PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leo Baranoski (ranked 9091 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armani Sterling James (ranked 6262 p4p, 471 weight class). Baranoski has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Baranoski
vs
Sterling James

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leo Baranoski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Armani Sterling James!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sterling James moves into the clinch.
Sterling James works on Baranoski's body with a couple of short punches.
Sterling James wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sterling James gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Baranoski regains guard.
Sterling James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sterling James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baranoski is breathing heavily.
Sterling James throwing strikes from guard but Baranoski blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sterling James advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sterling James decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Sterling James shoots in for a takedown but Baranoski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baranoski shoots in but Sterling James avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling James misses with a two punch combination.
Sterling James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Baranoski avoids a kick to the body.

Sterling James drives through and clinches with Baranoski against the cage.
Sterling James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baranoski avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Leo Baranoski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Armani Sterling James.
Sterling James wants a takedown but no success here.
Baranoski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sterling James.

Sterling James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Baranoski uses from the top position.
Sterling James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baranoski is fighting to break Sterling James's control of his arms but Sterling James is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sterling James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sterling James controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Baranoski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sterling James sprawls well initially but Baranoski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Sterling James manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Baranoski keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Sterling James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Sterling James ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sterling James no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James pulls Baranoski in close to prevent any damage.

Sterling James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baranoski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baranoski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sterling James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Sterling James pushes Baranoski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sterling James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sterling James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baranoski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sterling James somewhat.

Sterling James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Baranoski napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armani Sterling James dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sterling James closes the distance and pushes Baranoski back into the cage.

Sterling James pulls guard.

Baranoski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sterling James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Baranoski has Sterling James in his guard.

Sterling James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sterling James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baranoski is working an open guard so Sterling James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sterling James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baranoski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baranoski checks a low kick from Sterling James.
Sterling James shoots for a double leg takedown but Baranoski sprawls well. He's pushed Sterling James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Baranoski fails with the takedown
and Sterling James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sterling James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baranoski as he avoids it easily.
Baranoski feinted with a counter takedown.

Sterling James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Sterling James drops back looking for a leg! Baranoski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baranoski manages to kick Sterling James off! Sterling James jumps back into Baranoski's guard.
Sterling James passes Baranoski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sterling James tries to pass the half guard into mount. Baranoski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Baranoski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sterling James decides to return to a standing position.

Sterling James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sterling James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James moves into range and clinches up with Baranoski.
Sterling James will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Baranoski up against the cage.

Sterling James gets control of Baranoski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sterling James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Baranoski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sterling James is keeping the position for now.
Sterling James trying to control the position here.
Baranoski wants to pass the guard but Sterling James is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling James is controlling Baranoski's posture.
Sterling James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baranoski.
Baranoski is fighting to break Sterling James's control of his arms but Sterling James is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Baranoski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sterling James is looking for a triangle but Baranoski pushes his legs off easily.
Sterling James is controlling Baranoski's posture.
Sterling James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sterling James missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armani Sterling James 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! And we move into the final round!

Sterling James pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sterling James gets a clinch.
Sterling James wants to take the fight to the mat but Baranoski manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Sterling James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baranoski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sterling James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sterling James has Baranoski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baranoski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sterling James wants the takedown. Baranoski is fighting it off but Sterling James persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Baranoski's guard against the cage.
Sterling James throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sterling James advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling James not doing much here.
Sterling James is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sterling James controlling from mount.
Sterling James thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James looking to secure an arm triangle but Baranoski defends it well.
Sterling James looking to finish with strikes here!
Sterling James controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling James is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Baranoski to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Baranoski shrugs it off.
Sterling James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baranoski holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sterling James tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Baranoski holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sterling James tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Sterling James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Armani Sterling James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sterling James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armani Sterling James!