PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Sterrey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale comes to the cage accompanied by Dead Sara - Weatherman. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hale
vs
Sterrey

174 cm
24
184 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Hale!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dominic Sterrey!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterrey fails to land the takedown.
Hale swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sterrey.
Sterrey walks into a stiff left hand from Hale.
Sterrey shoots in for a double leg but Hale sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A big left from Sterrey misses.
Hale throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A shot to the body from Sterrey misses
and Hale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sterrey has a takedown stuffed.
Brandon Hale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominic Sterrey.
Hale throws a hook but Sterrey blocks it.
Sterrey throws a lazy right hand but Hale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale misses with an uppercut

and Sterrey counters with a single leg into guard. Hale didn't expect that.
Hale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sterrey passes Hale's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sterrey wants to control but Hale is keeping him busy.
Sterrey not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sterrey prevents Hale from improving his position.
Sterrey is thwarting Hale's attempts to control the position.

Sterrey is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sterrey in particular looking to stall.

Sterrey is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sterrey working Hale over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale trying to hold on to Sterrey's head to control him but Sterrey postures up.
Hale controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hale trying to control but Sterrey postures up.
Sterrey thows a huge punch but Hale dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sterrey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sterrey not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sterrey is looking to take a break and control but Hale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hale is trying is best to control the position here.
Hale gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sterrey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hale is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at ELITE GYM 40CAP that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Sterrey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hale has Sterrey pulled in close to control his posture.
Hale trying to keep a closed guard but Sterrey is proving a slippery customer.
Hale is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brandon Hale just wasn't active enough.
Sterrey throws a right and a left that Hale avoids nicely.
Sterrey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hale sprawls well. Hale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sterrey gets slowly back to his feet.
Hale misses with a two punch combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sterrey bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hale's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sterrey wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sterrey misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominic Sterrey will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hale slips under a jab from Sterrey.
Hale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sterrey.
Hale misses with a few strikes there.
Hale scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hale tries to land a leg kick but Sterrey saw it coming and moves away.
Hale slips under a jab.
Hale slaps away a takedown attempt from Sterrey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sterrey misses with a wild body shot.
Hale throws a head kick but Sterrey moves out of range.
Hale misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterrey misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hale counters with a low kick, right behind Sterrey 's knee.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sterrey darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sterrey circles away quickly and effectively.

Sterrey feints and as Hale raises his hands in defense, Sterrey changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sterrey is looking to work some ground and pound but Hale has wrist control.
Hale working a defensive guard here.
Sterrey wants to control from the top but Hale keeps moving.
Hale looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sterrey engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hale misses with a wild body shot.
Hale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Hale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sterrey wants to control from the top but Hale keeps moving.
Sterrey stopping the sweep attempt from Hale.
Sterrey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey looking to pass the guard.
Sterrey trying to control the position from guard on top but Hale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sterrey is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hale is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hale has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hale preventing the sweep.
Hale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sterrey is keeping the position for now.
Sterrey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hale cracks Sterrey with a solid left hand.
Sterrey is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sterrey controls Hale momentarily but Hale frees himself.
Sterrey pulls Hale in close to his closed guard and prevents Hale from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hale trying to control but Sterrey is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sterrey fails with a takedown attempt.
Brandon Hale is winning the standup battle so far.
Hale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sterrey circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dominic Sterrey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sterrey goes for a double leg but Hale avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hale continues to drive forward.
The referee calls for Hale to work.
Sterrey wants a takedown.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Sterrey goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Hale as the two fighters clinch.
Hale has Sterrey pressed against the cage, preventing Sterrey from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hale stops a takedown attempt from Sterrey.
Brandon Hale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominic Sterrey.
A shot in the inside from Hale.
Hale lands a right hand.
Sterrey is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hale pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hale is pushing Sterrey up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterrey looking to stall.
Hale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sterrey backwards.

Hale breaks from the clinch.
Sterrey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hale tries to avoid it but Sterrey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hale to the ground. Hale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hale swinging wildly here.
Sterrey throws a body punch but Hale moves out of range.
Hale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sterrey bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sterrey's best efforts.
Sterrey is looking to advance position but Hale won't allow it.
Hale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dominic Sterrey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sterrey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hale's head.
Sterrey missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hale has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sterrey is working away from the top position though.
Hale avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sterrey.
Sterrey is trying to control the action in half guard but Hale is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sterrey seems to be looking for submissions.
Hale is not content to let Sterrey control the position.
Sterrey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hale's head.

Sterrey seems to be looking for submissions.
Sterrey is trying to control. Hale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hale desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sterrey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hale defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hale has his hands clasped together around Sterrey's back. He's all about the action.
Hale wants to get back to full guard.
Hale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sterrey.
Sterrey is thwarting Hale's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sterrey is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sterrey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dominic Sterrey just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hale slaps away a takedown attempt from Sterrey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sterrey dives in and grabs Hale's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hale pushes down on Sterrey's head and hops out.
Sterrey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hale.
Sterrey dodges the punch combination from Hale.
No luck for Sterrey with that takedown attempt.
Brandon Hale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominic Sterrey.
Hale scores with a decent looking hook.
Hale throws a lazy right hand but Sterrey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sterrey counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sterrey postures up.
Sterrey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hale is trying to keep Sterrey in close.
Sterrey preventing the sweep.
Hale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Brandon Hale has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sterrey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hale does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sterrey dives in for a single leg takedown but Hale sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey tries a body shot but Hale blocks it.
Hale fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hale is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sterrey scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sterrey struggles to land a body shot inside as Hale controls his hands.
Hale is trying to stall.
Sterrey goes for a takedown attempt but Hale pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sterrey slips under a jab.
Sterrey slips a jab from Hale.
Brandon Hale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey dodges the punch combination from Hale.
Jab, jab by Hale - just one landing.
Hale misses with an uppercut. Sterrey saw that one coming.
Sterrey listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hale swinging wildly here.
Sterrey checks a low kick from Hale.
Sterrey shoots in for a double leg but Hale sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sterrey at a distance.
Hale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hale.
Hale misses with a double jab.
Sterrey cracks Hale with a good 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!
A right-left combo lands from Hale.
Sterrey blocks a jab.
Nice straight punches there by Hale. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hale.
A shot to the liver by Sterrey. Beautiful body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sterrey has his takedown stuffed
and Hale counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Hale had his way with Dominic Sterrey in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hale walks into a straight right hand from Sterrey.
Hale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Hale. Those never looked like landing.
Sterrey checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sterrey bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sterrey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hale is fending him off so far but Sterrey persists. Nope, Hale circles away and we're back to standing.
Brandon Hale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left lands for Sterrey.

Sterrey feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hale controls Sterrey momentarily but Sterrey frees himself.

Sterrey drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hale looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hale looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hale!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale just content to control the position.
Sterrey tries to bench press Hale off him but Hale keeps the position.
Hale working away.
Sterrey is looking to regain half guard here but Hale keeps moving and retains side control.
Hale tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sterrey tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hale wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sterrey is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands some shots froms side control.
Sterrey manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hale's best efforts.
Sterrey makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sterrey.
Sterrey is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Hale is stalling in the full guard.
Sterrey is trying to control the position but Hale postures up.
Hale throws a big elbow that misses.
Brandon Hale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sterrey trying to keep a closed guard but Hale is proving a slippery customer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sterrey lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hale!
Sterrey throws some wild stikes that Hale manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterrey looking to finish with strikes here!
Sterrey trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hale wants to control but Sterrey is having none of it.
Sterrey throwing strikes here but Hale is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hale is wriggling around trying to escape.

Sterrey swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hale is now in Sterrey's guard. A big mistake from Sterrey there, giving up the dominant position!
Hale trying to control but Sterrey is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hale wants to control from the top but Sterrey keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brandon Hale.
Hale takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sterrey fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hale avoids it really well and circles away.
Hale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominic Sterrey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sterrey 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 46:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 46:49
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Sterrey! Dominic Sterrey retains his welterweight title!
Dominic Sterrey very nearly forgot to thank KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.