PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DJ Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes to the cage accompanied by Burn. DJ Martinez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Martinez
vs
Ellis

175 cm
21
152 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Martinez!
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, Dominic Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Martinez. No joy for Ellis on that attempt.
Ellis tries for a takedown but Martinez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Martinez stuffs the takedown.
DJ Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominic Ellis.
Martinez tries to clinch up but Ellis circles away and keeps his distance.
Ellis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ellis clinches with his opponent.

Martinez breaks the clinch.

Martinez clinches up against the cage.

Martinez jumps guard and drags Ellis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
Ellis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Martinez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ellis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ellis is controlling him.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
Ellis stops Martinez from standing up.
Martinez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Martinez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but Ellis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez working a defensive guard here.
Ellis wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ellis tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martinez.
Martinez throws a combination that misses

and Ellis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Martinez's guard now.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellis pushing down on Martinez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Martinez is not content to let Ellis control the position.
Ellis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ellis uses his free foot to push down on Martinez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Martinez.
Ellis landing punches.
Ellis punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ellis lands a nice shot to the head.
Ellis raining down hammerfists from mount.
Ellis is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Martinez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ellis cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ellis tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.
Ellis landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ellis is landing with some decent strikes but Martinez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Martinez taking shots to the head.
Martinez wants to control but Ellis is having none of it.
Martinez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ellis scoring with strikes but Martinez is staying in there.

Martinez is rocked!
Ellis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ellis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Martinez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ellis tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.
Ellis working Martinez over with strikes here.
Ellis wants to control the pace but Martinez is squirming around nicely.
Ellis with the ground and pound from mount.
Martinez regains half guard.
Ellis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ellis frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martinez working to try and regain half guard.
Martinez is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Ellis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ellis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martinez moves out of range of the strikes.
Ellis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Martinez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Martinez working the body and head with strikes.
Ellis is looking to reverse the position.
Martinez tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dominic Ellis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Martinez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ellis tries to clinch up.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
DJ Martinez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries to bum rush Ellis with a series of wild strikes but Ellis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ellis swinging wildly here.
Nice jab there from Martinez.

Ellis has managed to clinch.

Martinez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martinez slips under a jab.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ellis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ellis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martinez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown but Ellis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellis fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
DJ Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ellis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martinez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ellis lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Martinez down.
Ellis lands a nice forearm strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ellis advances nicely into full mount.
Ellis is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ellis scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ellis lands a nice shot to the head.
Martinez tries to hold on but Ellis postures up.
Ellis pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ellis breaks from Martinez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ellis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ellis looking to control but Martinez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Martinez is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Martinez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Ellis looking to control but Martinez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martinez really wants to buck Ellis off and get back to his feet.
Martinez tries to hold on but Ellis postures up.
Martinez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.
Martinez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ellis is landing with some decent strikes but Martinez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ellis raining down hammerfists from mount.
Martinez is desperately trying to improve his position but Ellis has a good base and remains in mount.
Ellis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez tries to hold on but Ellis pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Ellis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ellis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Martinez did well to prevent Ellis getting side control.
Martinez is looking to escape.

Martinez is defending against the submission attempts here by Ellis.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ellis landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ellis is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ellis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Martinez won't allow Ellis to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ellis is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ellis is pressing down on Martinez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martinez is holding on for now.
Ellis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dominic Ellis.

Ellis gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.
Martinez has Ellis pressed against the cage, preventing Ellis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ellis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Martinez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Martinez.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ellis.
Martinez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Martinez throws a big shot that misses.
Ellis tries to clinch but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ellis sizes up Martinez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ellis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Martinez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ellis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Martinez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martinez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ellis is fending him off so far but Martinez persists. Nope, Ellis circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DJ Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ellis fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ellis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Martinez's guard.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ellis controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominic Ellis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl out of it but Ellis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martinez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez closes the distance and clinches up with Ellis, looking for a takedown. Martinez pushes Ellis against the cage but Ellis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martinez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ellis sprawls well. Ellis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Martinez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis wants to clinch.
Ellis wants to clinch up but Martinez keeps it at a distance.
Martinez shoots in and drives through. Ellis sprawls well.

Ellis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Martinez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Martinez is looking to regain half guard here but Ellis keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ellis controlling the position from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominic Ellis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ellis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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