PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Churchill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hendrix Erlanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Churchill comes to the cage accompanied by Louie Armstrong -When the Saints go Marching In. Erlanderson has chosen Voodoo Chile as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Churchill
vs
Erlanderson

174 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
29
141 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benjamin Churchill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hendrix Erlanderson!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erlanderson misses with a body punch
and Churchill counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Hendrix Erlanderson has been cut.
Churchill is looking to clinch but Erlanderson is avoiding it.
Churchill doesn't manage to clinch there - Erlanderson circles away.
Churchill changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Erlanderson tries to avoid it but Churchill manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Erlanderson to the ground. Erlanderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Erlanderson stuns Churchill with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Churchill shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Erlanderson as he jumps to the side.
Erlanderson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Erlanderson throws out a leg kick but Churchill moves out of range and Erlanderson only half commits.
Erlanderson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Erlanderson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Erlanderson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Erlanderson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Churchill cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Erlanderson misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Erlanderson. No joy for Churchill on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Churchill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erlanderson throws a leg kick
and Churchill counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erlanderson misses with a body shot
and Churchill counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Erlanderson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A low kick from Erlanderson is predictable there
and Churchill counters with a nice body kick.
Erlanderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Churchill, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Erlanderson throws a solid leg kick but Churchill takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Erlanderson.
Erlanderson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Erlanderson working hard to break the clinch.

Churchill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Churchill shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Erlanderson counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Erlanderson. Churchill does a little dance to reset his feet.
Horrible takedown by Churchill or perhaps it was just good defense by Erlanderson which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erlanderson throws a body kick the misses
and Churchill counters with a one-two to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Churchill.
Erlanderson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Erlanderson looks gassed!
Erlanderson misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Churchill counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Erlanderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Churchill will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Erlanderson up against the cage.
Churchill changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Erlanderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Erlanderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill misses with a takedown attempt
and Erlanderson counters with a left to the body.
Churchill tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Erlanderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Churchill closes the distance and clinches.
Churchill is trying to drag Erlanderson to the mat but Erlanderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Churchill has Erlanderson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Erlanderson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Erlanderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Churchill ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Churchill keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Erlanderson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Churchill rather than just go for the knockout.
Erlanderson stuffs the takedown.
Churchill throws a head kick that misses.
Erlanderson misses with a right hand
and Churchill counters with a three punch combo that has Erlanderson backing up. Erlanderson nods at Churchill to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erlanderson throws a front kick aimed at Churchill's knee but Churchill avoids it well.
Churchill blocks a low kick nicely.
Churchill wants to clinch up but Erlanderson keeps it at a distance.
Churchill shoots in looking for a takedown but Erlanderson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Churchill's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Erlanderson looks for a takedown but Churchill sprawls well.
Churchill has a takedown stuffed.

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

Churchill breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Churchill moves out of range as Erlanderson throws a body kick.

Churchill looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Churchill is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Churchill dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hendrix Erlanderson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Churchill throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Erlanderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Churchill finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Erlanderson wants to sweep here but Churchill controlling him for the moment.
Erlanderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Churchill wants to pass the guard but Erlanderson is keeping the position.
Churchill wants to get up but he can't break Erlanderson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erlanderson pulls Churchill in to control the position.
Erlanderson is breathing heavily.
Erlanderson keeping moving, preventing Churchill from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Churchill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Churchill trying to control the position from guard on top but Erlanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Benjamin Churchill wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Churchill shoots in for a takedown but Erlanderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Churchill with that takedown attempt.
Erlanderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Churchill, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Churchill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Churchill throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Churchill has his takedown stuffed

and Erlanderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Erlanderson stops Churchill from getting back to his feet.
Churchill is in trouble now - Erlanderson has advanced to mount!
Churchill tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Erlanderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Erlanderson avoids the attempt from Churchill to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill is trying desperately to improve position.
Erlanderson avoids the attempt from Churchill to control.
Churchill really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four 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.
Churchill tries to lock up and control but Erlanderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Churchill is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hendrix Erlanderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hendrix Erlanderson's cut.
That's time! Churchill's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Churchill doesn't manage to clinch there - Erlanderson circles away.
Churchill connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Churchill changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Erlanderson tries to avoid it but Churchill manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Erlanderson to the ground. Erlanderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Churchill shoots and misses
and Erlanderson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Erlanderson misses.
Churchill tries to close the distance and clinch up but Erlanderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Churchill with a poor takedown

and Erlanderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjamin Churchill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erlanderson wants to get back to his feet.
Churchill looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Churchill has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Erlanderson is working away from the top position though.
Erlanderson prevents Churchill from improving his position.
Churchill is working hard here to advance position.
Churchill is pressing down on Erlanderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

Churchill looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Churchill is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Churchill pulls Erlanderson in to control the position.
Churchill is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Erlanderson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Churchill's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Churchill looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Churchill lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Erlanderson backs up against the cage.
Churchill is trying hard to land a takedown here. Erlanderson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Churchill drives through and clinches with Erlanderson against the cage.
Churchill looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erlanderson tries to break free but Churchill pushes him back against the cage.
Churchill tries to pull guard but Erlanderson won't allow it.
Erlanderson stops a takedown attempt from Churchill.
Erlanderson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Erlanderson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Churchill stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Churchill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Churchill closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Churchill wants to stand up but Erlanderson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Erlanderson is looking for a sweep. Churchill is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Benjamin Churchill.
I think Churchill has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Churchill!