PBP Commentary

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

James
vs
Sonnen

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
187 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lebron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James connects with a leg kick. Sonnen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

James gets a double leg takedown into Sonnen's guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen working a defensive guard here.
James wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.

James stands up from Sonnen's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonnen tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sonnen somewhat.
James tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

James drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sonnen is controlling James's posture.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sonnen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sonnen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
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 looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sonnen has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
Sonnen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sonnen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sonnen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sonnen looks winded!

Sonnen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James wanted to stand there but Sonnen had control of the position.
James wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Sonnen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James stays in close to Sonnen's body and controls the position.
James working some strikes from top position.
Sonnen is trying to keep James in close.

Sonnen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lebron James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sonnen is defended easily by James.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

James scores a takedown into full mount!
Sonnen wants to hold on but James pushes him away.
James putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
James pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sonnen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James wants to control the pace but Sonnen is squirming around nicely.
James connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is trying to escape the mount.
James trying to control but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen is trying desperately to improve position.
Sonnen wants to control but James is having none of it.
James looking to control but Sonnen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lebron James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to control but Sonnen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sonnen working to try and regain half guard.
James lands a big shot there that rocks Sonnen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

James swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Sonnen is now in James's guard. A big mistake from James there, giving up the dominant position!
Sonnen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
James throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sonnen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sonnen's guard.
James looking to pass the guard.
James wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sonnen looking for a sweep. Not yet Sonnen, not yet.
Sonnen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
James wants to stand but Sonnen is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lebron James dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.
Sonnen won't allow James to pass to mount.
Sonnen tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sonnen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sonnen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sonnen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, James has managed to get both his arms back between Sonnen's legs - danger averted.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
James showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James with a nice head shot there.

Sonnen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James is looking to stand up but Sonnen won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.

James is posturing up here but Sonnen has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! James tries to roll out but it's too tight and James has to tap! Slick submission there by Sonnen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). 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.