PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aljamain Sterling (ranked 2757 p4p, 4076 weight class) and Lou Gotch (ranked 187 p4p, 261 weight class). Sterling comes to the cage accompanied by I Love. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sterling
vs
Gotch

170 cm
32
135
15 - 11 - 0

165 cm
31
145
12 - 9 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lou Gotch!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Gotch misses.
Gotch scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sterling in his tracks.
Gotch misses with the combination.

Sterling closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gotch to the mat! Gotch manages to get full guard.
Sterling tries to free his leg and advance position but Gotch is retaining full guard.
Gotch trying to control the position here.
Gotch keeping moving, preventing Sterling from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gotch working for a triangle but Sterling defends it easily.
Gotch has his hands on Sterling's head, controlling the position.
Sterling wants to control from the top but Gotch keeps moving.
Sterling is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sterling looking to sit in guard and control but Gotch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sterling 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.
Gotch is stalling in the full guard.

Sterling had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gotch defends it easily.
Gotch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling trying to control the position.

Sterling is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sterling had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gotch defends it easily.
Gotch works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gotch performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gotch is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sterling is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gotch pulls his head out easily.
Gotch with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sterling takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gotch ducks under a wild hook from Sterling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gotch drops Sterling with a left right combo! Gotch follows him down to the ground into side control.

Sterling is rocked!
A lull in the action here.
Oh Sterling is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sterling is trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Gotch dominated 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.

Gotch steps into range and cracks Sterling with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Sterling flops backwards and Gotch dives into his guard looking to finish!
Sterling seems to have got his legs back now.

Sterling has his foot on Gotch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gotch works his way back into a safe position though.
Sterling wants to sweep but no luck.
Sterling keeping full guard, as Gotch tries to pass.
Sterling can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gotch controls the pace.
Gotch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sterling is keeping the position for now.

Sterling is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gotch is aware though and is defending well.
Gotch looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sterling is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gotch is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sterling throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gotch escapes and throws Sterling's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sterling tries to improve position but can't.
My spies in Tran MMA Gym inform me that Gotch has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gotch is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sterling will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sterling is looking for a sweep.
Sterling is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gotch tries to move to mount but Sterling blocks the move with his legs.
Sterling is letting Gotch control him for a moment.
Sterling looking for a sweep but Gotch has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sterling is looking to get to half guard.
Gotch looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling is looking to get to half guard.

Sterling tries to improve his position but Gotch has taken his back! Gotch has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Sterling tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Gotch pushes Sterling away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lou Gotch!
A very excited looking Lou Gotch made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Aljamain Sterling spoke after the fight, saying 'Whether it's Bellator, OneFC, World Series, whatever, the door's open for me. Financial stability is the most important thing for me'.