It was a statement night for Brian Ellis at Power Slap 17, as he secured a hard-fought victory over Ro Montana in Saudi Arabia. After a string of tough results, Ellis showed grit, composure, and the kind of determination fans have been waiting to see from him. Speaking with Slap News after the win, Ellis made it clear — he’s not done climbing, and his next target might already be talking too much.
“I needed that one.”
The win wasn’t just another W for Ellis — it was personal.
“Man, it feels good,” he said. “I feel like I needed that. I had to make a statement — just one step closer to getting back up the rankings.”
Round one wasn’t the cleanest, with both fighters dealing with positioning and flinches, but once Ellis settled in, he began finding his rhythm.
“That first round, my foot came up and he flinched. It was kind of awkward both sides, but taking that hit was easy,” he explained. “After that, I was locked in and focused.”
Adapting to the challenge
Standing tall with a wingspan compared to Jon Jones, Ellis faced a unique problem — his own size. Delivering clean strikes against a shorter opponent proved tricky.
“My hits were a little high,” he admitted. “I’ve got to work on getting that target down better, especially against shorter guys. I was trying to put too much power into it.”
Even in the box, Ellis looked uncomfortable — crouched, adjusting, and still figuring out how to make his frame work with the setup.
“I’ve got size 17 shoes,” he laughed. “They even adjusted me because my foot was moving out of the box. I just have to practice keeping them closer and staying solid.”
Despite the awkward stance, Ellis powered through and made it count when it mattered most.
“I wasn’t comfortable — but I made it work.”
The Power Slap box isn’t made for everyone, and Ellis admitted it wasn’t ideal.
“It was awkward,” he said. “The refs make you push your belly against the table and stick your chin out. It’s not how I like to stand, but I made it work.”
That adaptability and mental focus might have been the difference.
Calling out Nate Burnard
Now back in the win column, Ellis already has someone in his sights — Nate Burnard.
“I’m ready for whoever, man,” Ellis said. “Really, I want Nate. He’s been running his mouth a bit. I thought we were cool, but if he doesn’t think I’m taking this seriously, I’ll show him how serious I can be.”
Burnard currently sits inside the top five, and Ellis believes a showdown could help him reclaim his spot among the elite.
“That fight I had with Aaron Turner — that was a fluke,” Ellis admitted. “I wasn’t taking it serious that week, but you won’t see that again.”
If Power Slap offers him a rematch with Turner first, Ellis says he’s in — but he’s also aiming higher.
“I’d take it, sure,” he said. “He’s solid. But I want somebody harder than that. Nate makes sense. That’d be a good one.”
Family, fajitas, and focus
After the win, Ellis took time to relax with his family — celebrating in true laid-back fashion.
“Man, I had some fajitas out here, and they were actually really good,” he said, smiling. “Went to a hookah bar with my mom, girlfriend, and my god-sister. We had a few mocktails, enjoyed the scenery — it was a great night.”
For Ellis, Power Slap 17 wasn’t just a comeback. It was proof that he’s still a threat — and maybe, just one fight away from making another run at the top.
Up next? If Nate Burnard’s been talking, Brian Ellis just answered — loud and clear.