PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Venegas (ranked 929 p4p, 1171 weight class) and Aljamain Sterling (ranked 48 p4p, 68 weight class). Sterling has chosen I Love as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Venegas
vs
Sterling

150 cm
28
145
16 - 8 - 0

170 cm
27
135
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

BE Younick

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Frankie Venegas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sterling shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sterling showed some decent athleticism there.
Sterling throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sterling is trying to control. Venegas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sterling working Venegas over with strikes.

Sterling wants to work for an arm triangle but Venegas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Venegas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sterling pulls his head out easily.
Venegas is doing well to control the position and prevent Sterling from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Venegas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sterling trying to control the action but Venegas is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sterling is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sterling wants to take a breather but Venegas is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sterling seems to be working for a kimura but Venegas defends the submission attempt.
Venegas tries to get to full guard but Sterling has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Venegas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Venegas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sterling wants to control from the top but Venegas keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Venegas wants to hit a sweep here but Sterling passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Venegas there!
Venegas bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Venegas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sterling swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sterling looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Venegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Sterling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sterling working for a triangle but Venegas defends it easily.
Venegas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sterling tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Venegas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sterling keeping moving, preventing Venegas from controlling successfully.

Sterling escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Venegas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sterling looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Venegas wants to pass the guard but Sterling is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sterling looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Venegas 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Venegas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Venegas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sterling has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Venegas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Venegas scoring with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Venegas 's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Venegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Sterling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Venegas is working Sterling over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Sterling working for a triangle but Venegas defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frankie Venegas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Venegas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Venegas blocks an elbow strike.
Sterling has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Venegas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sterling is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Venegas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Venegas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sterling.
Frankie Venegas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aljamain Sterling.
Sterling has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sterling drops down looking for an ankle pick but Venegas pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sterling keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Venegas throws a right and a left that both miss.

Venegas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Venegas cracks Sterling with a big right hand but Sterling just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling tries to improve position but can't.
Venegas lands a few punches from side control.
Venegas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Venegas controls the position.
Sterling takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Sterling is rocked!
Sterling is trying to control Venegas 's posture but Venegas avoids it.
Sterling is still in real trouble! Can Venegas finish him?
Venegas working the ground and pound from side control.
Sterling is looking to regain half guard here but Venegas keeps moving and retains side control.
Sterling seems to have recovered his senses.
Venegas in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sterling is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sterling taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venegas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Venegas landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sterling is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Venegas 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Venegas wants to take a breather but Sterling is having none of it.
Venegas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Venegas lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Sterling! More strikes land and this one is all over! Venegas jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frankie Venegas !
Frankie Venegas decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Aljamain Sterling had this to say: 'Whether it's Bellator, OneFC, World Series, whatever, the door's open for me. Financial stability is the most important thing for me'.