PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Pills (ranked 24950 p4p, 4335 weight class) and Ben Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Pills could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ben Sonnen's chin.

Pills
vs
Sonnen

180 cm
21
180
0 - 6 - 0

185 cm
18
188
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Pills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pills gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pills is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pills preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Pills keeps moving.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen postures up in Pills's guard and throws a big left but Pills blocks it.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pills is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pills keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sonnen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pills.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pills is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen stands up over Pills, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Pills is retaining full guard.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
Pills working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Pills has wrist control.
Sonnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pills working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sonnen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Pills's temple.
Pills is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at London MMA Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Sonnen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sonnen just content to control the position.
Sonnen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sonnen in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sonnen wants to control but Pills is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a nice forearm strike.
Sonnen wants to control but Pills is keeping him busy.
Pills takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pills tries to bench press Sonnen off him but Sonnen keeps the position.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
Pills takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen cracks Pills with a big elbow.
Sonnen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Pills is working away.
Pills is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sonnen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sonnen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pills manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Pills pushes Sonnen off and scrambles back to his feet.

Sonnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pills tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sonnen is in Pills's guard.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Pills blocks nicely.
Sonnen stands up over Pills, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sonnen stays in close to Pills's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pills is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pills keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Pills has wrist control.
Sonnen postures up in Pills's guard and throws a big left but Pills blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sonnen is in close to Pills's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pills gets caught flat footed, as Sonnen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Pills blocks nicely.
Sonnen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ben Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Pills blocks nicely.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control but Pills is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pills wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sonnen is in close to Pills's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Pills keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen is in close to Pills's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pills keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pills has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Sonnen trying to control but Pills is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sonnen working the ground and pound but Pills is defending the strikes.
Pills on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pills tries to get out of the position.
Sonnen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sonnen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sonnen working the body and head with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pills takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sonnen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Pills's temple.
Pills takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pills takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sonnen cracks Pills with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
Sonnen working the body and head with strikes.
Sonnen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sonnen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pills is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Pills takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pills keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sonnen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sonnen scores with a couple of short elbows.

Pills is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pills takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Oh Pills is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sonnen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
Sonnen is staying tight to Pills's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Pills takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sonnen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pills is trying to get back to his feet.
Pills is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pills seems a little lost for a moment, as Sonnen dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pills on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sonnen cracks Pills with a big right hand but Pills just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sonnen lands a few punches from side control.
Sonnen is working Pills over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sonnen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Pills's temple.
Sonnen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sloppy strikes there by Sonnen.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sonnen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Pills is working from the bottom.
Pills taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sonnen taking a breather here.
Sonnen working the ground and pound from side control.
Pills taking punishment in the form of punches.
Joe Pills has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Sonnen!