PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elvin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson has chosen Heartbeat as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Church
vs
Johnson

204 cm
23
162 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

171 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Elvin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chad Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Church shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Church decides to return to a standing position.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Church moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Church really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson throws a right and a left that Church avoids nicely.
Church will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Church counters with a shoot takedown. Johnson fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Church stands up from Johnson's guard - Church perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Church keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson shoots and misses

and Church counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Church has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johnson uses from the top position.
Church doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Johnson won't allow Church to sweep him here.
Church has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.
Church will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Church looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

Church throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church wants to stand but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Church working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Church managing to control the position.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Church pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Church circles away.
Elvin Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Johnson.
Horrible takedown by Johnson or perhaps it was just good defense by Church which made him look bad.

Church shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson looks winded!
Johnson looking to control.
Johnson wants to control the position but Church says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Johnson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Church is working away from the top position though.
Church content to control rather than advance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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.

Elvin Church dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Church has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

Church pulls Johnson into guard.
Church looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Church controlling Johnson's posture.
Church wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Church had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chad Johnson.
Church displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.

Church gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Johnson successfully pulls guard.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Church controls the pace.
Church stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson controls Church momentarily but Church frees himself.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Church pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Chad Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Church manages to avoid it.
Church fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Church counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Church manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.
Church stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johnson working for a triangle but Church defends it easily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Church controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church postures up.
Church pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Church accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Church has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Church slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Church defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Church knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Johnson on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Elvin Church wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Church counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Johnson tries to bench press Church off him but Church keeps the position.
Church tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Johnson looks to move to half guard but instead Church has passed into mount! Damn!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Church controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elvin Church dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a combination

and Church moves into the clinch.
Church stalling against the cage.
Church lands an uppercut.

Church lands a takedown into guard.
Church is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Johnson is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Church rolls with it to try and escape but Johnson cranks on the arm and Church is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chad Johnson!