PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Churchill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Churchill
vs
Storm

173 cm
22
177 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
26
185 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hugo Churchill !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felix Storm!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm closes the distance and clinches up with Churchill , looking for a takedown. Storm pushes Churchill against the cage but Churchill circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Storm fails with the takedown

and Churchill counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Churchill advances to half guard.
Storm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Churchill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Churchill is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Churchill is trying to control the action in half guard but Storm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Churchill .
Storm has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Soco na mãe - Stand Up Striking. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Churchill tries to pass the half guard into mount. Storm knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Churchill slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Churchill moves nicely into side control.
Churchill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Storm keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Storm wants to control but Churchill postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Churchill controlling the position from side mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Churchill fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Storm changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Churchill tries to avoid it but Storm manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Churchill to the ground. Churchill escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hugo Churchill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Storm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Churchill .

Storm tries to sprawl but Churchill drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Churchill slips a nice elbow through Storm's hands, connecting with Storm's forehead.
Churchill tries to pass to full mount but Storm defends it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Churchill is trying to control the action in half guard but Storm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Churchill takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Storm drives through with a takedown into Churchill 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Storm tries for a takedown but Churchill sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Felix Storm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Churchill with a poor takedown

and Storm counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Storm.
Churchill is controlling Storm's posture.
Churchill is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Churchill lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm keeping moving, preventing Churchill from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Storm is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Storm keeping full guard, as Churchill tries to pass.
Churchill trying to control but Storm is working from the bottom.
Churchill sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Storm keeping full guard, as Churchill tries to pass.
Churchill trying to control but Storm is working from the bottom.

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

Churchill got a little sloppy there for a moment and Storm has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Churchill has managed to get both his arms back between Storm's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Churchill misses with a takedown attempt - Storm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Churchill looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Churchill is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Storm's half guard.
Storm is looking to improve his position.
Churchill trying to control from Storm's half guard. Storm has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Churchill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Churchill is pushing down on Storm's leg trying to pass to half guard. Storm is fighting to maintain full guard but Churchill has managed to sneak the leg through.
Churchill is taking a breather. Storm says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Storm moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Storm manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Churchill manages to get himself to full guard.

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

A close second round but Felix Storm will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Churchill will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Storm stuffs the takedown attempt from Churchill . Churchill gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Churchill is defended easily by Storm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Churchill . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Storm is defended easily by Churchill .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Churchill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Storm quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Storm is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Churchill pulls his head out easily.
Churchill stalling.
Churchill thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Storm's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Churchill seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Storm is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Hugo Churchill !