PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Banks
vs
Sonnen

200 cm
26
192 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

195 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sonnen misses with a combination

and Banks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sonnen.

Sonnen pulls Banks into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Banks preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen is still trying to improve position.
Banks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Banks from controlling successfully.
Sonnen has a closed guard, preventing Banks from standing up.
Sonnen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banks is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brian Banks has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Banks or perhaps it was just good defense by Sonnen which made him look bad.
Sonnen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Banks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sonnen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Banks!
We've been hearing good reports from Banks's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Banks wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Banks trying to remain calm as Sonnen controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks prevents Sonnen from moving into mount.

Sonnen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonnen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sonnen wants to stand but Banks is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Banks is working from the bottom.
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.
Banks trying to remain calm as Sonnen controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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 drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Banks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sonnen tries to stand but Banks is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sonnen throws a lazy uppercut

and Banks moves into the clinch.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Banks manages to get underhooks.

Banks is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sonnen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Banks to the mat. Banks regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sonnen controlling from the top 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 referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Banks trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Sonnen prevents Banks from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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 drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sonnen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Banks's guard.
Sonnen stays in close to Banks's body and controls the position.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Banks has wrist control.

Sonnen has gone for a leg lock! Banks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Banks haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Banks throws an elbow but misses.
Banks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen takes a shot to the head.
Sonnen stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sonnen is defending well for now.
Sonnen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sonnen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sonnen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position.
Sonnen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sonnen wants to sweep but no luck.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sonnen keeps trying to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Chael Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Banks is defending well.
Banks desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sonnen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Brian Banks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick and Banks moves out of range easily.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick
and Banks counters with an outside leg kick.
Banks tries to clinch up.
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown but Sonnen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Banks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Sonnen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Banks is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sonnen jumps into side control!
Banks is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Banks is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen scoring with punches and elbows.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sonnen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Banks is letting Sonnen control him for a moment.
Banks gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Sonnen seems content to control.

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

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Banks did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Sonnen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banks is looking to escape.
Sonnen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Banks misses with a takedown

and Sonnen counters with a single leg into guard. Banks didn't expect that.
Sonnen is looking to stand up but Banks won't let him.
Sonnen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sonnen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sonnen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sonnen controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen advances nicely into full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sonnen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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