eventually Ellis drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Terry with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Terry has Ellis pushed against the cage.
Terry 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 trying to drag Terry to the mat but Terry just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Ellis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Terry trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Terry stopping the sweep attempt from Ellis.
Ellis seems keen to control Terry's posture.

Terry drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ellis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ellis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ellis!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Terry's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Terry is looking to reverse the position.
Terry struggling a bit here.

Ellis decides to stand back up. Ellis steps back and let's Terry get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ellis closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Terry - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ellis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Terry landing knees to the head.
Terry stalling in the clinch but Ellis improves position.
Ellis lands a nice uppercut.

It looks like Sammy Terry has been cut.
Terry taking a breather.
Ellis stalling in the clinch.
Ellis is trying to break free.
Terry has Ellis pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Terry is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Terry content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sammy Terry.
Terry avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ben Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Terry goes for a double leg but Ellis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ellis continues to drive forward.
Ellis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Terry pinned against the cage. Terry gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ellis closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Terry lands an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Terry trying to stall but Ellis improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Ellis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sammy Terry's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ellis misses with a takedown attempt - Terry sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ellis throws a head kick but Terry moves out of range.
Ellis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Terry fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Terry. No joy for Ellis on that attempt.
Terry throwing a counter right hand but Ellis manages to avoid it.
Ellis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Terry doesn't seem bothered though.
Terry leaves Ellis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sammy Terry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Ellis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terry doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ellis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Terry is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Terry stalling the fight.
Terry throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Terry throws an elbow but it misses.
Terry is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Terry is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sammy Terry.
Terry fails with the takedown

and Ellis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ellis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Terry manages to break the clinch.

Ellis clinches up against the cage.
Ellis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Terry prevents it.
Terry will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ellis up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ellis is looking to take this one to the mat.

Ellis jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Terry trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
Ellis pulls Terry in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terry has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ellis is proving hard to escape from.
Terry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ellis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Terry defends well.
Terry preventing the sweep.
Terry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ellis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Terry is controlling him.
Ellis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Terry.

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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ellis clinches.
Terry manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ellis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Terry walks away with a smile on his face. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Terry shoots in looking for a takedown but Ellis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Terry's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Terry throws a head kick that misses.
Ellis unleashes a big counter combination but Terry bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Ellis moves into range and clinches up with Terry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Terry tries to stall but Ellis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Terry is trying to stall.
Maybe Terry would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Ellis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sammy Terry's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Terry looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ellis wants to counter the offense by Terry and move into the clinch position.
Ellis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Terry sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ellis somewhat.
Ellis fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Terry looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Terry fails with the takedown
and Ellis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Terry stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Terry wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Terry looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ellis decides to stand back up. Ellis steps back and let's Terry get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ellis misses with a takedown attempt - Terry sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Terry went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sammy Terry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Ellis.
Terry shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ellis as he avoids it easily.

Terry tries to keep at a distance but Ellis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ellis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Terry is defending well.
Terry is trying to maintain a safe position but Ellis gets an underhook and turns Terry into the cage.

Ellis gets control of Terry's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ellis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ellis pulls Terry in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Terry wants to stand but Ellis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Terry trying to control but Ellis is working from the bottom.
Ellis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Terry is one step ahead there.
Ben Ellis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ellis is working an open guard so Terry takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terry fails to land the takedown.
Sammy Terry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Terry tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ellis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ellis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ellis.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ellis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ellis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Terry was well out of range. Poor timing from Ellis.
Nice sprawl there from Terry as Ellis shoots in.
Ellis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Terry circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis stuffs the takedown.
Ellis fails to land the takedown.

Terry gets the takedown into side control.
Terry is putting a hurting on Ellis here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Terry working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ellis regains half guard there - taking advantage of Terry's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Ellis wants to control but Terry is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Ellis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ellis 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

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