PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Break Yo Neck Busta Rhymes. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Souza
vs
Sonnen

190 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dick Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonnen is fending him off so far but Souza persists. Nope, Sonnen circles away and we're back to standing.
Souza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sonnen defends it nicely.

Souza fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonnen sprawls well initially but Souza persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sonnen is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza is looking to stall here but Sonnen recovers full guard.
Souza throws a strike but Sonnen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Souza's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Souza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sonnen trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Sonnen throws and elbow that misses. Souza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Souza!
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Souza is in close to Sonnen's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Souza thows a big elbow that misses.
Souza trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Souza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Sonnen blocks nicely.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Souza 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Souza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sonnen's waist but Sonnen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Souza off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Sonnen as Souza shoots in.
Souza wants to clinch up but Sonnen keeps it at a distance.

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Souza wants to control but Sonnen postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Souza is working away.
Souza tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dick Sonnen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Souza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Souza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sonnen's best efforts.
Souza trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Sonnen manages to pass to mount!
Sonnen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Souza tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sonnen looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Souza tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sonnen landing strikes from the mount and Souza is in trouble!
Sonnen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Souza is trying desperately to improve position.
Sonnen lands a nice shot to the head.
Sonnen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Souza regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dick Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Souza's head.
Souza trying to control but Sonnen postures up.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Sonnen is trying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Souza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sonnen moves into the clinch.

Souza pulls guard.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnenis looking to pass into half guard but Souza pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Souza is in guard.

Sonnen wriggles free and stands up.
Ronaldo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Souza did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Sonnen throwing shots but Souza is blocking nicely.
Souza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control from half guard but Souza is working away.
Souza makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Souza.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Souza is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sonnen connects with a nice looking jab.

Souza shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Souza was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza throws a wild left hand from mount and Sonnen manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Souza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sonnen did well to prevent Souza getting side control.
Sonnen wants to control but Souza is keeping busy.
Souza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sonnen gets full guard.
Souza wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Souza throwing shots but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Souza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Souza wants to pass to mount but Sonnen is defending the position.
Souza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sonnen's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Souza tries to clinch

and Sonnen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Dick Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sonnen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen controls from within his opponent's guard.

Sonnen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza has his hands on Sonnen's head, controlling the position.

Souza has an active guard here but Sonnen has managed to pass into half guard.
Souza is in trouble now - Sonnen has advanced to mount!
Souza is looking to improve his position but Sonnen isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.
Souza tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen controlling from mount.
Sonnen prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

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