PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Skip Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guy Hennequano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Church kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cher Lloyd - Swagger Jagger. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Guy Hennequano was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Church
vs
Hennequano

165 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Syndicate Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Skip Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Guy Hennequano!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church throws a right and a left that Hennequano avoids nicely.
Hennequano shoots in for a double leg but Church sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hennequano shoots in but no luck this time.
Church defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hennequano.
Skip Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guy Hennequano.
Hennequano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Church.

Church drives through and clinches with Hennequano against the cage.
Church lands with a right to the head.
Nice elbow from Church.
Hennequano tries to circle away but Church has him pinned against the cage.
Church keeps control of Hennequano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hennequano tries to circle away but Church has him pinned against the cage.

Church escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Church throws a series of punches but Hennequano moves out of range.
Church misses with the combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hennequano.
Decent striking displayed by Church there.
Church goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Church gets a clinch.

Church pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Church ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hennequano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Church misses.

Hennequano shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hennequano tries to pass to full mount but Church defends it.
Church knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hennequano on the ground.
Church is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Hennequano seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church is looking to improve his position.
Hennequano wants to pass the guard but Church is defending well.
Church is looking to escape.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hennequano in particular looking to stall.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Guy Hennequano.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hennequano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hennequano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Church as he avoids it easily.
Hennequano shoots in but no luck this time.
Hennequano lands a nice leg kick that just misses Church's sensitive parts.
Hennequano swats away the attempt to clinch by Church.
Church displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hennequano.
A combination from Church does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hennequano looks winded!

Hennequano tries to keep at a distance but Church has taken the fight into the clinch.
Church lands an elbow just above Hennequano 's eye.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Church.
Hennequano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Church has him pressed against the cage.
Church throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hennequanos head.
Church lands with a right to the head.

Church breaks the clinch.
Church rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hennequano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Church defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hennequano.
No joy there for Church, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Church feints a jab promting Hennequano to slip. Church then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hennequano slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hennequano checks a low kick from Church.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hennequano misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Church lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hennequano backwards.

Church breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hennequano throws a series of punches but Church avoids them all with ease.

Hennequano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hennequano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hennequano controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Skip Church will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Church scores with a hook to the body. Hennequano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Church closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hennequano shoots in looking for a takedown. Church tries to sprawl out of it but Hennequano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Church manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Church punishes Hennequano's body with a nice straight punch.
Church will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Church misses with a few strikes there.
Hennequano looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Church is fending him off so far but Hennequano persists. Nope, Church circles away and we're back to standing.
Hennequano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Skip Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guy Hennequano.

Hennequano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Church looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Church's face as Hennequano controls the position.
Church is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hennequano is controlling him well.
Church on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes there by Hennequano.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hennequano lands a few punches from side control.
Church wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Church tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hennequano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hennequano decides to stand back up. Hennequano steps back and let's Church get back to his feet.
Church lands with a good body shot.
Hennequano misses with a double jab.
Church leaves Hennequano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hennequano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Church throws a front kick aimed at Hennequano's knee but Hennequano avoids it well.
Church scores with a jab to the body.
Church throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Church scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Skip Church seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennequano looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Church is fending him off so far but Hennequano persists. Nope, Church circles away and we're back to standing.
Church is looking to clinch.

Church has managed to clinch.
Church scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Church escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Church misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Church.
Church tries to clinch but Hennequano moves out of range.

Hennequano closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Church is letting Hennequano control him for a moment.
Church can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hennequano remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hennequano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Church keeps working.
Church wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Guy Hennequano has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Church doesn't manage to clinch there - Hennequano circles away.
Church slaps away a takedown attempt from Hennequano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hennequano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hennequano throws a right and a left that Church avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hennequano swats away the attempt to clinch by Church.
Hennequano looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Church is fending him off so far but Hennequano persists. Nope, Church circles away and we're back to standing.
Skip Church is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hennequano gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Church.
Hennequano throws a series of punches but Church avoids them all with ease.
Church is looking to wear down Hennequano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A right-left combo lands from Church.
Hennequano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Church fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hennequano, pushing him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Church makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hennequano is looking for a takedown.

Church breaks from the clinch.

Church has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Skip Church will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hennequano tries to move into range but Church moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Skip Church is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Church lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hennequano's sensitive parts.
Hennequano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hennequano fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A nice combination there by Church.
Hennequano's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Church connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hennequano scrambles back to his feet.
Hennequano closes the distance and clinches up with Church, looking for a takedown. Hennequano pushes Church against the cage but Church circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Church is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Church lands with a good body shot.
Church fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hennequano misses the shot to the body.
Church fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Church digs a good hook to Hennequano's body.
Hennequano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Church was well out of range. Poor timing from Hennequano.
Hennequano shoots in but no luck this time.
Skip Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guy Hennequano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church stalks Hennequano and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hennequano's face. Hennequano staggers backwards, shaken.
Hennequano fails with a takedown attempt.
Church lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nice body punch from Church.
Church fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hennequano shoots in for a takedown but Church shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Church works over Hennequano's head and body with a nice combination.
Church displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hennequano shoots in for a double leg but Church sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Church lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hennequano backs up against the cage.
Skip Church is winning the standup battle so far.
Hennequano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Church's waist but Church gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hennequano off to one side.
Church cracks Hennequano with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hennequano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennequano takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Church lands a right hook to the body.
Church leaves Hennequano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Church connects with a body shot.
Hennequano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Church counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Church throws a series of punches but Hennequano avoids them all with ease.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hennequano shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Church is trying to defend but Hennequano finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hennequano controlling the pace.
Church wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hennequano decides to stand up.
Hennequano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Church moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Church is working the combinations to good effect here.

Church drives through and clinches with Hennequano against the cage.
Church makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Church prevents a takedown attempt there.
Church lands an elbow inside that Hennequano shrugs off.
Church lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Church breaks the clinch.
Church displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hennequano looks for a takedown but Church sprawls well.
Hennequano needs to keep his hands up - Church had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hennequano misses with a two punch combination.

Church rushes Hennequano and presses him up against the cage.
Church makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Church is working Hennequano over against the cage.

Church breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Church instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Church gets underhooks to prevent Hennequano's takedown attempt.

Church breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Church darts in and clinches Hennequano up against the cage.
Hennequano tries to break free but Church pushes him back against the cage.

Church breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hennequano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Skip Church is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Church comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Guy Hennequano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters circling - Hennequano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Skip Church showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Church, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skip Church!
Skip Church really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Syndicate Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.