PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grant's entrance music is Beanie (Mack B****). A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grant
vs
Sonnen

182 cm
23
167 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

178 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Canadian Fighter Clothing

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dwight Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grant did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Sonnen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grant defending well though.
Grant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Grant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grant gets back to full guard.
Grant keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grant works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grant working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Grant looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Grant lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sonnen pushes Grant off but Grant dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Grant has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Grant tries for a kimura but Sonnen is defending well.
Sonnen tries to escape but Grant is in control.
Grant creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sonnen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Grant in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Sonnen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grant working the ground and pound but Sonnen is defending the strikes.
Sonnen tries to escape but Grant is in control.
Sonnen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grant tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonnen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Grant wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sonnen, who protects the arm well.
Sonnen tries to escape but Grant is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Grant seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sonnen with a poor takedown
and Grant makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sonnen really felt that one!
Sonnen looks gassed!

Sonnen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grant to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but Grant is having none of it.
Grant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Grant is controlling him.
Grant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant won't allow Sonnen to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grant thuds a left hand into Sonnen's body.

Sonnen scores a takedown into full mount!
Grant is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sonnen thowing shots but they're missing.
Sonnen with shots to the head and body - Grant looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sonnen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Grant tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sonnen looking to finish Grant with some ground and pound. This is bad for Grant!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Grant dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt

and Grant decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen wants to stand but Grant is controlling the position.
Grant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grant prevents Sonnen from getting back to his feet.
Grant thows a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet but Grant is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Grant works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Grant trying to control the action but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grant throws a wild body kick that Sonnen sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen has his takedown stuffed

and Grant counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grant stops Sonnen from getting back to his feet.

Grant is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sonnen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Grant circles away easily
and Grant counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Dwight Grant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Sonnen.
Grant tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Grant's half guard.
Sonnen trying to mount his opponent but Grant defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grant manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Grant is retaining full guard.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Grant is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt

and Grant counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Grant is trying to trip Sonnen. He has hold of a leg but Sonnen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Grant persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grant trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen has his feet on Grant's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Grant fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonnen sprawls well initially but Grant persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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.
Grant prevents Sonnen from standing back up.

Sonnen pushes Grant off and gets back to his feet.
Sonnen with a poor takedown

and Grant counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grant.
Grant wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Sonnen is looking to stand up but Grant isn't so interested in that idea.
Grant trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Grant throwing strikes but missing.
Grant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sonnen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Grant counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Sonnen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Grant!
A nice elbow there by Sonnen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Grant slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Grant won't allow Sonnen to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Grant dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Grant cracks a nice hook into Sonnen's ribs.
Sonnen has a takedown stuffed.
Grant keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grant takes a swing at Sonnen's ribcage but misses.
Grant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Grant tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grant manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dwight Grant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Sonnen.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sonnen wants to take a breather but Grant is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant wants to control but Sonnen is keeping busy.
Grant gets full guard.
Grant controlling the position.
Sonnen won't allow Grant to sweep him here.
Grant controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Grant is retaining full guard.
Dwight Grant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Grant is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

so Grant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but Grant is having none of it.
Grant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sonnen is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Grant is controlling him.
Grant has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Grant shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sonnen is bucking up trying to escape but Grant cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sonnen is trying to stand.
Grant lands a big shot there that rocks Sonnen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Sonnen somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Nate Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sonnen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grant is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sonnen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Dwight Grant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sonnen is trying to control the action in half guard but Grant is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Grant blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Grant makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grant.
Grant is controlling Sonnen's posture.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Grant preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Grant has wrist control.
Grant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Grant is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwight Grant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grant 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwight Grant!