PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Javier Casados (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Casados
vs
Sonnen

195 cm
24
193 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

180 cm
27
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Javier Casados!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Casados manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sonnen on his heels. He'll look to pass Sonnen's guard now, I'm sure.
Casados will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Casados thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Casados missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet but Casados is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Casados pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sonnen is keeping the position for now.
Casados passes into half guard.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Casados is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sonnen can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to get back to full guard.

Casados is looking for a kimura here.
Sonnen wants to control but Casados is keeping busy.

Casados is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Casados is looking for a kimura here.

Casados seems to be working for a kimura but Sonnen defends the submission attempt.

Casados is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sonnen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Casados seems to be working for a kimura but Sonnen defends the submission attempt.
Sonnen won't allow Casados to pass to mount.

Sonnen is defending against the submission attempts here by Casados.

Casados is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to improve his position but Casados is controlling well.
Sonnen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

It looks like Chael Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen wants to get back to full guard.

Casados is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sonnen is just riding it out for now. Casados eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casados tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sonnen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Casados dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chael Sonnen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Casados fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen avoids it really well and circles away.
Casados fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Casados drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casados with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Casados is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Casados postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sonnen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Casados, into his guard.
Sonnen looking to sit in guard and control but Casados gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casados in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Casados drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sonnen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Casados has Sonnen in his guard.
Javier Casados overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Casados looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sonnen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casados bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sonnen's guard.
Casados wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Casados working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Casados thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Casados postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen can't keep his opponent in guard - Casados advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is defending against the submission attempts here by Casados.

Casados is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sonnen is just riding it out for now. Casados eventually gives up the hold.
Casados is pressing down on Sonnen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sonnen is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Casados dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chael Sonnen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Casados misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Casados shoots in looking for a takedown but Sonnen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Casados's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Casados shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sonnen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sonnen can't do much from the bottom here.

Casados working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Casados.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is trying to improve his position.

Casados working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Casados with the ground and pound but Sonnen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Casados postures up in Sonnen's guard and throws a big left but Sonnen blocks it.
Casados trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen keeping full guard, as Casados tries to pass.
Casados postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Casados is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Casados.

Casados is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Casados trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Casados chips away with some ground and pound.
Casados throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Casados with a nice head shot there.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Casados throws a big elbow that misses.
Javier Casados is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Casados drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sonnen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sonnen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sonnen!
Chael Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Casados dodges the ground and pound from Sonnen.
Sonnen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Casados manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sonnen's best efforts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Casados trying to hold on to Sonnen's head to control him but Sonnen postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casados slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Casados showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Casados 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Casados!
Our winner, Javier Casados, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.