PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elvin Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Bryson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elvin Church has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Church
vs
Bryson

204 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Elvin Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Bryson!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church dives in and grabs Bryson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bryson pushes down on Church's head and hops out.
Bryson tries to clinch but Church moves out of range.
Bryson tries to clinch but Church is having none of it.
Church shoots for a double leg takedown but Bryson sprawls well. He's pushed Church's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Church tries to clinch there but Bryson circles away.
Bryson darts in looking for a takedown but Church gets double underhooks and turns Bryson into the cage.
Church jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bryson walks away with a smile on his face. Church gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elvin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Church fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bryson is looking to clinch but Church is avoiding it.

Bryson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bryson has picked Church up - he's going for a ride! Bryson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bryson tries to stand and escape but Church is controlling the position.
Church wants to control but Bryson is keeping busy.
Church has his hands clasped together around Bryson's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Church regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bryson.
Bryson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bryson is looking to work some ground and pound but Church has wrist control.
Bryson postures up in Church's guard and throws a big left but Church blocks it.
Church pulls Bryson in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church keeping moving, preventing Bryson from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bryson is defended easily by Church.
Church tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryson goes for a double leg but Church avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Church continues to drive forward.
Church is pushing Bryson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Church tries to circle away but Bryson has him pinned against the cage.
Church is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryson breaks the clinch.
Church tries to clinch but Bryson is having none of it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Church is defended easily by Bryson.
Bryson dives in and grabs Church's left leg, looking for a takedown. Church pushes down on Bryson's head and hops out.
Church tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bryson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bryson tries to clinch up.
Bryson leaves Church with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Church has managed to clinch.
Church is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Church gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Church has Bryson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bryson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Church drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bryson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Church goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bryson prevents it.
Bryson fails to pull guard.
Church lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryson lands an uppercut.
Bryson has Church pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Church manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bryson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Bryson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bryson throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Elvin Church has been cut.
Bryson misses with a body kick.
Bryson dives in for a single leg takedown but Church sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Church wants a takedown but no success here.
Church drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Church tries for a takedown but Bryson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elvin Church. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Church tries to pull guard but Bryson won't allow it.
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.

Bryson manages to break the clinch.
Bryson tries a head kick but it misses.
Church tries to clinch up but Bryson circles away and keeps his distance.
Church pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Church.
Elvin Church is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Church shoots for a takedown but Bryson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Church is looking to clinch.
Church looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bryson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Church avoids the body shot from Bryson.
Bryson tries to clinch but Church is having none of it.
Church shoots in for a takedown but Bryson shows good takedown defense.
Church misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Bryson with that takedown attempt.
Bryson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bryson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Church.
Bryson looks for a takedown but Church sprawls well.
Church stuffs the takedown.

Church moves into the clinch successfully.
Church has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bryson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Church circles away quickly and effectively.

Bryson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bryson is stalling here.
Church is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bryson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bryson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bryson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Church's efforts to push away.
Church is trying to maintain a safe position but Bryson gets an underhook and turns Church into the cage.
Church tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bryson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Church tries to break free but Bryson pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bryson smiles and moves away.
Church slaps away a takedown attempt from Bryson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bryson shoots in but Church avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Church closes the distance and clinches up with Bryson, looking for a takedown. Church pushes Bryson against the cage but Bryson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryson shoots for a takedown but Church saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Paul Bryson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Church is defended easily by Bryson.
Church wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Bryson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Elvin Church's cut.
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!

Bryson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bryson tries for a takedown but Church sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Church.
Bryson swats away the attempt to clinch by Church.
Church shoots in but no luck this time.
Church shoots for a double leg takedown but Bryson sprawls well. He's pushed Church's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Church is looking to clinch but Bryson is avoiding it.
Church tries to clinch up but Bryson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bryson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Church swivels and escapes.
Elvin Church has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Bryson.
Bryson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Church.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryson wants to clinch.
Bryson misses with a double jab

and Church holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Bryson manages to pull guard.
Church trying to control but Bryson is working from the bottom.
Church engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryson keeping full guard, as Church tries to pass.
Church won't allow Bryson to get back to his feet.
Church stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bryson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Elvin Church has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bryson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Church tries to avoid it but Bryson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Church to the ground. Church escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Church shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bryson but Bryson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bryson pushes Church up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bryson is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bryson prevents Church from breaking the clinch.

Bryson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Church. No joy for Bryson on that attempt.
Church fails with a takedown attempt.
Church shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bryson but Bryson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Church defends well and Bryson ends up having to push Church into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Bryson.
Church has Bryson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bryson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Church is looking for a takedown.
Paul Bryson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Church jumps guard but Bryson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Bryson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bryson keeping moving, preventing Church from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Bryson.
Well Bryson 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Bryson!