PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gustafsson
vs
Sonnen

195 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gustafsson, pushing him back against the cage.
Sonnen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gustafsson avoids it.

Sonnen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gustafsson can't do much from the bottom here.
Who's going to make the next move?

Sonnen stands up and beckons Gustafsson to his feet.
Sonnen misses with a two punch combination.
Sonnen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A shot to the body from Sonnen misses
and Gustafsson counters with a series of strikes. Sonnen will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen lands a two punch combo.
Sonnen avoids the head kick by Gustafsson.

Sonnen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gustafsson's guard.

Gustafsson is working an open guard so Sonnen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen stuffs the takedown.

Sonnen forces Gustafsson back against the cage and clinches.
Gustafsson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gustafsson looking to slow down the pace here.
Gustafsson has Sonnen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sonnen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sonnen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gustafsson is defending well for now.
Sonnen wants to get back to striking at distance but Gustafsson won't allow it.
Gustafsson has Sonnen pressed against the cage, preventing Sonnen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sonnen misses with a knee to the head.
Sonnen is looking to break free of the clinch but Gustafsson has double underhooks.

Sonnen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Gustafsson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sonnen is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sonnen is working away from the top position though.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Gustafsson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gustafsson tries to kick Sonnen off but Sonnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Gustafsson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustafsson is looking to get back to full guard here but Sonnen has managed to pass to side control instead.

Sonnen decides to stand back up. Sonnen steps back and let's Gustafsson get back to his feet.

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to stand but Gustafsson is controlling his head.

Sonnen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Chael Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen looks winded!
Sonnen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gustafsson as he avoids it easily.
Gustafsson tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Gustafsson. Those never looked like landing.
Gustafsson tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.
Gustafsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sonnen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gustafsson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Gustafsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gustafsson scores with the left hand. Sonnen knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut.
No joy there for Sonnen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sonnen misses with a series of wild punches.
Gustafsson moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.

Sonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sonnen showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustafsson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sonnen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Sonnen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sonnen misses with the combination.
Gustafsson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sonnen sprawls well. Sonnen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gustafsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Sonnen scores with a one two! Gustafsson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gustafsson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sonnen throws out the jab.
Nice sprawl there from Sonnen as Gustafsson shoots in.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sonnen.

It looks like Alexander Gustafsson has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Gustafsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Sonnen which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Gustafsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sonnen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gustafsson!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sonnen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Sonnen does it's job there.
Gustafsson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen's corner calls for a 1-2. Sonnen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gustafsson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sonnen throws an overhand right that lands on Gustafsson's shoulder, as Gustafsson tries to avoid the shot.

Sonnen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sonnen is trying to break the clinch but Gustafsson is controlling him.

Gustafsson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sonnen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gustafsson to the mat. Gustafsson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Gustafsson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gustafsson tries to get out of the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Gustafsson is working an open guard so Sonnen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but Gustafsson moves out of range.
Gustafsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Sonnen misses.
Gustafsson stalks Sonnen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sonnen's face. Sonnen staggers backwards, shaken.
Gustafsson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sonnen.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gustafsson trying to control here.
Gustafsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sonnen on the ground.
Gustafsson is trying to stand.

Sonnen decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but Gustafsson avoids them all with ease.
Gustafsson tries to clinch up.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Gustafsson.

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Sonnen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gustafsson to his feet.

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gustafsson to the ground. Sonnen is now in Gustafsson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen tries to stand but Gustafsson is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Sonnen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sonnen misses with a combination
and Gustafsson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gustafsson tries to clinch up.

Sonnen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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 cut man is working on Alexander Gustafsson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gustafsson blocks a head kick by Sonnen.

Gustafsson gets caught napping as Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown. Gustafsson manages to retain guard.
Sonnen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gustafsson's guard.
Sonnen postures up.
Gustafsson wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gustafsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sonnen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sonnen throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a wild body kick that Gustafsson sees coming a mile off.
Gustafsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonnen is fending him off so far but Gustafsson persists. Nope, Sonnen circles away and we're back to standing.

Sonnen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gustafsson's guard.

Sonnen gets to his feet - Gustafsson follows without any prompting.
Gustafsson wants to clinch but Sonnen slips to the side

and Sonnen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Gustafsson manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Sonnen.
Sonnen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gustafsson.

Sonnen pushes Gustafsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen working hard to break the clinch.
Gustafsson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sonnen's efforts to push away.
Sonnen is trying to force a seperation but Gustafsson has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gustafsson has him pressed against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gustafsson stalling in the clinch but Sonnen improves position.
Sonnen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sonnen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sonnen is pressed up against the cage. Gustafsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sonnen down to the mat. Sonnen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gustafsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gustafsson shoots in and drives through. Sonnen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Gustafsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gustafsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Sonnen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gustafsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson thows a body kick. Sonnen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sonnen misses with a double jab
and Gustafsson counters with a nice leg kick.
Sonnen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Chael Sonnen seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sonnen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sonnen avoiding damage as Gustafsson throws knees to the body.
Gustafsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sonnen has him pressed against the cage.
Sonnen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gustafsson fails to pull guard.

Sonnen gets control of Gustafsson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sonnen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gustafsson trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sonnen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but Gustafsson is having none of it.

Alexander Gustafsson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sonnen misses with a head kick.
Sonnen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gustafsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Sonnen works over Gustafsson's head and body with a nice combination.
Gustafsson lands with a kick to the temple. Sonnen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gustafsson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonnen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Some wild striking there from Sonnen.
Alexander Gustafsson 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.
Nice straight punches there by Gustafsson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gustafsson.

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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Sonnen!