PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 2147 p4p, 2490 weight class) and Dereon Church (ranked 258 p4p, 282 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maia
vs
Church

181 cm
20
190
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
192
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Pulling Guard

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dereon Church!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Ben Hemmingworth and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Church tries to buck Maia off but Maia is having none of it.

Maia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Church is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maia tries to move into full mount but can't pass Church's legs.
Church is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.
Church looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Maia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Church is letting Maia control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church is looking for a sweep.
Church keeps trying to improve his position.

Maia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Church is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Church manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
Church is pressing down on Maia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maia is holding on for now.
Maia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Church's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Church's back!
Maia trying to control.

Maia is looking for the choke from the back position but Church is controlling his hands well.
Church is really stuck here.

Maia is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Church taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Maia.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Demian Maia!
Our winner, Demian Maia, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.