PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aljamain Sterling (ranked 3302 p4p, 3327 weight class) and Frendy Saputra (ranked 216 p4p, 217 weight class). Sterling kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I Love. Saputra has chosen Truckin' as his entrance music. Frendy Saputra struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sterling
vs
Saputra

170 cm
32
135
15 - 12 - 0

177 cm
26
148
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 15 - 12 - 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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frendy Saputra!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saputra blocks a jab.
Despite the aggression on Saputra's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sterling ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saputra moves away.
Nice uppercut there from Sterling.
Sterling shoots in for a double leg but Saputra sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saputra moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice shot by Saputra.
Saputra has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sterling lands with a shot to the body.
Saputra misses with an uppercut. Sterling saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good exchange - Saputra coming out on top.
Sterling looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sterling throws a right and a left that Saputra avoids nicely.
Saputra throws out a counter right but Sterling avoids it with no problem.
Aljamain Sterling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sterling looks to score with a jab to the body but Saputra is just out of range.
Saputra on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saputra lands a jab to the head.
Sterling takes a swing at Saputra's ribcage but misses.
Sterling shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saputra as he avoids it easily.
Saputra misses with a double jab.
Sterling appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sterling looks to land a left hand but Saputra moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saputra! But no joy.
Sterling misses with a right hand
and Saputra cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sterling swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saputra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saputra wants it to stay 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.
Saputra moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sterling looks for a takedown but Saputra sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling throws a series of punches but Saputra avoids them all with ease.
Despite the aggression on Saputra's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sterling throws a lazy uppercut

and Saputra counters with a crisp right hand that drops Sterling! Saputra lets Sterling back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Sterling is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sterling misses with a wild body shot.
Oh Sterling is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Saputra throws a body shot but no joy.
Sterling seems to have got his legs back now.
Sterling uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saputra.
Saputra throws a looping overhand right but Sterling ducks down to avoid it.
Sterling throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saputra.
Saputra looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sterling throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sterling takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sterling or perhaps it was just good defense by Saputra, which made it look bad.
Sterling shoots in for a takedown but Saputra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It seemed like Saputra was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saputra cracks a nice hook into Sterling's ribs.
Saputra has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

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?
Saputra throws an overhand right that drops Sterling like a sack of potatoes! Saputra dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frendy Saputra!
Frendy Saputra seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Aljamain Sterling spoke after the fight, saying 'Whether it's Bellator, OneFC, World Series, whatever, the door's open for me. Financial stability is the most important thing for me'.