PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Church
vs
Anderson

184 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Church defends well and Anderson ends up having to push Church into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Anderson looks to move away, Church throws a big counter combo but Anderson just gets out of the way.

Church moves into the clinch.
Church can't get the takedown.
Church jumps guard but Anderson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Church pulls guard.
Anderson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Church moves into full guard.
Anderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Church controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
Church trying to control the position.

Church working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Anderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Anderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Church trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Church is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anderson prevents Church from getting back to his feet.
Anderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Church is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Church tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Church looking to control.
Church preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Church not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Anderson fails with the takedown.
Anderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but Church shows good takedown defense.
Alex Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Anderson.

Anderson takes the fight into the clinch.
Anderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Church is defending well for now.

Church drags the fight down to the ground.
Church manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Anderson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Church's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Church throws an elbow that misses. Anderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Church's guard. Nice move by Anderson!

Anderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Church wants to get back to his feet but Anderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Church looking for a sweep. Not yet Church, not yet.
Church is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Anderson prevents Church from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Church wants to get back to his feet but Anderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Church wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Church working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Church is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

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

Alex Church dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Church fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anderson dives in and grabs Church's left leg, looking for a takedown. Church pushes down on Anderson's head and hops out.
Anderson shoots in and drives through. Church sprawls well.
Church throws a big counter combination but Anderson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Anderson misses with a takedown
and Church counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anderson thinking.
Alex Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Anderson.
Anderson fails with the takedown.
Church appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church tries to clinch but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson is breathing heavily.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Church moves out of range easily.
Church is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in and drives through. Church sprawls well.

Church gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Anderson is pushing Church up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Anderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Church has double underhooks.
Anderson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Church smiles and moves away.

Church gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson can't break the clinch.
Church wants a takedown but no success here.
Church jumps guard but Anderson stands there with Church around his waist. Church gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Church is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Church.
Church tries to pull guard but Anderson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Anderson jumps guard but Church stands there with Anderson around his waist. Anderson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Church tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Anderson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Church is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anderson can do to turn this around?

Anderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Church defends it nicely.
Church went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Anderson darts in and clinches Church up against the cage.
Church is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Anderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Church trying to stall but Anderson improves his position.
Church has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Anderson after a bit of a struggle.
Anderson pushes Church back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

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 Anderson uses from the top position.

Church looking for a guillotine here but Anderson defends easily.

Church is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.

Anderson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Anderson rushes Church and presses him up against the cage.
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 Alex Church will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Church stuffs the takedown attempt from Anderson. Anderson gets slowly back to his feet.

Anderson rushes Church and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Church manages to pull guard.
Anderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Church throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Church seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Anderson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Church can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Anderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Church landing with the ground and pound.
Church is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Anderson wants to sweep here but Church controlling him for the moment.
Church has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Anderson is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson has momentary wrist control but Church slips an elbow through the middle.
Church is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Church cracks Anderson with a solid left hand.
Church working some strikes from top position.
Church working some strikes from top position.
Church scoring with punches to the head and body.
Church trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Church content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Church is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Anderson wants to sweep here but Church controlling him for the moment.
Church lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Church throwing strikes but missing.
Anderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church scoring with punches to the head and body.

Anderson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Church has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Church tries to pull guard but Anderson holds him up against the cage and eventually Church drops back down to his feet.
Anderson stalling the fight.
Church tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Church tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anderson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Church tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Anderson just stands there and leans against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28

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