PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuki Shojumaru (ranked 2803 p4p, 2191 weight class) and Aljamain Sterling (ranked 159 p4p, 135 weight class). Sterling has chosen I Love as his entrance music. Aljamain Sterling has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shojumaru
vs
Sterling

150 cm
26
140
4 - 2 - 1

170 cm
26
135
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Highland Clothing

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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Yuki Shojumaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aljamain Sterling!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling shoots in for a takedown but Shojumaru shows good takedown defense.
Sterling doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shojumaru connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sterling slips under a jab.
Shojumaru listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shojumaru scores with a body shot.
Shojumaru misses with a looping left.
Shojumaru lands with a shot to the body.
Shojumaru misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sterling.
Shojumaru scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sterling doesn't seem bothered though.
Shojumaru misses with a wild body shot.
Sterling drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shojumaru defends it well.
Shojumaru smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shojumaru lands a body shot.
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 gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sterling is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shojumaru sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yuki Shojumaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aljamain Sterling.
Shojumaru swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shojumaru lands a nice hook to Sterling's body. Sterling takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sterling shoots in for a double leg but Shojumaru sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shojumaru appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sterling closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shojumaru scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shojumaru definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shojumaru feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sterlings jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shojumaru throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shojumaru takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Shojumaru swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sterling gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Shojumaru to counter with a crisp jab.
Shojumaru tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sterling was well out of range. Poor timing from Shojumaru.
Shojumaru throws a hook but Sterling avoids it easily.
Shojumaru getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Sterling is rocked!
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!
Shojumaru stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shojumaru wants it to stay on the feet.
Shojumaru sizes up Sterling with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sterling is still on wobbly legs! Can Shojumaru finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling tries to clinch there but Shojumaru circles away.
Sterling seems to have recovered his senses.

Shojumaru 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 Shojumaru finish him?
Shojumaru fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shojumaru thuds a left hand into Sterling's body.
Sterling walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shojumaru takes a swing at Sterling's ribcage but misses.
Sterling drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shojumaru defends it well.
Shojumaru digs a good body shot into Sterling's ribs.
Sterling misses with a takedown
and Shojumaru counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sterling looks winded!
Sterling blocks a jab.
A jab lands there for Shojumaru.
Shojumaru throws a body shot but no joy.
Shojumaru fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shojumaru misses with a hook. Sterling ducked under it nicely.
Sterling misses with a takedown attempt - Shojumaru sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shojumaru throwing a counter right hand but Sterling manages to avoid it.
Shojumaru misses with a body shot.
Shojumaru throws a looping overhand right but Sterling ducks down to avoid it.
Sterling changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shojumaru lands a slapping body shot.
Shojumaru misses with a body shot

and Sterling counters with a single leg into guard. Shojumaru didn't expect that.
Sterling wants to pass the guard but Shojumaru is keeping the position.
Sterling advances to half guard.
Sterling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shojumaru keeps working.

Sterling is looking for a kimura but Shojumaru is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sterling to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sterling is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shojumaru doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sterling.

Sterling has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Shojumaru defend it? Sterling steps over the head and cranks it - Shojumaru is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Sterling!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Aljamain Sterling!
Aljamain Sterling gave a mention to Highland Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).