PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sterling Elliott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Laline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Laline has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Elliott
vs
Laline

172 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sterling Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Laline!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elliott circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laline tries to clinch but Elliott moves out of range.
Laline walks forward, straight into a front kick from Elliott.
Laline shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Laline changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elliott tries to avoid it but Laline manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elliott to the ground. Elliott escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Elliott could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Laline misses with a takedown attempt - Elliott sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Laline shoots for a double leg takedown but Elliott sprawls well. He's pushed Laline's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sterling Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Laline.

Laline moves into the clinch.
Laline tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Elliott just stands there and leans against the cage.

Elliott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elliott dives in for a single leg takedown but Laline sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Laline pulls guard effortlessly.
Laline pulls Elliott in close to his closed guard and prevents Elliott from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laline manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Elliott manages to get himself to full guard.
Laline won't allow Elliott to sweep him here.
Laline trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Laline gets to his feet - Elliott follows without any prompting.
Elliott looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laline is fending him off so far but Elliott persists. Nope, Laline circles away and we're back to standing.

Laline drives through and clinches with Elliott against the cage.
Elliott has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laline avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laline gets underhooks to prevent Elliott's takedown attempt.
Laline drops down looking for an ankle pick but Elliott pulls his leg out and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Elliott is defended easily by Laline.

Elliott tries to sprawl but Laline drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laline trying to control from half guard but Elliott is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott is looking to improve his position.
Laline slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Laline.
Elliott shoots in for a takedown but Laline shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Elliott, right into the meat.
Elliott fails to land the takedown.
Elliott is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laline looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laline tries to clinch up.
Laline closes the distance looking to clinch
and Elliott counters with a two punch combo.
Laline shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Elliott as he avoids it easily.
Laline tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laline will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Laline tries to score a power double leg takedown but Elliott sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laline somewhat.
Elliott throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Laline dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Elliott fails with the takedown.
Sterling Elliott is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Elliott slaps away a takedown attempt from Laline, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Elliott as Laline shoots in.

Laline moves into range and clinches up with Elliott.
Laline fails to pull guard.
Sterling Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Laline.
Laline slows down the pace here.
Elliott keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laline's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elliott manages to break the clinch.
Laline is looking to clinch.
Laline misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Laline is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laline wants to clinch up but Elliott keeps it at a distance.
Laline wants to clinch up but Elliott keeps it at a distance.
Laline tries to score a power double leg takedown but Elliott sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laline somewhat.
Sterling Elliott is winning the standup battle so far.
Laline is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Laline.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laline tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Elliott is trying to control Laline's posture but Laline avoids it.
Laline tries to move into full mount but can't pass Elliott's legs.
Laline is looking to take a break and control but Elliott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laline tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Laline decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Laline tries to clinch but Elliott is having none of it.
Laline fails with the takedown.
Elliott works over Laline's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott shoots in looking for a takedown. Laline tries to sprawl out of it but Elliott keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laline manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Laline shoots in looking for a takedown. Elliott tries to sprawl out of it but Laline keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Elliott manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Elliott goes for a double leg but Laline avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Laline continues to drive forward.
Laline is looking to control Elliott's arms but Elliott gets an underhook and turns him. Now Laline has his back to the cage.
Elliott can't get the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elliott goes for a double leg but Laline avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Laline continues to drive forward.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Laline showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Elliott fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laline shoots in looking for a takedown. Elliott tries to sprawl out of it but Laline keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Elliott manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Laline clinches.

Elliott jumps into guard, dragging Laline to the mat.
Laline wants to stand but Elliott has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Elliott working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Laline doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Laline manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Laline from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laline is looking to stand up but Elliott won't let him.
Elliott looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Laline trying to control but Elliott is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Laline in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laline in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Elliott is trying to control the position but Laline postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laline wants to stand but Elliott has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Laline tries for a takedown but Elliott sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Laline takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Laline fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Elliott sprawls well initially but Laline persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Laline is trying to control the action in half guard but Elliott is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Elliott is trying to maintain the position but Laline is very close to passing his half guard.
Elliott is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laline trying to pass the guard but Elliott defending well.

Elliott has one foot on Laline's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Laline throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elliott's waist but Elliott gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laline off to one side.
Sterling Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Laline.
Laline shoots in for a takedown but Elliott shows good takedown defense.

Elliott moves into range and clinches up with Laline.
Elliott scores a nice knee to the body.
Elliott is looking to take this one to the mat.
Elliott prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laline tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Elliott just stands there and leans against the cage.
Elliott is looking for a takedown.
Laline is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Elliott gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Elliott escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elliott lets loose with a powerful body kick. Laline will feel that in the morning.
Laline fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Laline.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elliott shoots in but Laline avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elliott is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sterling Elliott.
I think Laline has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Laline!