PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luther Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by No Sunshine. Church is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: . Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pope
vs
Church

172 cm
27
157 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 Cardio
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 Cardio

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luther Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Church!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church is looking to slow Pope down with leg kicks.
Church keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pope misses the shot to the body.
Church just misses with a punch to the body.
Church throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Church wants to clinch up but Pope keeps it at a distance.
Church moves away from the strike by Pope.
Church keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A swing and a miss from Pope.
Church takes a swing at Pope's ribcage but misses.
Good leg kick by Church there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Church looks to throw the jab but Pope is out of range.
Nick Church seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Church thumps Pope with a low kick.
Pope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Church manages to avoid it.
Church moves into range and connects with a jab.
Pope misses with a hook. Church ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope checks a leg kick.
Pope takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Pope throws the left hand but Church avoids the punch easily.
Pope throws a leg kick but Church moved away.
Pope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sloppy strikes from Pope. Those never looked like landing.
A punch lands to the side of Pope 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Church.
Church lands with a good body shot.
Church is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pope rather than just go for the knockout.
Pope takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Church thumps Pope with a low kick.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Church comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Church misses the shot to the body.
Church lands a jab to Pope's midsection.
Pope throws a leg kick but Church sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pope keeps the fight on the outside.
Pope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Church manages to avoid it.
Church throws a head kick but Pope moves out of range.
Pope lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A slow jab from Pope misses its intended target.
Church throws the left hand but Pope avoids the punch easily.
Church swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.
Church finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pope just misses with a punch to the body.
Pope lands a slapping body shot.
Pope looks to score with a jab to the body but Church is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pope manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A clash of legs there as Pope blocks the low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Church. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Church connects with a right hand. Pope shakes it off.
Church on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Church ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Pope.
Pope misses with a wild combination.
Church misses with a shot to the body
and Pope counters with a head kick. That will keep Church thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Pope throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pope stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Church.
Church throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Church throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope defending well as Church loads up on a big left hand.
Pope misses with a right hand
and Pope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Church scores with a shot to the body.
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 is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Church pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pope is out of range and Church settles back down.
Church looks to score with a jab to the body but Pope is just out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Pope there.

Pope clinches up against the cage.
Pope lands with a left to the head.
Church tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pope tries to work over Church's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pope lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Church dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pope rushes Church and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pope misses with a body punch.
Church goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Church throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Stalling in the clinch from Church.
Church's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
Pope scores with a shot to the side of Church's head.
A right handed body shot lands from Pope.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Church controls the action.
Church tries a body shot but Pope blocks it.
Church blocks an uppercut.
Church misses with a punch to the body.
Pope prevents a body shot from Church.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Pope on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Church tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Pope stalling against the cage.
Church swings wildly with an uppercut but Pope uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.
Church digs a right hand into Pope's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pope's gas tank.
Pope lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pope pushes Church back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Church is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pope is keeping busy.
Church misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pope blocks a body shot from Church.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope blocks a body shot from Church.
Pope swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Pope struggles to land a body shot inside as Church controls his hands.
Church lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Church uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pope lands a left hand that snaps the head of Church backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Church misses with a body punch.
Pope lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Church scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pope misses with a body punch.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Church uses good head movement to avoid it.
Church working aggressively here.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church digs a right hand underneath Pope's ribcage. Pope let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Church digs a right hand underneath Pope's ribcage. Pope let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Church misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Church throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pope misses with the head strike.
Pope misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pope works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Luther Pope has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Church tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Church uses good head movement to avoid it.
Church misses with some punches.
Church takes a shot to the head.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Church lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Church has a couple of punches blocked by Pope.
Pope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Church blocks a body shot from Pope.
Church lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pope or not.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Church.
Church lands a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope stalling in the clinch.
Pope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pope lands a left hand.
Church blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pope taking a breather.
Church tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Church lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Church tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Church lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Church lands with a short shot to the head.
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 Luther Pope will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Church tests Pope's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pope thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Pope misses the target.
Church throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nick Church seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Church scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pope lands a leg kick that knocks Church off balance momentarily.
A punch lands to the side of Pope 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Church looks to score with a jab to the body but Pope is just out of range.

Pope has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Church misses with a hook to the ribs.
Church scores with a shoulder strike.
Church pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Church is trying to stall.
Church lands a hook that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Pope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Church controls the action.
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pope tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pope tries to stall but Church uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Church trying to control the position but instead, Pope has worked for underhooks and has pushed Church into the cage.
Pope blocks a body shot from Church.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pope.
Church struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Pope swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Church is leaning against Pope and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Pope blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Church.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Church controls the action.
Pope lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Church backwards.
Pope working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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 head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
A left hand lands to the body for Church.
Church lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pope blocks a body shot from Church.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church works on Pope's body with a couple of short punches.
Church lands a left hand.
Pope blocks a body shot from Church.
Church tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Pope lands a body punch.
Church misses with a punch to the body.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Church.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Church tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Church works on Pope's body with a couple of short punches.
Church lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Church takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Church misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to work over Pope's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Church wants to stall.
Pope tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pope tries to work over Church's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Church misses with a punch to the body.
Pope struggles to land a body shot inside as Church controls his hands.
Church blocks an uppercut.
Church struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Church can't find room to land a body shot as Pope controls the action.
Church struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Pope throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:30

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