PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Richard Hall (ranked 39 p4p, 1177 weight class) and Aljamain Sterling (ranked 2 p4p, 67 weight class). Sterling has chosen I Love as his entrance music. Aljamain Sterling will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hall
vs
Sterling

170 cm
29
145
22 - 0 - 0

170 cm
28
135
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

HELLBENT
IC&E Nutrition (& 10% Laundry)

AVALON

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 22 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sterling fails with a takedown attempt.

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

Sterling drags the fight down to the ground.
Sterling has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hall has passed into side control.
Hall has knee on belly and moves into mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hall controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sterling tries to hold on but Hall pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sterling tries to reverse the position but Hall maintains control.
Hall controlling from the full mount.
Sterling is trying to reverse the position but instead Hall has taken his back - oops!
Hall has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sterling's body.
Sterling tries to escape but Hall has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Sterling 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 Hall gets his way!
Hall trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Sterling doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sterling is in bad spot here.
Hall is not going to allow Sterling to sit and survive in this position.

Hall working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Sterling defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Sterling tries to escape but Hall has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Hall is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Sterling taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Hall.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Richard Hall!
After the fight, Richard Hall 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.
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'.