PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sonnen
vs
Alexander

185 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen gets a takedown into half guard.
Alexander regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sonnen.
Alexander has Sonnen pulled in close to control his posture.
Sonnen postures up in Alexander's guard and throws a big left but Alexander blocks it.
Alexander can't keep his opponent in guard - Sonnen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Alexander is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alexander looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alexander regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Alexander uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Alexander!
Sonnen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alexander is one step ahead there.
Alexander with a flurry of punches that miss.

Alexander drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sonnen dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexander is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Alexander managing to control the position.
Sonnen throws a strike but Alexander rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sonnen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Alexander is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sonnen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sonnen has escaped and now he's on top!
Sonnen trying to move into half guard but instead Alexander has managed to sweep!
Alexander pushes down on Sonnen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Alexander is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sonnen defends it well.
Alexander stops Sonnen from getting back to his feet.
Alexander wants to take a breather but Sonnen is having none of it.
Alexander throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alexander.
Sonnen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sonnen tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alexander stands up and beckons Sonnen to join him on the feet.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alexander but Alexander pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sonnen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alexander.
Sonnen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.

Sonnen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen stops Alexander from standing up.
Sonnen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alexander on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexander has wrist control.
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 Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sonnen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alexander looking to pass the guard.

Alexander has gone for a leg lock! Sonnen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Alexander's guard.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Alexander uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Alexander!
Alexander working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alexander trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Alexander is in close to Sonnen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alexander is standing up over Sonnen. Sonnen looks to escape but Alexander dives into side control.
Alexander wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sonnen keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Alexander to the ground. Sonnen is now in Alexander's guard.
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Frank Alexander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alexander looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexander, not yet.
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 couple of decent looking shots.
Alexander is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen won't allow Alexander to sweep him here.

Alexander pushes Sonnen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sonnen throws a nice looking combination but Alexander bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen gets caught napping as Alexander dives in and scores a takedown. Sonnen manages to retain guard.
Alexander stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alexander wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Alexander throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alexander's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Alexander is pulling down on Sonnen's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alexander works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Alexander uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Alexander!
Alexander is pushing down on Sonnen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sonnen is fighting to maintain full guard but Alexander has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alexander passes to side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alexander is trying to get an arm triangle but Sonnen is defending well.
Sonnen is not content to let Alexander control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Alexander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown but Alexander manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sonnen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Chael Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen shoots for a takedown but Alexander saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Chael Sonnen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alexander drives through with a takedown into Sonnen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Alexander throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alexander's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!
Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alexander wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexander has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Alexander.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alexander has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Alexander's legs - danger averted.
Alexander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Alexander is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen won't allow Alexander to sweep him here.
Alexander has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Alexander looking to control.
Alexander looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Alexander is keeping the position.
Alexander looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexander, not yet.
Alexander manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sonnen wants to hold on but Alexander pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alexander looking to finish with strikes here!

Alexander goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sonnen turns into him and now he's in Alexander's guard.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Alexander blocks nicely.

Alexander uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alexander as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Alexander counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alexander pushes down on Sonnen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
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!
Alexander thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Alexander wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sonnen keeps working.

Alexander stands up from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen with a poor takedown

and Alexander counters with a shoot takedown. Sonnen fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alexander accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Alexander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alexander 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Alexander!