PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Forbes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sinclair Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Church has chosen Jesus is Just Alright 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.

Forbes
vs
Church

169 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hunter Forbes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sinclair Church!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Chris Dean and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Forbes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Forbes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Church wants to control but Forbes is keeping busy.
Church is trying to get back to full guard.
Church trying to control but Forbes postures up.
Church is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Forbes is staying active.
Church wants to get back to full guard.
Forbes blocks the strikes from Church.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Church can do anything to dispel that myth.
Church preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Church strikes from the bottom but Forbes passes into mount!
Forbes trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forbes is really struggling to control Church but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Church sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Forbes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Church is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Forbes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Church tries to roll over but Forbes keeps him under control.
Church keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Church is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Forbes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Forbes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Church wants to improve his position but Forbes is controlling well.
Church wants to control but Forbes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Church fails in his attempt to clinch.

Church gets a clinch.

Forbes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Church is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Forbes to the mat. Forbes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Church keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Forbes's head.
Church wants to control from the top but Forbes keeps moving.
Church postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Church looking to pass the guard.
Forbes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Forbes keeping moving, preventing Church from controlling successfully.
Church throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Church missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Church postures up in Forbes's guard and throws a big left but Forbes blocks it.
Forbes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Church trying to control but Forbes is working from the bottom.
Church throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Forbes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Church stands up over Forbes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Church's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Church with a flurry of punches that miss.
Forbes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Church working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Church wants to control from the top but Forbes keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Forbes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Church accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Forbes has his hands on Church's head, controlling the position.
Church is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

Church fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Forbes, 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 has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Forbes is trying to keep an underhook but Church manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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!
Church thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Forbes's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Church changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Forbes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Check out the look on Church's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Forbes is trying to get back to his feet.
Sinclair Church has got the better of the ground game so far.
Forbes taking punishment in the form of punches.
Church working the strikes but Forbes uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Church working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Forbes's thigh. Forbes counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Forbes keeping moving, preventing Church from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Church accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Church preventing the sweep.
Church throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Forbes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Church accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Church throwing strikes but missing.
Church missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Church throwing strikes from guard but Forbes blocks nicely.
Church works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Forbes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Church.
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.
Forbes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Church.
Church working the head and body with strikes.
Forbes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Church is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Forbes is refusing to be controlled, as Church sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Church missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Forbes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Church.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Forbes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Church.
Forbes wants to improve his position but Church is controlling well.
Church slips a nice elbow through Forbes's hands, connecting with Forbes's forehead.
Church lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church lands strikes from half guard.
Church keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Forbes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Church.
Church controlling the pace.
Church is stalling here. Forbes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Church seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Forbes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Church sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Church has his hands clasped together around Forbes's back. He's all about the action.
Forbes is keen to just control but Church is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church manages to get to full guard.
Church is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Forbes stopping the sweep attempt from Church.
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.
Church keeping moving, preventing Forbes from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sinclair Church showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Church is looking to clinch but Forbes is avoiding it.
Church tries to clinch up but Forbes circles away and keeps his distance.

Church rushes Forbes and presses him up against the cage.

Church has hold of one of Forbes's legs. Forbes is fighting the takedown attempt but Church gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Church is looking to work some ground and pound but Forbes has wrist control.
Church advances position into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Church.
Church scores with punches from side control.
Forbes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Church off and has taken his back!
Church is in bad spot here.
Forbes is not going to allow Church to sit and survive in this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church is really stuck here.
Church takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Church is keeping busy.
Forbes controlling well, preventing Church from escaping the position.
Church has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Forbes is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Forbes gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Forbes gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Forbes apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Church doesn't manage to clinch there - Forbes circles away.

Church shoots in and bounces Forbes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Church showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Church trying to control the position from guard on top but Forbes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sinclair Church has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Church feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Church trying to control but Forbes is working from the bottom.
Church in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Church is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Church throws a strike but Forbes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Church has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forbes chips away with some ground and pound.
Forbes landing some decent shots from guard.
Church striking off his back but it's not causing Forbes any problems.
Church pulls Forbes in close to prevent any damage.
Forbes preventing the sweep.
Church is trying to keep Forbes in close.
Forbes stopping the sweep attempt from Church.
Church keeping moving, preventing Forbes from controlling successfully.
Church controls Forbes momentarily but Forbes frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sinclair Church hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fight stays on the outside here - Church looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Forbes swats away the attempt to clinch by Church.
Church tries to clinch up but Forbes circles away and keeps his distance.

Church fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Forbes to the ground. Church is now in Forbes's guard.
Church throwing strikes but missing.
Church throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Forbes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Church is controlling him.
Hunter Forbes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sinclair Church is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Church looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sinclair Church comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Church has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sinclair Church!
After winning the bout, Sinclair Church thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.