PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taub Or Gola (ranked 3044 p4p, 175 weight class) and Steve Stermann (ranked 4631 p4p, 248 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.

Or Gola
vs
Stermann

165 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

164 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Taub Or Gola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Stermann!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Hemmingworth and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stermann tries to close the distance and clinch but Or Gola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd cheers as Or Gola lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stermann doesn't seem phased though.
Nice cross by Or Gola.

It looks like Steve Stermann has been cut.
Stermann throws a head kick that half lands.
A head kick by Stermann misses

and Or Gola counters with a single leg into guard. Stermann didn't expect that.

Stermann is rocked!
Or Gola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Stermann is still in real trouble! Can Or Gola finish him?
Stermann is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Or Gola kicks off Stermann and gets to his feet.
Stermann seems to have recovered his senses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stermann stalks Or Gola and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Or Gola's face. Or Gola staggers backwards, shaken.
Or Gola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stermann.

Stermann gets caught napping as Or Gola dives in and scores a takedown. Stermann manages to retain guard.
Stermann looking to hit a scissor sweep but Or Gola is one step ahead there.
Or Gola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stermann keeping full guard, as Or Gola tries to pass.
Or Gola stays in close to Stermann's body and controls the position.
Or Gola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stermann is trying to improve his position.
Or Gola working away.

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.
Stermann tries to improve position but can't.
Stermann is still trying to improve position.

Or Gola looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Or Gola tries to advance to mount but Stermann denies him.
Stermann is trying to get back to half guard.
Stermann being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stermann manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Or Gola manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stermann advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stermann is looking to take a break and control but Or Gola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Or Gola wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Stermann wants to control for a moment but Or Gola uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stermann trying to control from half guard but Or Gola is working away.

Or Gola pushes Stermann off and gets back to his feet.
Stermann throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stermann feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Or Gola's calf.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Or Gola clinches up against the cage.
Or Gola has Stermann pressed against the cage, preventing Stermann from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Or Gola breaks the clinch.
Stermann tries to bum rush Or Gola with a series of wild strikes but Or Gola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stermann connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Or Gola shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taub Or Gola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stermann's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Or Gola takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Steve Stermann seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Or Gola moves forwards but Stermann connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Or Gola moves into the clinch successfully.
Stermann has had enough of the clinch but Or Gola keeps him there for the moment.

Or Gola gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Stermann actively working from the bottom here.
Stermann gets full guard.
Taub Or Gola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Or Gola content to stall in guard here.
Stermann wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Or Gola slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Stermann has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Or Gola can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Or Gola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stermann looking for a sweep. Not yet Stermann, not yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stermann being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Stermann gets caught napping as Or Gola dives in and scores a takedown. Stermann manages to retain guard.
Or Gola working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Stermann looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Or Gola's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Or Gola preventing the sweep.
Or Gola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Or Gola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Or Gola content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Or Gola decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stermann, up you get!
Stermann connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Or Gola momentarily.

Or Gola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Or Gola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stermann can do to turn this around?
Stermann is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Or Gola is nestled in close to Stermann, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Or Gola seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Or Gola's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Stermann looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Or Gola pushes past his half guard into mount!
Stermann tries to lock up and control but Or Gola gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Or Gola is landing with some decent strikes but Stermann is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stermann is desperately trying to improve his position but Or Gola has a good base and remains in mount.
Stermann is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Or Gola content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taub Or Gola dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stermann's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Good shot there by Stermann.
Or Gola takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Stermann lands with a straight right. Or Gola didn't see that one coming.
Taub Or Gola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Or Gola looking to score a takedown here. Stermann is defending well but Or Gola drives through and ends up in Stermann's guard.
Or Gola controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stermann trying to keep a closed guard but Or Gola is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Or Gola passes Stermann's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Or Gola not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stermann makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stermann.
Or Gola sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Stermann had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Or Gola defends it easily.

Stermann is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stermann takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stermann bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Or Gola's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Or Gola is looking for a triangle but Stermann pushes his legs off easily.
Or Gola looking for a sweep. Not yet Or Gola, not yet.
Or Gola is pulling down on Stermann's head to control his posture.

Or Gola has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stermann can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Or Gola keeping full guard, as Stermann tries to pass.
Stermann is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Or Gola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stermann in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stermann trying to control the position from guard on top but Or Gola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Or Gola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Or Gola in particular looking to stall.
Or Gola seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stermann does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stermann trying to control here.

Or Gola is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stermann doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Or Gola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stermann is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Or Gola seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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 Taub Or Gola.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Or Gola, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taub Or Gola!