PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elliot Hulse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sonnen
vs
Hulse

185 cm
28
197 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Elliot Hulse!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen drives through with a takedown into Hulse's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Hulse is keeping the position.

Hulse escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sonnen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hulse keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Hulse trying to control the position.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Hulse is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sonnen is aware though and is defending well.

Hulse has his foot on Sonnen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sonnen works his way back into a safe position though.
Sonnen trying to control but Hulse is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulse is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hulse trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hulse is proving hard to escape from.
Hulse lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sonnen!
Sonnen tries to improve his position but instead Hulse has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen turns into Hulse and is now in his guard.
Sonnen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hulse on the ground.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hulse is retaining full guard.
Hulse is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Hulse is keeping the position.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Hulse.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hulse swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Hulse is working from the bottom.
Hulse thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control but Hulse is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chael Sonnen.
Hulse tries to clinch up.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking hook.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown but Hulse manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sonnen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sonnen scores a takedown into full mount!
Hulse can't escape the position.
Sonnen wants to control the pace but Hulse is squirming around nicely.
Sonnen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulse keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sonnen controlling his opponent.
Sonnen tries to control but Hulse wriggling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hulse is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen lands a nice shot to the head.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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!

Hulse shoots in but no luck this time.
Sonnen works Hulse's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hulse is defended easily by Sonnen.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hulse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sonnen stands up from Hulse's guard - Sonnen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen lands with a nice combination. Hulse backs away looking to recover.

Sonnen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Hulse is working from the bottom.
Sonnen tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Hulse's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sonnen is looking to take a break and control but Hulse is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sonnen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hulse's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hulse can't do much from the bottom here.
Sonnen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hulse is pushing Sonnen's head away, looking to escape. Sonnen manages to hold on to the position though.
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen is chipping away with strikes.

Sonnen stands up and beckons Hulse to his feet.
Hulse tries to clinch up.
Sonnen dives in and grabs Hulse's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hulse pushes down on Sonnen's head and hops out.

Hulse gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hulse is breathing heavily.
Sonnen tries to move to mount but Hulse blocks the move with his legs.
Sonnen lands a nice forearm strike.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Hulse is working away.
A lull in the action here as Sonnen stalls from top position.
Hulse manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sonnen's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to control but Hulse is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into Hulse's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hulse is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hulse is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hulse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Hulse is keeping the position.
Sonnen stays in close to Hulse's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hulse moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Hulse's guard.
Hulse wants to stand up but Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Hulse keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Hulse wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen stays in close to Hulse's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hulse is retaining full guard.
Hulse is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hulse is trying to control. Sonnen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hulse prevents Sonnen from improving his position.
Sonnen is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Sonnen is squirming around, avoiding Hulse's attempts to control the action.
Hulse looking to finish with strikes here!
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonnen tries to reverse the position but Hulse maintains control.
Hulse wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is holding on tight.
Hulse content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is desperately trying to improve his position but Hulse has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hulse manages to capitalize on a mistake by Sonnen to take his back!
Hulse has the hooks in. Sonnen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hulse wants to control but Sonnen is keeping busy.
Hulse is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Hulse working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hulse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen holding both Hulse 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulse missing with strikes from the back.
Sonnen breaks Hulse's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Sonnen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sonnen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hulse is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sonnen, into his guard.
Elliot Hulse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hulse can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sonnen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Sonnen!
Chael Sonnen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.