PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Senichev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Senichev's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lady Gaga - Just Dance. Aleksandr Senichev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Senichev
vs
Sonnen

187 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

185 cm
27
197 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Senichev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Senichev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sonnen is aware though and is defending well.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Senichev blocks nicely.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Senichev to the ground. Sonnen is now in Senichev's guard.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Senichev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Senichev keeping full guard, as Sonnen tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Senichev can't keep his opponent in guard - Sonnen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sonnen slips a nice elbow through Senichev's hands, connecting with Senichev's forehead.
Senichev is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
Sonnen lands with a punch from half guard.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Senichev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Senichev is defending the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Senichev tries to clinch up

and Sonnen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sonnen stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Senichev to the ground. Sonnen is now in Senichev's guard.
Senichev has a closed guard, preventing Sonnen from standing up.
Sonnen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Senichev has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sonnen is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Senichev's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sonnen scoring with punches from side control.
Sonnen taking a breather here.
Sonnen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sonnen advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen with the ground and pound from mount.

Senichev is rocked!

It looks like Aleksandr Senichev has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen controlling the pace for now.
Oh Senichev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sonnen softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Senichev is out cold! Sonnen jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chael Sonnen!
Chael Sonnen tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.