PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elvin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Poppins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Poppins will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Church
vs
Poppins

204 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Elvin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Poppins!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church swats away the attempt to clinch by Poppins.
Church shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Poppins but Poppins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mario Poppins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Church keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sloppy strikes from Poppins. Those never looked like landing.

Church moves into the clinch.

Poppins wants the takedown. Church is fighting it off but Poppins persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Church's guard against the cage.
Poppins wants to get up but he can't break Church's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Poppins is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Poppins trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.
Church looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppins trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poppins is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mario Poppins was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Poppins shoots for a double leg takedown but Church sprawls well. He's pushed Poppins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Church with a poor takedown
and Poppins counters with a thumping low kick.
Poppins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Church is fending him off so far but Poppins persists. Nope, Church circles away and we're back to standing.
Elvin Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Poppins.
Poppins looks winded!
Church defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Poppins.
Poppins shoots in but Church avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Church gets a clinch.

Church jumps guard and drags Poppins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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 looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church pulls Poppins in close to prevent any damage.
Poppins wants to stand but Church is controlling his posture from full guard.
Church controls Poppins momentarily but Poppins frees himself.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Elvin Church has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Poppins tries to clinch but Church moves away
and Church counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Church.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Church does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins tries to clinch up but Church circles away and keeps his distance.
Church fails in his attempt to clinch.
Church fails to land the takedown.
Church tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Poppins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poppins throws a series of punches but Church moves out of range.
Poppins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Church circles away.
Church stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Poppins.
Church shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Poppins but Poppins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Poppins looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church fails with a takedown attempt.
Church is trying hard to land a takedown here. Poppins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Poppins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Church sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Poppins somewhat.
Poppins throws a nice head kick!
Poppins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Church cracks Poppins with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Church dives in and grabs Poppins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poppins pushes down on Church's head and hops out.
Church throws a sloppy head kick
and Poppins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mario Poppins will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Church instigates a clinch.
Church wants to get back to striking at distance but Poppins won't allow it.
Church drops down looking for an ankle pick but Poppins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Church misses with a leg kick
and Poppins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Church closes the distance and clinches up with Poppins, looking for a takedown. Church pushes Poppins against the cage but Poppins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Poppins doesn't manage to clinch there - Church circles away.
Church shoots in and drives through. Poppins sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elvin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Poppins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Church. No joy for Poppins on that attempt.
Elvin Church is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Church fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Poppins avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Church on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Poppins. Poppins obviously looking to wear him down.
Poppins shoots in but Church avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Church moves out of range of the body kick.
That kick from Poppins tenderised Church's leg. Church is trying to keep his angry face on.

Church tries to keep at a distance but Poppins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Church goes for a takedown in the clinch but Poppins prevents it.
Church is working for takedown but Poppins is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Poppins smiles and moves away.
Church tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poppins swivels and escapes.
Poppins tries to clinch there but Church circles away.
Poppins throws a nice looking combination but Church bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Poppins throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Church's head.
Poppins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Church swivels and escapes.
Mario Poppins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Church moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Church fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church wants to clinch but Poppins slips to the side
and Poppins counters with a nice kick to the body.
Poppins checks a low kick from Church.
Poppins fails with a takedown attempt.
Church throws a front kick aimed at Poppins's knee but Poppins avoids it well.

Church clinches up with Poppins and pushes him back against the cage.
Church taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Poppins breaks from the clinch.
Church shoots in and drives through. Poppins sprawls well.
Poppins throws a head kick that misses.
Poppins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poppins shoots in for a takedown but Church shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Church clinches up with Poppins and pushes him back against the cage.
Church tries to break free but Poppins pushes him back against the cage.

Poppins breaks the clinch.
Church throws a low kick but Poppins avoids it.
Church shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Poppins pinned against the cage. Poppins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Church circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Poppins has Church up against the cage in a clinch.
Poppins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mario Poppins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Church tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poppins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Poppins throws a head kick that misses.
Church tries to clinch but Poppins is having none of it.
Church tries for a takedown but Poppins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Church drives through and clinches with Poppins against the cage.

Poppins manages to break the clinch.

Poppins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Poppins is trying to break the clinch but Church has him pressed against the cage.
Church wants to break free but Poppins has control.

Poppins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Church fails to land the takedown.
No joy there for Church, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Poppins forces Church back against the cage and clinches.

Poppins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Poppins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Poppins with that takedown attempt.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poppins tries to clinch but Church moves out of range.
Church displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Poppins.

Church rushes Poppins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Poppins up against the cage.
Poppins is trying to force a seperation but Church has the dominant position.
Poppins working hard to break the clinch.
Poppins letting Church take a breather here.
Church is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poppins to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elvin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Church jumps guard and drags Poppins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Church not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poppins trying to control but Church is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Church swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Church trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Poppins preventing the sweep.
Church pulls Poppins in close to his closed guard and prevents Poppins from doing any damage or advancing position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Poppins throws a series of punches but Church moves out of range.
Poppins throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poppins swivels and escapes.
Poppins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Church pinned against the cage. Church gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Church throws a sloppy head kick and Poppins moves out of range easily.
Poppins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Church stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Church wants it to stay on the feet.
Poppins checks a leg kick.
Church fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poppins misses with a lunging right hand

and Church counters by clinching up.
Church jumps guard but Poppins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Elvin Church has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mario Poppins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Church.

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 Elvin Church.
I think Poppins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Poppins!