PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Project Orca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Sterling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Orca
vs
Sterling

181 cm
27
171 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Clothes

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Project Orca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Sterling!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Project Orca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sterling looks to land a combination but Orca avoids it well.
Sterling misses with an uppercut.
Orca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sterling.
Sterling defending well as Orca loads up on a big left hand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Orca!
Sterling throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sterling tries to bum rush Orca with a series of wild strikes but Orca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Orca throws a series of punches but Sterling avoids them all with ease.
Nice defenses there by Sterling.
Orca tries a head kick but it misses.
Sterling throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sterling moves out of range as Orca strikes.
Orca looks to land a left hand but Sterling moved out of range nicely.
Sterling misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Sterling does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Orca throws out the jab.
Sterling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Orca throws a head kick but Sterling moves out of range.
Sterling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sterling lands with a hook. Orca tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Orca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sterling.
Sterling feints a jab promting Orca to slip. Sterling then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Orca slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sterling lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sterling waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Orca.
Orca misses with a left hand
and Sterling counters with a left and a right that stings Orca.
Sterling will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Orca dips to his left and cracks Sterling with an uppercut!

Sterling gets tackled into the cage by Orca. Orca maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sterling letting Orca take a breather here.
Orca tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Orca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sterling throws a nice looking combination but Orca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Orca shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sterling looks to land a left hand but Orca moved out of range nicely.

Orca has Sterling up against the cage in a clinch.
Orca tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Orca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sterling keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Orca.
Orca misses with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Orca takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Orca has Sterling pressed against the cage, preventing Sterling from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Orca drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sterling pulls his leg out and moves away.
Orca takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Orca goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sterling feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Orcas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sterling dips to his left and cracks Orca with an uppercut!
A head kick misses from Orca.
Orca walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sterling lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Orca circles away quickly and effectively.

Orca pushes Sterling up against the cage in a clinch.
Sterling prevents a body shot from Orca.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch but Orca keeps him there for the moment.
Orca stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Orca struggles to land a body shot inside as Sterling controls his hands.
Orca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Orca prevents Sterling from breaking the clinch.
Sterling wants to break free but Orca has control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Orca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sterling's elbow.

Orca breaks the clinch.
Sterling takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Project Orca will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch combination from Sterling misses.
Orca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sterling connects with a crisp jab.
Orca throws the left hand but Sterling avoids the punch easily.
A right-left combo lands from Sterling.
Sterling avoids a punch combination nicely.
Joseph Sterling seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sterling wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Orca scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sterling misses with a looping right.
Sterling moves away from the strike by Orca.
Orca scores with a head kick.
Orca takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sterling's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sterling duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling circles away from the clinch attempt.

Orca closes the distance and pushes Sterling back into the cage.
Sterling is trying to push Orca away but Orca has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Orca breaks from the clinch.
Orca lands a slapping body shot.
Orca missing with a left hand there. Sterling was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Orca throws a right hand that Sterling ducks under and follows up with a left that Sterling also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Orca.
Sterling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Orca misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sterling counters with a left and a right that stings Orca.
Sterling slaps away a takedown attempt from Orca, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Orca throws an overhand right that lands on Sterling's shoulder, as Sterling tries to avoid the shot.
Joseph Sterling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sterling misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Sterling.

Orca moves into the clinch successfully.
Sterling letting Orca take a breather here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good body shot from Orca.
Orca throws a punch but it's blocked by Sterling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Orca goes for a takedown attempt but Sterling pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sterling feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Orcas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A punch combination from Sterling misses.
Sterling scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Sterling scores with a four punch combination!
Orca throws an overhand right that lands on Sterling's shoulder, as Sterling tries to avoid the shot.
Sterling uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Orca.
Sterling uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Orca.
Orca swings widly with a right hand
and Sterling counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Orca throws a hook to the side of Sterling's head but Sterling sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sterling scores with a nice strike.
Sloppy strikes from Sterling. Those never looked like landing.
Orca misses with a hook.
Sterling avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sterling takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Orca misses with a body punch
and Sterling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orca looks for a takedown but Sterling sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Project Orca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Orca dives in and grabs Sterling's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sterling pushes down on Orca's head and hops out.
Sterling throws a right and a left that both miss.
Orca moves out of range of the strikes.
Orca throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Orca misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orca moves out of range of the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sterling bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Orca's head backwards.
Orca tries to clinch but Sterling is having none of it.
Sterling avoids the body shot from Orca.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joseph Sterling will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Sterling darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Orca misses the jab.
A punch combination from Sterling misses.
Sterling might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sterling moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Orca takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sterling takes one on the button.
Orca misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Sterling misses.
Orca misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Orca closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Orca misses with a punch to the body.
Orca tries to throw a body punch but Sterling avoids it by throwing Orca back against the cage.
Orca lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Orca can't find room to land a body shot as Sterling controls the action.
Orca can't find room to land a body shot as Sterling controls the action.

Orca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Orca looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sterling scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Orca shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Orca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sterling is trying to stand back up but Orca is controlling him

Sterling manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sterling scores with a hook.
Orca misses with a lunging right hand
and Sterling counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sterling takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sterling lands with a cross.
Sterling avoids the body shot from Orca.
Orca throws a combination that misses
and Sterling cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Orca takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sterling connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Orca's hands.
Orca misses with a hook
and Sterling counters with a nice uppercut.
Orca throws a head kick but Sterling moves out of range.
Sterling swinging wildly here.
Orca tries to close the distance and clinch but Sterling swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling avoids the body shot from Orca.
Orca misses with a straight right.
Orca just misses with a punch to the body.
Orca throws a jab but it's blocked by Sterling.
Sterling throws a big shot that misses.
Orca misses the jab.
Sterling misses with a straight left.
Orca throws a looping overhand right but Sterling ducks down to avoid it.
Orca shoots in for a takedown but Sterling shows good takedown defense.
Sterling dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sterling lands a jab-cross combination.
Sterling swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orca rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Sterling to counter with a crisp jab.
Sterling scores with a jab to the head.
Orca throws a jab but it's blocked by Sterling.
Orca fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sterling throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Orca.
Orca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Orca throws a sloppy head kick and Sterling moves out of range easily.
Sterling slips a jab from Orca.
Orca throws the kick towards the body but Sterling avoids it.
Sterling connects with a good right hand that stumbles Orca. Orca circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sterling is working the combinations to good effect here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Orca misses the shot to the body.
Donk. Sterling catches Orca right on the button with a cross.
Orca lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joseph Sterling.
I think Sterling 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Sterling!
After the fight, Joseph Sterling was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.