PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Sterner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TheFuture ThePresent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clay Sterner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sterner
vs
ThePresent

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

202 cm
22
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clay Sterner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, TheFuture ThePresent!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterner misses with a series of wild punches.
ThePresent tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
ThePresent moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Clay Sterner has been cut.
ThePresent showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sterner.
ThePresent shoots in for a takedown but Sterner shows good takedown defense.
Sterner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sterner misses with a few strikes there.
ThePresent shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sterner missing with a left hand there. ThePresent was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Sterner rushes ThePresent and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
ThePresent tries to break the clinch but Sterner is controlling the position.

ThePresent gets control of Sterner's arms and successfully pulls guard. ThePresent will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sterner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sterner trying to control but ThePresent is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sterner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
ThePresent manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sterner squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sterner is desperately trying to improve his position but ThePresent has a good base and remains in mount.
ThePresent throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sterner because ThePresent loaded up on that one.
Sterner tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
ThePresent can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sterner is looking to escape.
Sterner tries to lock up and control but ThePresent gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sterner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
ThePresent wants to control the pace but Sterner is squirming around nicely.
ThePresent thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sterner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sterner is looking to improve his position but ThePresent isn't that keen on the idea.
Sterner controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ThePresent throws some wild stikes that Sterner manages to avoid easily.
ThePresent looking to control but Sterner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
ThePresent punching from mount but Sterner doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sterner tries to lock up and control but ThePresent gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sterner is breathing heavily.
ThePresent controlling the pace for now.
ThePresent throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sterner tries to lock up and control but ThePresent gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
ThePresent lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sterner tries to lock up and control but ThePresent gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
ThePresent throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
ThePresent tries to control but Sterner wriggling away.
ThePresent breaks from Sterner's wrist control and lands an elbow.
ThePresent with good strikes from the mount here!
ThePresent landing shots from mount.
ThePresent punching from mount but Sterner doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ThePresent postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sterner looks a forlorn figure.
ThePresent punching from mount but Sterner doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TheFuture ThePresent dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clay Sterner's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sterner leaves ThePresent with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
TheFuture ThePresent seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
ThePresent tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sterner makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sterner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
ThePresent tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
ThePresent tries for a takedown but Sterner circles away easily

and Sterner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for ThePresent!
Sterner controlling the pace for now.
ThePresent taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ThePresent can't escape the position.
Sterner unloading with bombs!
Sterner looking to control but ThePresent is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
ThePresent is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sterner controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
ThePresent is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
ThePresent tries to reverse the position but Sterner maintains control.
ThePresent gets back to half guard.
Sterner wants to take a breather but ThePresent is having none of it.
ThePresent avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sterner.
Sterner is pressing down on ThePresent's thigh, looking to free his foot. ThePresent is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Sterner there.
Sterner trying to control from half guard but ThePresent is working away.
ThePresent trying to control here.
ThePresent is looking to escape.
ThePresent wants to control but Sterner is keeping busy and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
ThePresent misses with a takedown

so Sterner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Clay Sterner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TheFuture ThePresent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sterner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
ThePresent pulls Sterner in close to his closed guard and prevents Sterner from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sterner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sterner wants to pass the guard but ThePresent is keeping the position.
Sterner wants to control from the top but ThePresent keeps moving.
ThePresent is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Sterner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Clay Sterner's cut.
That's time! Sterner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

ThePresent misses with a takedown attempt

and Sterner counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sterner stops ThePresent from getting back to his feet.
Sterner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sterner trying to control the action but ThePresent is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sterner works his way into side control.
Sterner misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sterner staying calm.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sterner tries to score with some ground and pound. ThePresent controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ThePresent trying to remain calm as Sterner controls from the top position.
ThePresent is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sterner trying to control the action but ThePresent is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Sterner crashes against the mat.
Sterner wants to control but ThePresent is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on ThePresent's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

ThePresent closes the distance and clinches.
ThePresent lands a nice knee to the body.
ThePresent stops a takedown attempt from Sterner.

ThePresent gets control of Sterner's arms and successfully pulls guard. ThePresent will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
ThePresent throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
ThePresent wants to sweep here but Sterner controlling him for the moment.
ThePresent keeping moving, preventing Sterner from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ThePresent is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sterner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ThePresent swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sterner trying to control the position from guard on top but ThePresent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

ThePresent darts in and clinches Sterner up against the cage.

ThePresent drags the fight down to the ground.

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.
ThePresent keeping moving, preventing Sterner from controlling successfully.
Sterner wanted to stand there but ThePresent had control of the position.
ThePresent manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sterner manages to get himself to full guard.
ThePresent looking to pass the guard.
ThePresent throwing strikes from guard but Sterner blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sterner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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 Clay Sterner.
I think Sterner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Sterner!