PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jan Sokol (ranked 763 p4p, 1150 weight class) and Aljamain Sterling (ranked 52 p4p, 76 weight class). Sterling has chosen I Love as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Aljamain Sterling enters the cage!

Sokol
vs
Sterling

182 cm
26
135
11 - 8 - 1

170 cm
29
135
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸
Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jan Sokol!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling thuds his right hand into Sokol's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sterling punishes Sokol's body with a nice straight punch.
Sokol throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sterling throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Sokol to counter with a crisp jab.
Sokol looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sokol misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sterling looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sterling misses with a body shot.
Sokol looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sterling with the counter takedown but Sokol avoids it easily.
Sokol fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses.
Sokol throws an off balance right hand
and Sokol takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Sokol.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokol connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sterling momentarily.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses.
Despite the aggression on Sterling's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sokol fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Sterling misses.
Sterling doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Sterling.
Sokol throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sokol throws a head kick that Sterling semi-blocks.
Sokol fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sterling blocks a head kick by Sokol.
A countering left hand to the body from Sterling misses.
Sokol scores with a punch to the head.
Sokol throws a nice head kick!
Sokol throws a jab but it's blocked by Sterling.
Sokol scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sokol is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sterling throws a shot from downtown. Sokol moves away and avoids it.
Sokol cracks a nice hook into Sterling's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sterling now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sokol tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sterling is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sterling throws a shot from downtown. Sokol moves away and avoids it.
A quick step to the side and Sokol tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sterling. Sokol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sterling takes a swing at Sokol's ribcage but misses.
Sokol defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sterling.
A big left from Sokol misses.
Sokol lands a head kick!
Sokol fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sokol is looking to land body kicks.
Sokol changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sokol lands a glancing blow to the side of Sterling's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokol misses with an uppercut.
Sterling staying out of range there.
Jan Sokol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sterling on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sokol throws a sloppy head kick and Sterling moves out of range easily.
Sokol misses with a body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sokol.
Sokol avoids the body shot from Sterling.
Sterling avoids the head kick by Sokol.
Sterling is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sterling scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sterling takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice defenses there by Sterling.
Sokol tries a head kick but it misses.
Sterling tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sokol looks to land a body kick but Sterling moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Sokol.
Sterling gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sokol counters with a three punch combo that has Sterling backing up. Sterling nods at Sokol to acknowledge the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokol throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sterling.
Sokol has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sokol there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sokol looks to land a body kick but Sterling moved away.
A nice side step and Sterling releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sokol ducks under a wild hook from Sterling.
Sterling moves out of range as Sokol strikes.
Sterling misses with a takedown
and Sokol counters with a one-two to the body.
Jan Sokol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aljamain Sterling.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokol lunges at Sterling with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sterling's hand.
Sterling swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Sokol dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Sokol tries a head kick but it misses.
Sokol throws a body punch but Sterling moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Sterling misses.
Sokol is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sterling can do to turn this around?
Sterling has his takedown stuffed
and Sokol cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sokol throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sokol misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sterling. Sokol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sokol dips to his left and cracks Sterling with an uppercut!
Sokol is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling with a poor takedown
letting Sokol counter with a right hand.
Sokol loads up on a big right hand but Sterling slips the punch.
Sokol throws a sloppy head kick and Sterling moves out of range easily.
Sokol lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling dives in and grabs Sokol's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sokol pushes down on Sterling's head and hops out.
Jan Sokol has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aljamain Sterling.
Sterling connects with a body shot that sends Sokol's belly button to the back.
Sokol connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sterling momentarily.
Sokol plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sokol slaps away a takedown attempt from Sterling, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sterling is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sokol sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sokol really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sterling has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sokol finds it's way round the side to connect with Sterling's head.
Sterling misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sokol.
Sokol connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A swing and a miss from Sterling.
Sokol throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol fakes the leg kick and cracks Sterling in the body.
Sterling blocks a head kick by Sokol.
Sterling changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sterling uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sokol.
Sterling uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sokol.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses.
A nice side step and Sterling releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sokol lands a head kick. Sterling smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sokol misses with a looping left.
Sokol catches Sterling with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Horrible takedown attempt by Sterling or perhaps it was just good defense by Sokol, which made it look bad.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sokol.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokol pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Despite the aggression on Sterling's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sterling takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sokol fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sterling moves forwards but Sokol connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sterling shoots in for a double leg but Sokol sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sterling slips under a jab.
Sterling swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sokol connects with a jab.
A left lands for Sokol.
Sterling shoots in and drives through. Sokol sprawls well.
Sokol catches Sterling with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sterling is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sokol is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Sterling.
Sokol moves out of range as Sterling strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokol feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sterlings jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokol stuffs the takedown.
Sterling is breathing heavily.
Sokol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sterling walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sokol jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sokol lands a body shot.
Sokol scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sterling doesn't seem bothered though.
Sterling tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sokol was well out of range. Poor timing from Sterling.
Sokol thinks about countering with a head kick.
Sokol keeps Sterling at a distance using the push kick.
Sterling is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sokol rather than just go for the knockout.
Sokol lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sokol lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sterling takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sterling connects with a looping right hand.
Sokol scores with a nice body kick.
Sokol fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Sterling might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Sokol has got the better of the exchanges.
Sokol scores with a jab. Sterling acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A jab from Sokol does it's job there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sterling. Sokol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sterling throws a poor cross that misses
and Sokol counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sterling has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sokol finds it's way round the side to connect with Sterling's head.
Sokol fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sterling.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sterling. Sokol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sokol misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sokol slaps away a takedown attempt from Sterling, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jan Sokol is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Sokol.
A big right from Sterling misses.
Sokol throws a jab when Sterling was well out of range.
Sterling throws out a counter right but Sokol avoids it with no problem.
Sokol lands with a straight right. Sterling didn't see that one coming.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sokol!

Sterling is rocked!
Sterling throws a lazy right hand but Sokol sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sterling or perhaps it was just good defense by Sokol, which made it look bad.
Sokol throws a quick counter head kick but Sterling was just out of range.
Sterling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sokol cracks Sterling with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sokol staying out of range there.
Sterling blocks a head kick by Sokol.
Sterling on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sokol fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sterling to the ground. Sokol is now in Sterling's guard.
Sterling is trying to control the position but Sokol postures up.
Sterling might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sokol haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Sterling is looking for a triangle but Sokol pushes his legs off easily.
Sokol lands a couple of elbows.
Sterling looking to control.
Sokol wants to control from the top but Sterling keeps moving.
Sokol will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sokol working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokol wants to control from the top but Sterling keeps moving.
Sokol with a nice head shot there.
Sokol landing with the ground and pound.
Sokol distracts Sterling with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sokol lands a couple of elbows.
Sterling is still in real trouble! Can Sokol finish him?
Sokol wants to control from the top but Sterling keeps moving.
Sterling seems to have recovered his senses.
Sokol working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Sterling looking for a guillotine here but Sokol defends easily.
Sokol chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sterling had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sokol defends it easily.
Sokol connects with a couple of short punches.
Sokol content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sokol scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Sterling has his foot on Sokol's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sokol works his way back into a safe position though.

Sterling looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sokol's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sokol scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokol stands up over Sterling, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sokol is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Sokol clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Sterling or perhaps it was just good defense by Sokol, which made it look bad.
Sokol scores with a punch to the head.
Sterling has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sokol finds it's way round the side to connect with Sterling's head.
Sokol avoids the body shot from Sterling.
Sokol connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sterling momentarily.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Sokol! Sterling is out on his feet! Sokol rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Sterling is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Sterling is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jan Sokol!
Jan Sokol retains his bantamweight title!
Aljamain Sterling was interviewed post fight and said 'Whether it's Bellator, OneFC, World Series, whatever, the door's open for me. Financial stability is the most important thing for me'.