PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Agustin Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Cetan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xander Cetan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ellis
vs
Cetan

189 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Agustin Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xander Cetan!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cetan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ellis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cetan shoots in for a takedown but Ellis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cetan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cetan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ellis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ellis blocks a head kick by Cetan.
Cetan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cetan shoots in for a double leg but Ellis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cetan tries a low kick but Ellis avoids it.
Cetan tries to clinch but Ellis moves away
and Ellis counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cetan.
Agustin Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Cetan.
Ellis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ellis takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cetan throws a right and a left that both miss.
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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Ellis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cetan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ellis.

Ellis is working for a kimura but Cetan is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cetan trying to control here.
Cetan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cetan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ellis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cetan wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellis is keen to just control but Cetan is a slippery customer.
Cetan is trying to get back to full guard.
Cetan is not content to let Ellis control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Agustin Ellis.
Cetan tries to clinch up but Ellis circles away and keeps his distance.
Xander Cetan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cetan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ellis backs up against the cage.
Ellis moves in looking to clinch but Cetan pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cetan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ellis avoids it really well and circles away.
Cetan looks winded!
Ellis swats away the attempt to clinch by Cetan.
Ellis shoots in but no luck this time.
Cetan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ellis as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cetan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cetan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cetan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ellis circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Ellis counter with a right hand.
Ellis avoids the head kick by Cetan.
Cetan tries for a takedown but Ellis circles away easily
and Ellis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellis shoots in for a double leg but Cetan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ellis shoots in looking for a takedown. Cetan tries to sprawl out of it but Ellis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cetan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cetan is defended easily by Ellis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cetan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cetan looks for a takedown but Ellis sprawls well.
Agustin Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Cetan.
Cetan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cetan is breathing heavily.

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.
Ellis defending well as Cetan loads up on a big left hand.
Cetan throws a wild body kick that Ellis sees coming a mile off.
Ellis is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cetan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ellis swivels and escapes.
Cetan misses with a head kick.

Cetan gets caught flat footed, as Ellis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cetan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ellis.
Ellis wants to control from the top but Cetan keeps moving.
Cetan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis trying to control but Cetan is working from the bottom.
Cetan trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ellis doesn't manage to clinch there - Cetan circles away.
Cetan tries for a takedown but Ellis circles away easily
and Ellis counters with a nice uppercut.
Ellis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cetan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ellis somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cetan shoots in but Ellis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Xander Cetan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ellis fails with the takedown.
Xander Cetan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ellis gets a takedown into half guard.

Cetan is defending against the submission attempts here by Ellis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Agustin Ellis dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ellis keeps the fight on the outside.

Cetan clinches.
Ellis tries to circle away but Cetan has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cetan goes for a takedown attempt but Ellis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cetan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ellis counters with a series of strikes. Cetan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cetan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cetan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ellis quickly recovers to half guard.
Ellis is doing well to control the position and prevent Cetan from advancing to side control.

Ellis is defending against the submission attempts here by Cetan.
Cetan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ellis tries to roll over but Cetan keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cetan.
Cetan is trying to control. Ellis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Agustin Ellis.
Cetan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cetan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ellis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cetan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ellis counters by moving into the clinch.
Cetan tries to pull guard but Ellis won't allow it.
Agustin Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Cetan.
A frustrated look appears on Ellis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ellis tries to pull guard but Cetan won't allow it.
Ellis blocks an elbow strike from Cetan.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cetan.
Ellis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cetan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ellis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cetan stuffs the takedown attempt from Ellis. Ellis gets slowly back to his feet.
Cetan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ellis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Cetan has managed to clinch.
Ellis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ellis wants a takedown.
Cetan lands a body punch in the clinch.

Cetan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ellis dives in and grabs Cetan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cetan pushes down on Ellis's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Cetan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cetan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Cetan!