Undefeated lightweights with identical 4-0 records occupied the penultimate slot on Tuesday night’s fight card as Californian Cameron Church squared off with Las Vegas resident Sherrard Blackledge inside the UFC Apex. Marc Goddard oversaw the action.
Church came forward pressing the action to start, reaching with his jab and low kicks before Blackledge closed the distance and initiated the clinch. Church was able to defend the takedown, separate and go back on the offensive, once again attacking with jabs and low kicks as Blackledge fired off counters ion return.
Right when it seemed as if Church was starting to find a rhythm, Blackledge drove through a double leg and put him on the canvas, but the Californian was able to quickly get back to his feet. Every time Church started to get into a flow, Blackledge would change up the terms of engagement, closing the distance and forcing Church to work from the clinch, and every time, Church would break free, return to the center, and resume slinging solid shots.
With under a minute to go in the round, Blackledge once again timed his level change perfectly, driving Church into the canvas, where he opened up with solid ground-and-pound through to the horn.
The lightweights got right back to slinging leather out of the chute to start the second, but the action was quickly halted as Blackledge connected with a sharp knee below the belt. Church took a minute to compose himself, but got right back after it, continuing to be the aggressor, though Blackledge did well to connect with quality shots moving backwards.
There was a second pause in the action two minutes into the frame, as Church returned the low blow favor to Blackledge, who took a knee and recovered, with both men drawing a warning from Goddard.
Upon the restart, Blackledge closed the distance, initiating the clinch and then driving Church to the canvas on a reshoot, only to have Church throw up an armbar attempt from his back. While he made it back to his feet out of the submission attempt, Blackledge quickly put Church back on the canvas, where he worked to isolate the right hand, only to have Church briefly threaten a kimura.
Once again, Church threw up an armbar attempt, but Blackledge slammed his way out before opening up with some strikes and working around to the back as Church tried to get to his feet just before the horn.
After the lightweights opened the third throwing hands just as they had in the first two frames, Blackledge again closed the distance and took the fight to the ground, patiently landing ground-and-pound and burning time off the clock. Church tried to shift his hips and create space, but Blackledge was one step ahead, defending well and maintaining his position.
With 90 seconds left, Church kicked free, but Blackledge quickly shot back in, once again putting Church’s shoulders to the mat. While Church never stopped looking for openings and trying to work free, it was all Blackledge from top position in the third as the Las Vegas resident closed out the fight in complete control.
When the judges scores were added up, it was Blackledge who maintained his unbeaten record, earning a clean sweep of the scorecards with a hard fought victory.
Official Result: Sherrard Blackledge def. Cameron Church by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
