PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merlin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Bowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Church
vs
Bowen

187 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Merlin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Bowen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Bowen actively working from the bottom here.
Bowen has his hands clasped together around Church's back. He's all about the action.
Bowen tries to get to full guard but Church has control of the leg.
Church takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Church thows a huge punch but Bowen dodges it nicely.
Bowen is trying to stand.
Church missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bowen is looking for a sweep. Church is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowen wants to control but Church is keeping busy.
Church thows a huge punch but Bowen dodges it nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bowen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bowen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bowen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bowen is looking for a triangle but Church pushes his legs off easily.
Bowen trying to control the position.

Church gets to his feet - Bowen follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bowen as he avoids it easily.

Bowen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bowen tries to move to mount but Church blocks the move with his legs.

Church sneaks out the side door and pushes Bowen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bowen moves into the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Church.
Bowen stalling in the clinch but Church improves position.

Bowen pulls Church into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bowen is working an open guard so Church takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bowen looks winded!
No joy there for Bowen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Bowen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Church tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bowen is in Church's guard.

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

Church working for a triangle but Bowen defends it easily.
Church working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Church is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Church keeping moving, preventing Bowen from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bowen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Bowen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bowen feints and as Church raises his hands in defense, Bowen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alexander Bowen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Church looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bowen passes into side control.
Bowen trying to control the position but Church is working away.
Church is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bowen is controlling him well.

Bowen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Church to his feet.
Bowen slaps away a takedown attempt from Church, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Church tries to sprawl but Bowen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowen is looking to take a break and control but Church is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Church tries to get to full guard but Bowen has control of the leg.
Bowen trying to control the pace.
Church is not content to let Bowen control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Bowen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Church avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church slips a jab and a cross from Bowen.
Bowen throws a right and a left that both miss.

Church tries to sprawl but Bowen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bowen not doing much here.

Bowen moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Church.
Bowen working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowen landing a few strikes.
Church taking a bit of punishment here - Bowen scoring with strikes.
Bowen controlling from side mount.
Church wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Bowen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Bowen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowen decides to pull guard.
Bowen looking to control.

Church stands and steps away. Bowen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Church shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bowen pinned against the cage. Bowen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Church is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Church shoots in for a takedown but Bowen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merlin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bowen clinches with his opponent.
Bowen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Bowen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bowen throws the kick towards the body but Church avoids it.

Bowen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Church did well to prevent Bowen getting side control.
Church pushes Bowen off looking to stand but Bowen dives back in and keeps control.
Bowen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Bowen seems content to control.
Church regains full guard. Nicely done.

Bowen stands up and waves to Church to follow him.

Bowen closes the distance and pushes Church back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church wants to break free but Bowen has control.

Church breaks the clinch.

Bowen feints and as Church raises his hands in defense, Bowen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bowen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bowen prevents Church from getting back to his feet.
Church keeping moving, preventing Bowen from controlling successfully.

Alexander Bowen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Church moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bowen.

Bowen closes the distance and clinches.
Church has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Church is trying to break the clinch but Bowen is controlling him.
Bowen keeps control of Church as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Church tries to work over Bowen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Bowen lands a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Church escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bowen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church wants to stand but Bowen is controlling the position.
Bowen advances to half guard.

Bowen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Church is just riding it out for now. Bowen eventually gives up the hold.
Bowen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowen wants to control but Church is keeping him busy.
Bowen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bowen is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Bowen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Church has managed to free his arm - good work.

Bowen escapes and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Bowen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bowen 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Bowen!