PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Sap (ranked 3903 p4p, 299 weight class) and Ken Sterling (ranked 24807 p4p, 415 weight class). Sap comes to the cage accompanied by Empire State of Mind. The key to victory for Tony Sap has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sap
vs
Sterling

172 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
19
138 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Hot Spunk

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Sap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ken Sterling!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sap leaves Sterling with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sap cracks Sterling with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sap keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sap scores with the left hand. Sterling knows he should have avoided that one.
Sap displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sterling throws out the jab.
Sterling looks to clinch

so Sap counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sterling trying to keep a closed guard but Sap is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sap is pushing down on Sterling's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sterling is fighting to maintain full guard but Sap has managed to sneak the leg through.

Sap is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sterling is just riding it out for now. Sap eventually gives up the hold.
Sterling is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sap throwing shots but Sterling is blocking nicely.
Sap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sterling defending well though.
Sterling trying to control here.
Sterling avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sap.
Sterling is trying to stand.
Sap 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.

Sap is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sterling has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sterling wants to control but Sap is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sap is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Sap is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sap prevents Sterling from improving his position.

Sap is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sterling has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sap looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sterling moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sap won't allow Sterling to get back to his feet.
Sap scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sap trying to control the position from guard on top but Sterling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sterling escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sap gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sterling controls Sap momentarily but Sap frees himself.
Sterling keeping moving, preventing Sap from controlling successfully.
Sap makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sap has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sap showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sap trying to control but Sterling is working from the bottom.
Sap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sap trying to control the position from guard on top but Sterling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sterling 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sap's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sap trying to control but Sterling is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Sap dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sap fails with the takedown.
Sap scores with a decent looking hook.
Sap defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sterling.
Sap tries to counter with a takedown but Sterling is quick to defend against it.
Sap tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sterling defends well and Sap ends up having to push Sterling into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Sterling pushes Sap up against the cage in a clinch.

Sap pulls guard.

Sap isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sterling stacks Sap on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sterling!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sap manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sterling's best efforts.

Sap is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sterling pulls his head out easily.
Sterling is nestled in close to Sap, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling trying to pass the guard but Sap defending well.

Sterling seems to be working for a kimura but Sap defends the submission attempt.
Sterling 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.
Tony Sap overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sap is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sterling pulls his head out easily.
Sterling is thwarting Sap's attempts to control the position.

Sap looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sap actively working from the bottom here.
Sap is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sap looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sap is defending against the submission attempts here by Sterling.

Sap actively working from the bottom here.
Sterling is trying to control. Sap wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sterling working the head and body with strikes.
Sap is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sterling can do to turn this around?
Sap wants to control but Sterling is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sap is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sterling pulls his head out easily.
Sterling is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Sap looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling trying to pass the guard but Sap defending well.

Sap looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sap is looking to improve his position.

Sap looking for submissions off his back.

Sap is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sterling pulls his head out easily.

Sterling postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sap to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling dives in and grabs Sap's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sap pushes down on Sterling's head and hops out.

Sap scores with a takedown into Sterling's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sap drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sterling dives on top into guard.

Sterling tries to free his leg and advance position but Sap is retaining full guard.
Sterling is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Sap is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sap is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sterling is aware though and is defending well.
Sterling postures up.
Sap keeping moving, preventing Sterling from controlling successfully.
Sterling is in close to Sap's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Sap dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sap moves out of range as Sterling strikes.
Sap shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sterling but Sterling pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And Sterling tries to counter it with a takedown but Sap pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sap shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sterling but Sterling pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sap shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sap showed some decent athleticism there.
Sap not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Sap is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sterling is just riding it out for now. Sap eventually gives up the hold.
Sap thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sap connects with a nice short shot to Sterling's temple.
Sterling is refusing to be controlled, as Sap sits in half guard.

Sap is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sterling defends it well.
Sterling preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Sterling is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sterling trying to hold on to Sap's head to control him but Sap postures up.
Sterling is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sap scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sap throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sterling won't allow Sap to pass to mount.

Sap looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sterling defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sap is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sterling manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sterling darts in looking for a takedown but Sap gets double underhooks and turns Sterling into the cage.

Sap closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sterling tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Sap is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Sterling with him. Sterling is trying to defend but Sap has an arm under the chin now! Sterling grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tony Sap!
Tony Sap decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.