PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom McReary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxwell Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Church has chosen The Stroke by Billy Squire as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McReary
vs
Church

178 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

184 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom McReary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Maxwell Church!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Church gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McReary scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Church 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.
McReary wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.
McReary stands up over Church, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Church is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McReary content to stall in guard here.
McReary throws and elbow that misses. Church uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McReary's guard. Nice move by Church!

Church drops back looking for a leg! McReary is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McReary manages to kick Church off! Church jumps back into McReary's guard.
McReary is pulling down on Church's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McReary is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McReary wants to sweep but no luck.
McReary lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Church!
Church is trying to reverse the position but instead McReary has taken his back - oops!

Church is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if McReary gets his way!
McReary is looking to control Church but Church is wriggling around and keeping busy.
McReary is trying to stick to Church's back but Church is turning into McReary. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McReary's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Church.
McReary is trying to control the position but Church postures up.
McReary is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Church is controlling him.
Church stopping the sweep attempt from McReary.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McReary is breathing heavily.
Church passes into half guard.
McReary is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Church is keen to just control but McReary is a slippery customer.
Church 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.
Church passes to full mount!

Church has control of McReary's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McReary regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Church is working for a guillotine from mount but McReary frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McReary can't escape the position.
Church is landing with some decent strikes but McReary is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Church looking to finish McReary with some ground and pound. This is bad for McReary!
McReary is trying desperately to improve position.
McReary wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Church looking for the choke from the back.
McReary looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Church has the hooks in. McReary is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
McReary just trying to survive but Church is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
McReary turns into Church and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McReary wants to stand but Church has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
McReary postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Church keeping moving, preventing McReary from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McReary feints and as Church raises his hands in defense, McReary changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Church working for submissions but it's allowed McReary to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McReary is looking for a kimura here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McReary is figuring out what he wants to do next.

McReary is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Church is just riding it out for now. McReary eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Church dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McReary throws a series of strikes that have Church backpedaling.
Church throws a shot from downtown. McReary moves away and avoids it.
Nice body kick there by McReary.
Horrible takedown by McReary or perhaps it was just good defense by Church which made him look bad.
Church misses with a takedown attempt

and McReary counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Church!
McReary tries to control but Church wriggling away.
McReary with the ground and pound from mount.
Church keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Church is breathing heavily.
Church is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McReary breaks from Church's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McReary lands a heavy elbow.
Church working to try and regain half guard.
Church taking shots to the head.

McReary working for a submission but Church is keeping him at bay.
Church keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McReary lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Church hang on?
Church wants to hold on but McReary pushes him away.
Church can't escape the position.
Church is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Church manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Church is pressing down on McReary's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McReary is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Church Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McReary's back instead.

Church looking to break McReary's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. McReary remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Church will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McReary fending off the submission attempt from Church.
McReary tries to escape the position.
McReary trying to control but not successfully.
McReary has hold of Church's arm. He needs to escape this position sooner or later but for now he's happy enough to control the position and prevent the submission attempts.
McReary manages to reverse the position and now he's in Church's guard. Nice work there by McReary.
McReary stands and throws Church's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McReary trying to control the action but Church is working from the bottom.
McReary tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Church tries to buck McReary off but McReary is having none of it.
McReary knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Church on the ground.
McReary has knee on belly and moves into mount.
McReary content just to control the position here.

McReary has hold of Church's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Church manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McReary lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Church is trying desperately to improve position.
McReary tries to control but Church wriggling away.
Church bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

McReary throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Church gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McReary shoots and misses

and Church counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maxwell Church has got the better of the ground game so far.

McReary looking for submissions off his back.
McReary regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Church showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

McReary feints and as Church raises his hands in defense, McReary changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McReary preventing the sweep.
McReary trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Church looking for a guillotine here but McReary defends easily.
McReary in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Church looking for a guillotine here but McReary defends easily.
McReary wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.

Church looking for a triangle here. McReary is fighting it but it looks tight! Church pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, McReary is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Maxwell Church!