PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aljamain Sterling (ranked 1918 p4p, 3306 weight class) and Frendy Saputra (ranked 116 p4p, 193 weight class). Sterling comes to the cage accompanied by I Love. Saputra has chosen Truckin' as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sterling
vs
Saputra

170 cm
30
135
14 - 7 - 0

177 cm
24
148
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

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 14 - 7 - 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frendy Saputra!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Saputra avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saputra scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sterling drops his hands momentarily and Saputra takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saputra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saputra wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saputra cracks Sterling with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Sterling looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Saputra finish him?

Sterling is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sterling throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saputra's waist but Saputra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sterling off to one side.
Oh Sterling is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sterling looks to score with a jab to the body but Saputra is just out of range.
Sterling seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saputra throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sterling feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Saputras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sterling swings for the body but Saputra moves out of range.
Sterling misses with an uppercut. Saputra saw that one coming.
Aljamain Sterling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saputra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sterling throws out the jab.
Sterling fails with a takedown attempt.
Saputra swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljamain Sterling. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sterling feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saputra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sterling is one step ahead there.
Sterling trying to control but Saputra is working from the bottom.
Sterling advances position into side control!
Sterling advances to mount.
Sterling moves to take his opponent's back.
Saputra staying busy and making it hard for Sterling to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sterling working for a choke but Saputra is defending well.

Saputra is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sterling gets his way!

Sterling working for a choke but Saputra is defending well.

Sterling patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sterling is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Saputra is defending well though. Sterling let's go of the attempt for now.

Sterling has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Saputra has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saputra tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Saputra wants to control but Sterling is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frendy Saputra will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sterling uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saputra has time to react.
Saputra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saputra wants it to stay on the feet.
A big right from Saputra misses.
A quick step to the side and Sterling tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saputra throws out a loose jab but Sterling uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sterling just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saputra swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sterling thows a left - swing and a miss!

Oooooh!!! Saputra has knocked Sterling down with a huge combo! Saputra steps away and waves a wobbly Sterling back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling misses the shot to the body.
Saputra unleashes a big counter combination but Sterling bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sterling takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sterling catches Saputra with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sterling rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Saputra counters with a right hand to the body.
Sterling showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saputra.
Sterling walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saputra throws a body shot but no joy.
Sterling shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saputra sprawls well. Saputra wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sterling gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice side step and Saputra releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Saputra misses with a right hand
and Sterling counters with a nice body shot.
Sterling shoots in for a takedown but Saputra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljamain Sterling. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sterling dives in and scores a takedown into Saputra's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sterling wants to control from the top but Saputra keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Saputra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saputra advances to half guard.
Saputra is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sterling is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Saputra wants to control from the top but Sterling keeps moving.
Saputra tries to free his leg and advance position but Sterling is retaining full guard.
Aljamain Sterling overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saputra 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.
Saputra trying to control the position from guard on top but Sterling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saputra throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sterling looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saputra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sterling is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saputra defends well.
Saputra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sterling is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frendy Saputra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sterling swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saputra scores with a hook to the body. Sterling takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sterling looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saputra is fending him off so far but Sterling persists. Nope, Saputra circles away and we're back to standing.
Saputra throws out a counter right but Sterling avoids it with no problem.
Saputra scores with a jab. Sterling acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Saputra misses with a double jab
letting Sterling counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sterling is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saputra's half guard.
Sterling is trying to control the action in half guard but Saputra is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saputra is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sterling's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sterling's back!
Sterling breaks Saputra's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sterling wants to control from the top but Saputra keeps moving.
Sterling stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saputra swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sterling throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saputra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling trying to control the position from guard on top but Saputra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sterling looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sterling trying to control the position from guard on top but Saputra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sterling trying to move into half guard but instead Saputra has managed to sweep!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sterling looking for a sweep. Not yet Sterling, not yet.
Saputra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saputra drops back looking for a leg! Sterling is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sterling manages to kick Saputra off! Saputra jumps back into Sterling's guard.
Saputra wants to pass the guard but Sterling is keeping the position.

Sterling had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Saputra defends it easily.
Sterling looking to control.

Sterling working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saputra doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saputra manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sterling wants to sweep but no luck.
Saputra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saputra sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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

Sterling stands and throws Saputra's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Aljamain Sterling has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sterling is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Saputra has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sterling tries to move into full mount but can't pass Saputra's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aljamain Sterling showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saputra has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frendy Saputra!
A victorious Frendy Saputra thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
In defeat, Aljamain Sterling stepped up to the mic, saying 'Whether it's Bellator, OneFC, World Series, whatever, the door's open for me. Financial stability is the most important thing for me'.