PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Richmond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darios Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richmond
vs
Ellis

177 cm
19
178 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Richmond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darios Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richmond throws a series of punches but Ellis avoids them all with ease.
Ellis misses with the combination.
Richmond shoots in for a takedown but Ellis shows good takedown defense.
Richmond uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ellis.
Ellis with a hook.

It looks like Damian Richmond has been cut.
Ellis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Richmond stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richmond wants it to stay on the feet.
Richmond throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ellis darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ellis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Darios Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Richmond pushes Ellis up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Richmond gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Richmond is pressed up against the cage. Ellis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Richmond down to the mat. Richmond avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Damian Richmond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darios Ellis.
Richmond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ellis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellis misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ellis misses with a low kick.
Richmond tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ellis defends well and Richmond ends up having to push Ellis into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ellis breaks from the clinch.
Richmond looks for a takedown but Ellis sprawls well.
Richmond will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ellis closes the distance and clinches.
Ellis wants to take the fight to the mat but Richmond manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ellis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Richmond pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice uppercut lands for Ellis. That snapped Richmond's head back.
Richmond closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ellis circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Richmond shoots in but no luck this time.
Richmond is breathing heavily.

Richmond gets a clinch.
Ellis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Richmond is defending well.
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 Richmond walks away with a smile on his face. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ellis thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Richmond lands a right hook to the body.
Ellis fails to land the takedown.
Richmond throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ellis's waist but Ellis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Richmond off to one side.
Sloppy strikes from Ellis. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis misses with a shot to the body

and Richmond counters by clinching up.
Ellis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Richmond prevents Ellis from breaking the clinch.
Ellis can't get the takedown.

Richmond jumps guard and drags Ellis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ellis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richmond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ellis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Richmond controls Ellis momentarily but Ellis frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richmond preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richmond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ellis trying to control the position from guard on top but Richmond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ellis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Richmond is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ellis is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ellis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ellis throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darios Ellis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damian Richmond'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.

Richmond misses with a few strikes there.
Ellis throws a right hand that Richmond ducks under and follows up with a left that Richmond also avoids with ease.
Ellis lands a body shot.
Ellis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richmond keeps the fight on the outside.
Ellis shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Richmond eats them both and turns towards Ellis to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Richmond showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ellis.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richmond is defended easily by Ellis.

Ellis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellis tries to score a body lock takedown but Richmond shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Richmond tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ellis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richmond somewhat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ellis moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ellis looks to land a combination but Richmond avoids it well.
Richmond slaps away a takedown attempt from Ellis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ellis throws a hook but Richmond blocks it.
Richmond misses with an attempted mid kick.
Darios Ellis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richmond scores with a one two! Ellis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Richmond tries to clinch but Ellis moves out of range.
Ellis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown. Richmond tries to sprawl out of it but Ellis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richmond manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Damian Richmond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darios Ellis.
Ellis on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ellis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ellis moves out of range as Richmond throws a body kick.
Richmond stuffs the takedown attempt from Ellis. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richmond shoots in and drives through. Ellis sprawls well.
Ellis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richmond throws a head kick but Ellis moves out of range.
Richmond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis lands a two punch combo.
Richmond shoots for a double leg takedown but Ellis sprawls well. He's pushed Richmond's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Richmond sprawls well. Richmond wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet.
Richmond shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ellis defends it nicely.
Ellis throws a low kick but Richmond moves out of range easily.
Richmond misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richmond as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis avoids the body shot from Richmond.
Ellis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ellis throws a series of punches but Richmond avoids them all with ease.
Ellis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richmond circles away quickly and effectively.
Ellis checks a low kick from Richmond.
Richmond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ellis jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richmond dives in for a single leg takedown but Ellis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ellis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darios Ellis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damian Richmond'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!

Ellis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Ellis.
Ellis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Richmond cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ellis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richmond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richmond throws a sloppy head kick and Ellis moves out of range easily.
Ellis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Richmond is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ellis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richmond tries to clinch up but Ellis circles away and keeps his distance.
Richmond fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Richmond avoids the body shot from Ellis.
Ellis swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Richmond counter with a right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Richmond as Ellis shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Richmond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.
Ellis throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Richmond tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ellis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ellis cracks Richmond with a right hand to the side of the head.
Richmond checks the leg kick.
Richmond fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ellis.
Ellis misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richmond will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ellis misses with a hook.
Richmond slips under a jab from Ellis.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Richmond prevents a takedown attempt there.
Richmond has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ellis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Richmond.

Ellis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is trying to pull guard but Richmond has him pressed against the cage.
Ellis is looking to control Richmond's arms but Richmond gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ellis has his back to the cage.
Richmond lands a nice uppercut.

Ellis is trying to trip Richmond. He has hold of a leg but Richmond is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ellis persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Richmond throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ellis escapes and throws Richmond's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Ellis decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ellis moves in looking to clinch but Richmond pushes him off.
Richmond throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ellis rushes Richmond and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richmond.
Richmond displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ellis.
A head kick misses from Ellis.
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!
Richmond's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Richmond duly obliges.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown but Richmond manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ellis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richmond pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richmond.
Damian Richmond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darios Ellis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ellis shoots in for a takedown but Richmond shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darios 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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