PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lutalo Hajjar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lutalo Hajjar could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nate Sonnen's chin.

Hajjar
vs
Sonnen

172 cm
22
150 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lutalo Hajjar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen dives in and grabs Hajjar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hajjar pushes down on Sonnen's head and hops out.
Hajjar lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sonnen looks for a takedown but Hajjar sprawls well.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hajjar as he avoids it easily.
Lutalo Hajjar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Sonnen.

Hajjar scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hajjar trying to control the action but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

Hajjar decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hajjar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sonnen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hajjar's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Hajjar blocks nicely.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen trying to control but Hajjar is working from the bottom.
Hajjar trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Hajjar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sonnen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hajjar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Hajjar is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hajjar stalling away here and it's allowed Sonnen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.

Sonnen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Sonnen is trying to maintain a safe position but Hajjar gets an underhook and turns Sonnen into the cage.
Hajjar lands a shot to the body.
Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hajjar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Hajjar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hajjar is on top in guard.
Sonnen is looking to stand up but Hajjar isn't so interested in that idea.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hajjar's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hajjar is controlling him.
Hajjar works over Sonnen with some ground and pound from guard.
Hajjar throws and elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hajjar's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hajjar wants to stand and escape but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen throws a strike but Hajjar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hajjar wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Hajjar is controlling him.

That's four 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.
Hajjar 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.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Hajjar from controlling successfully.
Hajjar prevents Sonnen from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hajjar with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sonnen counters with a single leg into guard. Hajjar didn't expect that.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hajjar uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sonnen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hajjar counters with a shoot takedown. Sonnen fights it but they end up in guard.
Hajjar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lutalo Hajjar dominated that round.
That's time! Hajjar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sonnen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hajjar moves into the clinch.
Hajjar gets underhooks to prevent Sonnen's takedown attempt.

Hajjar is trying to trip Sonnen. He has hold of a leg but Sonnen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hajjar persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sonnen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sonnen misses with a takedown

and Hajjar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hajjar.
Lutalo Hajjar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Sonnen.
Hajjar wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Sonnen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen has his feet on Hajjar's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hajjar misses with a takedown

and Sonnen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sonnen.
Hajjar wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen thows a big elbow that misses.
Hajjar working a defensive guard here.
Sonnen passes Hajjar's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lutalo Hajjar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonnen throws a strike but Hajjar avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hajjar's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hajjar has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Sonnen forces his way into half guard.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hajjar gets full guard.
Hajjar controlling Sonnen's posture.
Hajjar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen pushes Hajjar off and gets back to his feet.
Hajjar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sonnen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sonnen.
Sonnen is in close to Hajjar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hajjar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hajjar pulls Sonnen in close to his closed guard and prevents Sonnen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hajjar has his hands on Sonnen's head, controlling the position.
Hajjar throws a couple of heel strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sonnen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hajjar counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hajjar throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sonnen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hajjar has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Hajjar decides to stand back up. Hajjar steps back and let's Sonnen get back to his feet.
Nate Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt

and Hajjar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hajjar pulls guard successfully.

Hajjar wriggles free and stands up.

Sonnen drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lutalo Hajjar will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sonnen tries for a takedown but Hajjar circles away easily

so Hajjar counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hajjar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sonnen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hajjar is controlling him.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hajjar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hajjar looking to sit in guard and control but Sonnen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Hajjar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sonnen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

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.
Hajjar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hajjar has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sonnen's face.
Hajjar controlling the position easily from mount.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet.
Hajjar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sonnen is looking to escape.
Hajjar landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar cracks Sonnen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hajjar looking to ground and pound but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Sonnen tries to buck Hajjar off but he can't manage it.
Hajjar looking to control but Sonnen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hajjar content just to control the position here.
Nate Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sonnen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sonnen wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hajjar controlling from mount.
Sonnen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hajjar connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hajjar looking to control but Sonnen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hajjar looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hajjar controlling the pace for now.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Lutalo Hajjar just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sonnen slaps away a takedown attempt from Hajjar, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lutalo Hajjar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hajjar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lutalo Hajjar!