PBP Commentary

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

Helgurson
vs
Sonnen

183 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Samuel Helgurson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Helgurson dodges it nicely.
Helgurson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sonnen is taking a breather. Helgurson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Helgurson dodges it nicely.
Sonnen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Helgurson defending well though.
Sonnen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Helgurson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Helgurson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Helgurson is breathing heavily.
Sonnen prevents Helgurson from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helgurson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Helgurson dodges it nicely.
Sonnen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Helgurson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Helgurson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sonnen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Helgurson is just riding it out for now. Sonnen eventually gives up the hold.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Helgurson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Helgurson's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Helgurson blocks nicely.
Sonnen advances position into side control!
Sonnen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Helgurson's temple.
Sonnen lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helgurson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Sonnen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Helgurson dodges the ground and pound from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws an elbow but Helgurson slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen working the ground and pound from side control.
Check out the look on Sonnen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated 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.

Sonnen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Helgurson wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Helgurson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Helgurson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sonnen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Helgurson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
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 wants to pass the guard but Helgurson is keeping the position.
Sonnen with a nice head shot there.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Helgurson is retaining full guard.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sonnen gets to his feet. Helgurson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Helgurson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen decides to stand back up.
A left and a right from Sonnen both land. Nice combination.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen slips a nice elbow through Helgurson's hands, connecting with Helgurson's forehead.
Helgurson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sonnen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Helgurson defending well though.
Helgurson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sonnen connects with a nice short shot to Helgurson's temple.
Sonnen lands with a punch from half guard.
Sonnen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Sonnen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Helgurson is just riding it out for now. Sonnen eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Helgurson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sonnen.
Samuel Helgurson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Helgurson stuffs the takedown.
Helgurson tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Helgurson's guard.

Helgurson kicks Sonnen off and gets to his feet.
Helgurson stuffs the takedown attempt from Sonnen. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Samuel Helgurson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Helgurson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Helgurson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Helgurson is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Helgurson tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen fails with the takedown

and Helgurson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Helgurson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Helgurson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sonnen blocks the elbow strike.
Helgurson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Helgurson prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Helgurson.
Helgurson lands a knee to the body.
Helgurson misses with a knee to the head.
Sonnen avoiding damage as Helgurson throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has Helgurson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Helgurson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Helgurson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Helgurson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sonnen blocks it with crossed arms.
Sonnen can't get the takedown.
Sonnen wants a takedown but no success here.
Helgurson connects with a knee to the head.
Helgurson lands an elbow just above Sonnen 's eye.
Helgurson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sonnen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Helgurson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Helgurson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helgurson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sonnen tries to score a body lock takedown but Helgurson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Helgurson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sonnen's face.
Helgurson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Helgurson misses with a knee to the head.
Sonnen avoiding damage as Helgurson throws knees to the body.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Helgurson manages to get underhooks.
Helgurson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Helgurson misses with a knee strike.
Helgurson misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Helgurson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sonnen wants a takedown but no success here.
Sonnen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Helgurson looking to throw knees to the head but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Helgurson misses with a knee to the head.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Helgurson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Helgurson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Samuel Helgurson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Helgurson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sonnen's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen can't get the takedown.
Helgurson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Helgurson prevents a takedown attempt there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Helgurson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 26:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 26:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:29

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