PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Fernandes (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.

Sonnen
vs
Fernandes

179 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandes misses with a body shot.
Fernandes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sonnen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernandes to the mat! Fernandes manages to get full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sonnen won't allow Fernandes to get back to his feet.
Fernandes being controlled here, momentarily.
Sonnen trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Sonnen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fernandes on the ground.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chael Sonnen just wasn't active enough.
Fernandes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fernandes looks winded!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fernandes enables Sonnen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fernandes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fernandes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sonnen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Manuel Fernandes has been cut.
Fernandes tries a head kick but it misses.
Sonnen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fernandes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fernandes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Fernandes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sonnen distracts Fernandes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Fernandes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen slips nicely into half guard.

Sonnen is working for a submission of some sort.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manuel Fernandes'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.

Sonnen gets a double leg takedown into Fernandes's guard.
Fernandes working a defensive guard here.
Fernandes wants to sweep but no luck.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fernandes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sonnen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fernandes looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sonnen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernandes to the mat! Fernandes manages to get full guard.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen postures up.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Fernandes is working an open guard so Sonnen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Sonnen.
Sonnen moves to clinch but Fernandes breaks away
and Fernandes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Fernandes shoots in and gets a takedown into Sonnen's 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 striking from the bottom here.

Sonnen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sonnen is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Fernandes looking for a triangle here. Sonnen is fighting it but it looks tight! Fernandes pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Sonnen is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Manuel Fernandes!