PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mach Cheesmo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dick Sonnen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cheesmo
vs
Sonnen

192 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
197 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mach Cheesmo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dick Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cheesmo trying to control the position.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Cheesmo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Cheesmo is working hard here to advance position.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cheesmo trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cheesmo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sonnen. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheesmo tries to clinch up but Sonnen circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheesmo lands with a slapping head kick.
Cheesmo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cheesmo is looking to clinch.
Sonnen closes the distance but Cheesmo moves to the side
and Cheesmo counters with a nice leg kick.

Sonnen gets the takedown into side control.
Sonnen cracks Cheesmo with a big elbow.
Cheesmo is trying to control Sonnen's posture but Sonnen avoids it.
Cheesmo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sonnen presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Sonnen cracks Cheesmo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen working Cheesmo over with strikes here.
Sonnen controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Cheesmo is having none of it.
Cheesmo can't escape the position.
Sonnen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cheesmo is trying to escape the mount.
Sonnen lands a heavy elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen lands a big elbow.
Cheesmo is in a horrible position here. Sonnen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen blocks Cheesmo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Sonnen prevents Cheesmo from getting the reversal.
Cheesmo controls the position.
Sonnen avoids the attempt from Cheesmo to control.
Cheesmo can't escape the position.
Sonnen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sonnen controlling from the full mount.
Cheesmo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo wants to hold on but Sonnen pushes him away.
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.
Cheesmo is working to get back to half guard.
Cheesmo manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Sonnen wants to work for an arm triangle but Cheesmo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cheesmo is trying to control but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen wants to take a breather but Cheesmo is having none of it.
Sonnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Sonnen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cheesmo defends it nicely.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.
Cheesmo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sonnen's head.
Cheesmo scores with a nice body kick.
Cheesmo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sonnen.
Cheesmo tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.

Sonnen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cheesmo trying to control from the bottom.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
Cheesmo wants to improve his position but Sonnen is controlling well.
Cheesmo tries to kick Sonnen off but Sonnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to advance position but Cheesmo won't allow it.
Cheesmo tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.
Sonnen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cheesmo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Cheesmo is defending the position.
Cheesmo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cheesmo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cheesmo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cheesmo pinned against the cage. Cheesmo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sonnen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cheesmo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sonnen's calf.
Cheesmo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Cheesmo.
Cheesmo throws a leg kick which misses Sonnen's front leg but catches the back leg as Sonnen tries to avoid it.
Cheesmo tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cheesmo pushes Sonnen up against the cage in a clinch.
Cheesmo tries to land knees in the clinch but Sonnen avoids the damage to the body.
Cheesmo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sonnen.
Cheesmo landing knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cheesmo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sonnen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sonnen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cheesmo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mach Cheesmo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Sonnen.
Cheesmo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sonnen's calf.
Sonnen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cheesmo can pounce on him.
Cheesmo fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cheesmo. That's going to slow Sonnen down.
Cheesmo throws a leg kick which misses Sonnen's front leg but catches the back leg as Sonnen tries to avoid it.
Cheesmo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheesmo.
Sonnen misses with a jab, cross combination.

Cheesmo closes the distance and clinches.
Cheesmo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cheesmo connects with a knee to the head.
Cheesmo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Cheesmo.
Cheesmo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cheesmo crunches a lovely knee into Sonnen's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Cheesmo.
Cheesmo landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Cheesmo.
Sonnen wants a takedown.
Cheesmo landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen goes for a takedown attempt but Cheesmo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cheesmo's head.
Cheesmo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sonnen postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheesmo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.

Sonnen gets to his feet - Cheesmo follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mach Cheesmo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheesmo throws a nice head kick!
Cheesmo misses with a low kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Cheesmo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sonnen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cheesmo tries to avoid it but Sonnen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cheesmo to the ground. Cheesmo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sonnen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cheesmo is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick lands from Cheesmo.
Cheesmo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cheesmo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cheesmo throws a head kick that Sonnen semi-blocks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cheesmo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mach Cheesmo is winning the standup battle so far.
Cheesmo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Cheesmo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonnen, pushing him back against the cage.
Sonnen has Cheesmo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cheesmo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mach Cheesmo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Sonnen.
Cheesmo landing knees to the body.
Cheesmo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cheesmo looking to throw knees to the head but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Sonnen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cheesmo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cheesmo is pressed up against the cage. Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cheesmo down to the mat. Cheesmo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Cheesmo wants to clinch up but Sonnen keeps it at a distance.
Cheesmo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cheesmo counters with a good low kick that Sonnen was not able to check.
Cheesmo scores with a head kick.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sonnen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sonnen.
Cheesmo wants to stand up but Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cheesmo is on top in guard.
Cheesmo wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Dick Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sonnen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cheesmo manages to get himself to full guard.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Cheesmo is keeping the position.
Cheesmo wants to improve his position but instead Sonnen has moved into half guard.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cheesmo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cheesmo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.
Cheesmo is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Cheesmo tries to roll over but Sonnen keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cheesmo throws a leg kick but Sonnen checks it.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch but Cheesmo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cheesmo tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.
Sonnen controlling the action here.
Cheesmo is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mach Cheesmo clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cheesmo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range and Cheesmo settles back down.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cheesmo's half guard.
Cheesmo is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Sonnen slows the pace down in half guard.
Cheesmo trying to hold on to Sonnen's head to control him but Sonnen postures up.
Cheesmo gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cheesmo is on top in guard.
Sonnen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheesmo throws a big right hand that misses.
Cheesmo looking to sit in guard and control but Sonnen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sonnen passes Cheesmo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sonnen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sonnen prevents Cheesmo from improving his position.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Cheesmo is working from the bottom.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

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.
Sonnen is keen to just control but Cheesmo is a slippery customer.
Cheesmo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen distracts Cheesmo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cheesmo controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Cheesmo wants to sweep but no luck.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cheesmo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cheesmo looking for a sweep. Not yet Cheesmo, not yet.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Cheesmo keeps moving.
Cheesmo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mach Cheesmo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A bone on bone clash there as Sonnen blocks the leg kick.

Cheesmo closes the distance and pushes Sonnen back into the cage.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cheesmo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cheesmo trying to land knees to the body.
Cheesmo missing with knees to the body.
Sonnen wants a takedown.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cheesmo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mach Cheesmo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Sonnen.
Cheesmo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sonnen's face.
Cheesmo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cheesmo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cheesmo prevents the takedown attempt.

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.
Cheesmo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cheesmo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cheesmo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cheesmo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sonnen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cheesmo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cheesmo misses with a knee strike.
Cheesmo looking to throw knees to the head but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Cheesmo stops a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Cheesmo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sonnen blocks it with crossed arms.
Sonnen is working for takedown but Cheesmo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cheesmo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cheesmo landing knees to the head.
Cheesmo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sonnen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cheesmo stops a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Cheesmo landing knees to the body.
Cheesmo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sonnen avoids it.
Cheesmo with a knee to the head.

Sonnen has picked Cheesmo up - he's going for a ride! Sonnen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cheesmo is trying to maintain the position but Sonnen is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Dick Sonnen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cheesmo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cheesmo is refusing to be controlled, as Sonnen sits in half guard.
Cheesmo trying to control here.
Cheesmo is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen working Cheesmo over with strikes.
Cheesmo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sonnen is looking to advance position but Cheesmo won't allow it.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cheesmo misses with a kick to the body.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cheesmo's half guard.
Sonnen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cheesmo wants to sweep but Sonnen has passed to side control!
Cheesmo is trying to get back to half guard.
Sonnen taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing strikes but Cheesmo manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Sonnen defending against the ground and pound.
Sonnen holds on to Cheesmo's head and controls the position momentarily.
Sonnen seems a little lost for a moment, as Cheesmo dominates the positioning.
Cheesmo wants to control but Sonnen is keeping him busy.
Cheesmo scores with punches from side control.
Sonnen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheesmo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sonnen keeps working.
Sonnen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sonnen is refusing to be controlled, as Cheesmo sits in half guard.
Sonnen is trying to control but can't.
Cheesmo wants to control but Sonnen is keeping him busy.
Sonnen wants to control the action here but instead Cheesmo manages to pass to full mount!
Sonnen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cheesmo looking to ground and pound but Sonnen is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cheesmo prevents Sonnen from getting the reversal.
Cheesmo thowing shots but they're missing.
Sonnen is trying to escape the mount.
Cheesmo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sonnen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cheesmo.
Cheesmo raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cheesmo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Mach Cheesmo!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Mach Cheesmo!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Mach Cheesmo!

Mach Cheesmo wins by unanimous decision!
Mach Cheesmo retains his middleweight title!