PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Mad Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mad Man
vs
Sonnen

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manuel Mad Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mad Man circles away.
Sonnen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sonnen wants it to stay on the feet.

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 slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mad Man wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mad Man wants to sweep but no luck.
Mad Man is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Mad Man tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sonnen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sonnen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Sonnen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sonnen gets the takedown into side control.
Sonnen slows the pace down.

Sonnen decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up with Mad Man, looking for a takedown. Sonnen pushes Mad Man against the cage but Mad Man circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sonnen gets a double leg takedown into Mad Man's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mad Man preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen controlling from the top position.

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

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mad Man tries to lock up and control but Sonnen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Sonnen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
BOOM! Sonnen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sonnen controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Mad Man tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mad Man manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manuel Mad Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen fails with the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mad Man gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full 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!
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mad Man but Mad Man pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sonnen working away.
Mad Man trying to remain calm as Sonnen controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mad Man moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Mad Man tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mad Man wants to clinch.
Sonnen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mad Man is defended easily by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mad Man misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sonnen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mad Man manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sonnen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.
Mad Man looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mad Man is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sonnen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sonnen's back!
Sonnen trying to control the action but Mad Man just sinks the hooks in.
Sonnen turns into Mad Man and is now in his guard.
Sonnen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mad Man is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into Mad Man's guard.
Mad Man can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sonnen controls the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen doesn't manage to clinch there - Mad Man circles away.
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.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Sonnen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mad Man displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sonnen.

Sonnen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mad Man not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Mad Man is keeping the position.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mad Man defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Manuel Mad Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen shoots in for a double leg but Mad Man sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mad Man tries for a takedown but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mad Man checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mad Man stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mad Man wants it to stay on the feet.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mad Man pinned against the cage. Mad Man gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mad Man fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen avoids it really well and circles away.
Chael Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mad Man looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonnen is fending him off so far but Mad Man persists. Nope, Sonnen circles away and we're back to standing.
Sonnen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sonnen fails with the takedown.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mad Man pinned against the cage. Mad Man gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sonnen leaves Mad Man with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mad Man tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mad Man's waist but Mad Man gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sonnen off to one side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mad Man enables Sonnen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mad Man manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sonnen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Mad Man 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.
Mad Man can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sonnen controls the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mad Man's guard.
Sonnen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen avoids the attempt from Mad Man to control.
Sonnen controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sonnen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Sonnen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mad Man to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mad Man shrugs it off.
Mad Man in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sonnen punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sonnen controlling the position easily from mount.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sonnen controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel Mad Man has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sonnen working Mad Man over with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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