PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aljamain Sterling (ranked 1283 p4p, 3560 weight class) and Scottie Lamez (ranked 80 p4p, 192 weight class). Sterling comes to the cage accompanied by I Love. Aljamain Sterling has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sterling
vs
Lamez

170 cm
29
135
13 - 5 - 0

170 cm
30
138
10 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Scottie Lamez!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lamez throws a jab when Sterling was well out of range.
A lazy left from Lamez finds it's target.
Sterling has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sterling tries for a takedown but Lamez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Lamez misses the target.
Sterling shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sterling takes one to the side of the head.
Lamez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Scottie Lamez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch lands to the side of Sterling 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lamez throws a jab when Sterling was well out of range.
Lamez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sterling.
A punch lands to the side of Sterling 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lamez throws out a loose jab but Sterling uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sterling shoots in looking for a takedown. Lamez tries to sprawl out of it but Sterling keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lamez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lamez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljamain Sterling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Lamez misses the target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Lamez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Lamez.
Sterling fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lamez avoids it really well and circles away.
Lamez throws out a powerful jab.
A swing and a miss from Sterling.
Sterling moves out of range as Lamez strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Lamez as Sterling shoots in.
Sterling slips under a jab from Lamez.
Lamez throws the left hand but Sterling avoids the punch easily.
Sterling moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Sterling.
Sterling slips a jab from Lamez.
Sterling fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Lamez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling moves in looking to clinch but Lamez pushes him off.
Sterling tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lamez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sterling somewhat.
Sterling ducks under a wild hook from Lamez.
A telegraphed right hand from Lamez misses the target.
Sterling slips under a jab.
Lamez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sterling on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Sterling closes the distance and pushes Lamez back into the cage.
Lamez tries to throw a body punch but Sterling avoids it by throwing Lamez back against the cage.
Lamez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lamez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lamez misses with a shot to the kidneys.

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

Sterling is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lamez is aware though and is defending well.
Sterling is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez controlling from the top position.

Sterling is looking for a triangle here but Lamez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Sterling is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sterling trying to control but Lamez flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lamez keeps control of the position easily here as Sterling tries to buck him off.
Sterling rolls, trying to escape but Lamez keeps control of the position.
Lamez biding his time, looking for the opening.
Lamez has the hooks in. Sterling is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scottie Lamez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Sterling tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lamez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sterling somewhat.
Lamez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lamez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sterling on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lamez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lamez wants it to stay on the feet.
Sterling ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lamez misses with a lunging right hand
and Sterling cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Lamez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lamez.
Lamez throws a good cross that connects.
Lamez loads up on a big right hand but Sterling slips the punch.
Sterling was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Sterling shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Sterling is controlling the pace.

Sterling seems to be working for a kimura but Lamez defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Lamez trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sterling is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lamez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sterling is working away from the top position though.
Lamez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Sterling is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sterling trying to mount his opponent but Lamez defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sterling trying to control from half guard but Lamez is working away.
Lamez wants to control but Sterling is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sterling trying to control the action but Lamez is working from the bottom.
Lamez has his hands clasped together around Sterling's back. He's all about the action.
Let's hope that Lamez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lamez is refusing to be controlled, as Sterling sits in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lamez is looking to control Sterling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lamez avoid being mounted?
Lamez desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lamez cracks Sterling with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lamez lands an overhand right.
Sterling blocks a jab.
Sterling tries to close the distance and clinch but Lamez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lamez loads up on a big right hand but Sterling slips the punch.
Sterling throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lamez's waist but Lamez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sterling off to one side.
Lamez throws out a counter right but Sterling avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljamain Sterling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sterling ducks under a wild hook from Lamez.
Lamez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sterling.
Aljamain Sterling is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sterling misses with a takedown attempt - Lamez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sterling drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sterling is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lamez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lamez struggling a bit here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterling working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sterling working away.
Sterling trying to control the position but Lamez is working away.
Lamez is looking for a sweep.
Lamez struggling a bit here.
Lamez is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Sterling is staying active.

Sterling is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Lamez is trying to escape and Sterling transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Lamez is forced to tap! Nice work there by Sterling! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Aljamain Sterling!
An out of breath and clearly excited Aljamain Sterling thanked BE Younick for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).