PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Sterling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sterling
vs
Jones

182 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Sterling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sean Jones!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sterling counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sterling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jones misses with a takedown
and Sterling counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joseph Sterling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Jones.
Sterling closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sterling.
No joy there for Sterling, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sterling connects with a nice looking jab.
A big right from Sterling misses.
Sterling looks to land a left hand but Jones moved out of range nicely.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Sterling back into the cage.
Jones tries for a takedown but Sterling manages to get underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sterling fights it off and pushes away nicely.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jones accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sterling avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones throws a strike but Sterling rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sterling stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joseph Sterling just wasn't active enough.
Sterling stuffs the takedown.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sterling counters with a two punch combo.
Jones looks gassed!
Jones shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sterling defends it nicely.

Jones drives through with a takedown into Sterling's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sterling trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sterling wants to sweep here but Jones controlling him for the moment.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.

Sterling has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jones can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jones won't allow Sterling to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jones lands a couple of elbows.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Jones connects with a couple of short punches.
Sterling on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sterling tries to get out of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sterling is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones throws a big elbow that misses.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sterling preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones won't allow Sterling to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sean Jones will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sterling as he avoids it easily.
Sterling avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sterling fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Donk. Sterling catches Jones right on the button with a cross.
Sterling stalks Jones and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jones's face. Jones staggers backwards, shaken.
Jones tries to clinch there but Sterling circles away.
Sterling with a nice cross.
Jones throws a series of punches but Sterling avoids them all with ease.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sterling scores with a sloppy right hand. Jones should have avoided that one.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sterling counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joseph Sterling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Jones.
Jones shoots in but Sterling avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sterling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sterling connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jones scrambles back to his feet.
Jones fails with the takedown
letting Sterling counter with a right hand.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Sterling.
Sterling is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sterling is trying to stall.
Jones keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sterling's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jones goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sterling prevents it.
Jones tries to pull guard but Sterling forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sterling is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jones is keeping busy.
Jones wants a takedown but no success here.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Sterling shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sterling working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sterling's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking for a takedown.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Jones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sterling is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Sterling is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Sterling avoiding damage.
Sterling wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Sterling prevents the takedown attempt.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jones looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sterling gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
Jones drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sterling is defending well.
Sterling tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Sterling dominated that second round.
That's time! Sterling's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Jones falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sterling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jones takes one to the chin there.
Jones tries for a takedown but Sterling sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sterling smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sterling displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jones.
Sterling lands a two punch combo.
Sterling smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sterling bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jones's head.
Sterling throws an overhand right that lands on Jones's shoulder, as Jones tries to avoid the shot.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sterling avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sterling cracks Jones with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sean Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sterling smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sterling darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Some wild striking there from Sterling.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Sterling circles away.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jones with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sterling to score with a decent uppercut.
Joseph Sterling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sterling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Joseph Sterling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Jones.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt
and Sterling counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sterling cracks Jones with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jones fails with the takedown
and Sterling counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Sterling to acknowledge the strikes.
Jones takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sterling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jab from Sterling.
Sterling connects with a nice looking jab.
Jones gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jones shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sterling counters with a stiff right hand.
Jones takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jones has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sterling finds it's way round the side to connect with Jones's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones shoots and misses
and Sterling counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Sterling to acknowledge the strikes.
Sterling paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Sterling sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sterling will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jones closes the distance and clinches up with Sterling, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes Sterling against the cage but Sterling circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sterling slaps away a takedown attempt from Jones, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Sterling.
Jones ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jones has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones misses with a two punch combination.
Sterling stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sterling wants it to stay on the feet.
Joseph Sterling is winning the standup battle so far.
Sterling swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sterling avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jones.
Sterling keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sterling is trying to stand.
Sterling trying to control from the bottom.
Jones working Sterling over with strikes.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones thows a huge punch but Sterling dodges it nicely.
Jones not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Sterling showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sterling has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Sterling!
A very excited looking Joseph Sterling rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.