PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Materla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Sonnen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Materla
vs
Sonnen

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
20
199 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michal Materla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Materla takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Materla looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Materla did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Materla keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen moves nicely into side control.
Sonnen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sonnen controlling from side mount.

Sonnen stands up and beckons Materla to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sonnen tries to clinch but Materla is having none of it.
Sonnen shoots for a takedown but Materla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Sonnen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sonnen.
Sonnen looking to throw knees to the head but Materla is blocking nicely.
Sonnen lands a nice elbow.

Sonnen drags the fight down to the ground.
Sonnen pulls Materla in close to prevent any damage.
Sonnen wants to sweep here but Materla controlling him for the moment.
Sonnen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to stand up but Materla isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen pulls Materla in close to prevent any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brian Sonnen wasn't active enough on the ground.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sonnen.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sonnen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Materla's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to stand but Materla is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Brian Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sonnen feints and as Materla raises his hands in defense, Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Materla trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Materla swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Materla looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Materla. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Sonnen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sonnen gets a clinch.
Sonnen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sonnen lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Michal Materla has been cut.

Sonnen breaks from the clinch.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Sonnen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Materla tries to avoid it but Sonnen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Materla to the ground. Materla escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Materla swats away the attempt to clinch by Sonnen.
Sonnen wants to clinch up but Materla keeps it at a distance.

Sonnen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Materla managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Materla knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sonnen gets to mount! Materla was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Materla can't escape the position.
Sonnen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonnen content just to control the position here.
Sonnen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Materla to take his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen biding his time, controlling Materla.
Materla covering up well under a series of strikes from Sonnen.

Sonnen is looking for the choke from the back position but Materla is controlling his hands well.
Sonnen biding his time, looking for the opening.

Sonnen looking to break Materla's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Materla remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sonnen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Sonnen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Materla do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
You can see the frustration on Materla's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
What can Materla do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Sonnen is looking for the choke from the back position but Materla is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen keeps control of the position easily here as Materla tries to buck him off.

Sonnen working for a choke but Materla is defending well.
Materla can't escape the position.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen misses with punches from the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Materla covering up well under a series of strikes from Sonnen.
Materla is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michal Materla's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sonnen scores with a three punch combo!
Sonnen lands a really nice looking cross but Materla seems unphased.
Sonnen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Materla paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sonnen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Materla is looking for a sweep.
Materla is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Brian Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla is trying to get back to half guard.
Sonnen is looking to take a break and control but Materla is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sonnen wants to stand but Materla is controlling his arm.
Materla is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sonnen connects with a decent elbow.
Materla tries to bench press Sonnen off him but Sonnen keeps the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Materla keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brian Sonnen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Materla swats away the attempt to clinch by Sonnen.
Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sonnen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Materla decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sonnen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Materla throws a big right hand that misses.
Materla lands a couple of digs.
Materla stands and throws Sonnen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sonnen is looking to regain half guard here but Materla keeps moving and retains side control.
Michal Materla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Materla tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonnen manages to get back to half guard.
Sonnen wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sonnen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sonnen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Materla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Materla throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen keeping full guard, as Materla tries to pass.
Sonnen looking to control.
Materla stops Sonnen from standing up.
Materla is looking to work some ground and pound but Sonnen has wrist control.

Materla 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 Materla 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 stands and throws Materla's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30

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