The episode 3 matchup of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 should be familiar to Invicta FC fans.
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman shares her thoughts on the Jessica Penne – Lisa Ellis throwdown.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Team Pettis fighter Jessica Penne prepares to enter the Octagon. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Wiseman: While the entire fight was played up as something wild was going to happen, the facts pretty much set things up to be predictable. Penne has been active since Women’s MMA has taken off while Ellis started a family and needed time away.
Team Melendez fighter Lisa Ellis prepares to enter the Octagon before facing team Pettis fighter Jessica Penn. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Penne has battled amongst the best in Invicta while Ellis had a child, then needed recovery time, before going back to training. Could she have grown a ton while training in that time?
Team Melendez fighter Lisa Ellis gets her hands wrapped before facing team Pettis fighter Jessica Penne. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Ellis is no doubt better today than two years ago, but her lack of experience since her face was rearranged with Penne previously is what would have better prepared her for the re-match. Another factor was Ellis missing home.
Team Pettis fighter Jessica Penne controls the body of team Melendez fighter Lisa Ellis. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Most mothers have a difficult time leaving their child home with a babysitter after that first year and here is Ellis unable to see her child for six weeks. That would be difficult on the strongest of people.
Team Pettis fighter Jessica Penne punches team Melendez fighter Lisa Ellis. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The experience and the homesickness really put Ellis at a huge disadvantage. Penne established her jab, reversed a takedown and remained in control to set up a submission.
Well crap… I'm not a pretty crier! I wish they would have let people know I got injured a week before the fight too @UltimateFighter
— Lisa Ellis (@LisaEllis115) September 25, 2014
Team Pettis fighter Jessica Penne celebrates her victory over team Melendez fighter Lisa Ellis. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
A fine showing for Penne. Ellis just needs more practice after such a long layoff. Next week we have Carla Esparaza vs. Angela Hill.
Yes, the #1 female fighter versus #16.
