PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Army (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Church
vs
Army

208 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Art Army!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Church.
Church tries to clinch up.
Art Army seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Church shoots in looking for a takedown but Army manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Church's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
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.
Church will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Army closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Army slows the pace down.
Army wants to control but Church is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Army slows the pace down.
Church tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Army wants to lay and pray for a moment but Church keeps working.
Church is being controlled here.

Army tries for a kimura but Church is defending well.
Church is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Army swings around for an armbar but Church sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Army's guard.
Army has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Army looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Army wants to stand but Church is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church stopping the sweep attempt from Army.
Army is looking to stand up but Church isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Army looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Church is fending him off so far but Army persists. Nope, Church circles away and we're back to standing.
Church tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Army swivels and escapes.
Army shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Church as he avoids it easily.
It appears Church was looking to counter with a kick there.
Church changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Army tries to avoid it but Church manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Army to the ground. Army escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four 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.
Army is trying hard to land a takedown here. Church sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A leg kick checked by Church.
Church takes a swing at Army's ribcage but misses.

Army gets a takedown into half guard.

Church kicks Army off and gets back to his feet.
Army looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Church tries to clinch up but Army circles away and keeps his distance.
Church throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

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

That was a close round but I would say that Benjamin Church will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Army feints and as Church raises his hands in defense, Army changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Army stopping the sweep attempt from Church.
Church being controlled here, momentarily.
Church keeping moving, preventing Army from controlling successfully.
Church is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Army controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Army trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.
Church pulls Army in close to his closed guard and prevents Army from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Church is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Army is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Army stops a takedown attempt from Church.
Church tries for a takedown but Army manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Army decides to pull guard.
Army controls Church momentarily but Church frees himself.
Church trying to control the position from guard on top but Army is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Army looking to control.
Army is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Church is controlling him.
Army looking for a sweep. Not yet Army, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Army is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Church wants to control from the top but Army keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Army lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Church circles away quickly and effectively.
Church changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Army rushes Church and presses him up against the cage.

Army decides to pull guard.
Art Army has got the better of the ground game so far.
Army wants to sweep but no luck.
Army looking to control.
Church engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Army is proving hard to escape from.
Army is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Army keeping moving, preventing Church from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Army wants to stand up but Church is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Art Army showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Army forces Church back against the cage and clinches.
Army prevents a takedown attempt there.

Army breaks from the clinch.

Army has taken the fight to the clinch.
Army can't find room to land a body shot as Church controls the action.
Church wants a takedown.
Army has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Church.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Church is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Army is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Army has clasped his hands together around Church's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Army throws a strike aimed at the side of Church's head but Church avoids it well.
Army misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Army wants to stand but Church has his arm trapped.
Army trying to control the position but Church is working away.
Army working the ground and pound.

Army tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Army has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Army scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Church to see if he's OK.
Army wants to stand but Church has his arm trapped.

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.
Army is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Church's shoulder. That is not cool.

Army tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Army has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Army trying to control the action but Church is working from the bottom.

Army is trying to get an arm triangle but Church is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Army tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Church tries to clinch there but Army circles away.
Church tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Army is able to avoid easily.

Army drives through with a takedown into guard.
Army must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Church looking for a sweep. Not yet Church, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Army postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Church is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Church throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Army throwing strikes from guard but Church blocks nicely.
Army slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Army tries to stand but Church is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Art Army comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Army 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Art Army!