PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Ba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Sonnen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ba
vs
Sonnen

176 cm
19
138 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Bloodsport Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Fabio Ba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ba swats away the attempt to clinch by Sonnen.

Sonnen darts in and clinches Ba up against the cage.
Ba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sonnen.

Ba successfully pulls guard.
Ba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ba is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Ba keeps moving.
Ba throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Ba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sonnen defends well.
Ba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ba really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Sonnen is defending against the submission attempts here by Ba.

Ba is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Sonnen as he works his way to full guard.

Ba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sonnen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ba has managed to get both his arms back between Sonnen's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen looking for a sweep. Not yet Sonnen, not yet.

Sonnen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ba trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen keeping full guard, as Ba tries to pass.
Ba is working hard here to advance position.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Ba from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Fabio Ba wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sonnen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ba throws a nice looking combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen pushes Ba up against the cage in a clinch.
Ba lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sonnen or not.
Sonnen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ba fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Sonnen gets caught napping as Ba dives in and scores a takedown. Sonnen manages to retain guard.

Sonnen looking for a guillotine here but Ba defends easily.

Sonnen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ba 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.

Ba drops back looking for a leg! Sonnen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sonnen manages to kick Ba off! Ba jumps back into Sonnen's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ba trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sonnen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sonnen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ba has Sonnen in his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fabio Ba will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ba closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sonnen did well to prevent Ba getting side control.
Ba tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sonnen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonnen is trying to get back to full guard.

Sonnen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sonnen moves into full guard.
Ba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ba wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Fabio Ba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ba wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Ba trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fabio Ba just wasn't active enough.
Ba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ba.
Sloppy strikes from Sonnen. Those never looked like landing.
Sonnen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but Ba moves out of range.

Ba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ba lands in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Ba from controlling successfully.
Ba is really struggling to control Sonnen but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ba postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sonnen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ba, into his guard.
Ba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ba working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sonnen has passed into half guard!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ba is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Ba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen prevents Ba from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sonnen pulls his head out easily.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Ba is working from the bottom.
Ba trying to control from the bottom.
Ba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sonnen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sonnen's back!

Ba working for the choke.
Sonnen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sonnen is trying desperately to improve position.
Sonnen is controlling an arm, preventing Ba from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sonnen trying desperately to get to his feet.

Ba with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Ba moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sonnen has worked his arm free - good work by Sonnen!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sonnen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ba has just dragged him back down to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Ba tries for a kimura but Sonnen is defending well.
Sonnen manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Ba dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sonnen gets a clinch.
Sonnen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ba gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sonnen wants a takedown but no success here.

Sonnen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ba clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ba turns into Sonnen and is now in his guard.
Ba trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ba slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Ba from controlling successfully.
Ba 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fabio Ba just wasn't active enough.
Ba misses with a few strikes there.

Sonnen moves into the clinch.

Ba is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sonnen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ba to the mat. Ba regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Ba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sonnen is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ba wants to sweep but no luck.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ba controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Ba wants to control the position but Sonnen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands with a punch from half guard.

Ba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sonnen pulls his head out easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ba looking for submissions off his back.

Ba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sonnen pulls his head out easily.
Sonnen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ba trying to control from the bottom.
Ba wants to control the action here but instead Sonnen manages to pass to full mount!
Ba is working to get back to half guard.
Sonnen content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen working for a submission but Ba is keeping him at bay.
Ba might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ba tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen working Ba over with strikes here.
Ba has given up his back. Will we see Sonnen going for some submissions?
Ba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sonnen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ba's face.
Ba tries to hold on but Sonnen pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ba wants to hold on but Sonnen pushes him away.
Sonnen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ba is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ba is working to get back to half guard.
Sonnen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ba is trying desperately to improve position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen with shots to the head and body - Ba looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ba is trying to escape the mount.
Sonnen controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ba has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Chris Sonnen!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Fabio Ba!

The fight ends as a draw!