PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dewey Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arion Belial (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dewey Church has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Church
vs
Belial

212 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dewey Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arion Belial!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belial moves into the clinch successfully.
Belial tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Church takes an elbow to the forehead.
Belial is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Church on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Belial misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Church.
Church gets underhooks to prevent Belial's takedown attempt.

Church manages to pull guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Belial preventing the sweep.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Church manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Church prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dewey Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arion Belial.

Church breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belial throws a half hearted mid kick.
Arion Belial seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Church rushes Belial and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Church.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belial is trying to push Church away but Church has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Belial breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Church showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Belial.

Church closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Church throws an elbow that misses.

Church's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belial shoots in looking for a takedown. Church tries to sprawl out of it but Belial 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.

Belial moves into the clinch successfully.
Belial jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Church walks away with a smile on his face. Belial gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Belial shoots and misses
and Church counters with a right hand to the body.

Belial moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belial is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Church prevents Belial from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Belial has Church pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Church manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Belial looks winded!

Church jumps guard.

Church working for a triangle but Belial defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Church throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Belial trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Church had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Belial defends it easily.
Church bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belial's guard.

Church is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Belial looking to control.
Church is stalling in the full guard.

Church drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Belial manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Church has Belial in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church looking for a sweep. Not yet Church, not yet.
Church has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Belial has passed into side control.
Belial wants to control but Church is keeping him busy.
Church is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Belial's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Church trying to get back to full guard but Belial takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belial tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dewey Church dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Belial there.
Belial misses with a jab, cross combination.
Church tries a head kick but it misses.
Dewey Church is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Church displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Belial.
Belial shoots in looking for a takedown but Church manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Belial's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Belial looks to land a body kick but Church moved away.

Belial has managed to clinch.
A short uppercut from Belial.
Church has Belial pressed against the cage, preventing Belial from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Belial fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dewey Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arion Belial.
Church keeps control of Belial as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Belial is looking to break free of the clinch but Church has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Belial has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Church gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Church prevents Belial from improving his position.

Church is looking for a kimura here.
Church not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Belial flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Church is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Church looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Belial sees it coming and defends easily.
Church will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belial tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Church manages to move to mount!

Church get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belial throws a head kick that misses.

Belial clinches up against the cage.
Belial is trying to break free.
Belial fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Belial breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belial fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belial is breathing heavily.
Belial shoots in looking for a takedown. Church tries to sprawl out of it but Belial 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.

Belial has managed to clinch.
Church keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Belial's efforts to push away.
Belial is trying to drag Church to the mat but Church just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church keeps control of Belial as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Belial tries to pull guard but Church forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Church lands a good knee to the midsection. Belial won't want to take too many of those.
Belial is trying to break free.
Belial lands with a left to the head.
Church keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Belial's efforts to push away.
Belial trying to control the position but instead, Church has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belial into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Church decides to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arion Belial will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Church fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Belial throws a head kick that misses.

Belial clinches up with Church and pushes him back against the cage.

Church successfully pulls guard.
Belial wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.

Church has his feet on Belial's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Belial with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Church shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Church takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Belial shoots in and drives through. Church sprawls well.

Belial darts in and clinches Church up against the cage.

Church has Belial pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Church pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Belial tumbling to the mat - Church dives into Belial's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Church thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Church trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Church thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Church wants to pass the guard but Belial is keeping the position.
Belial is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Church trying to control the position from guard on top but Belial is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belial trying to keep a closed guard but Church is proving a slippery customer.
Church trying to control the position from guard on top but Belial is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Church throws a big elbow that misses.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Church rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belial moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Belial lands an overhand right.
Belial lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Church at a distance.

Belial tries to keep at a distance but Church has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church jumps guard but Belial turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dewey Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belial jumps guard but Church stands there with Belial around his waist. Belial gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Church tries to pull guard but Belial forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Belial jumps guard but Church turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Church escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Belial.
Belial throws a right and a left that both miss.

Church drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belial thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Church drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Church jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belial looking for a sweep. Not yet Belial, not yet.
Belial manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Belial prevents Church from getting the reversal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Church is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Church taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dewey Church.
I think Church has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dewey Church!