PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Jones told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sonnen
vs
Jones

179 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 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, Jon Jones!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen looking to score a takedown here. Jones is defending well but Sonnen drives through and ends up in Jones's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sonnen wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen wants to stand but Jones has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Sonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sonnen showed some decent athleticism there.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Sonnen sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Jones desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Jones is defending against the submission attempts here by Sonnen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slows the pace down in half guard.
Sonnen prevents Jones from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.

Sonnen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jones's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chael Sonnen just wasn't active enough.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.

Sonnen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones looking for a sweep. Not yet Jones, not yet.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
That's time! Sonnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sonnen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep.
Sonnen is working hard here to advance position.
Jones passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sonnen!
Sonnen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen is in a horrible position here. Jones smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sonnen is wriggling around trying to escape.

Jones is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sonnen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sonnen!
Sonnen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sonnen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jones's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to roll over but Sonnen keeps him under control.
Sonnen stops Jones from getting back to his feet.
Sonnen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Jones pushes Sonnen off looking to stand but Sonnen dives back in and keeps control.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jones has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sonnen is working away from the top position though.
Sonnen slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.
Jones controlling the position for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sonnen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Jones's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones is pulling down on Sonnen's head. It's preventing any offense from Sonnen, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

Jones throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sonnen escapes and throws Jones's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sonnen cracks Jones with a big right hand but Jones just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
You can see the frustration on Jones's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen tries for a kimura but Jones is defending well.
Sonnen working away.
Jones gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sonnen prevents Jones from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen is trying to control. Jones wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones trying to control but Sonnen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jon Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sonnen tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sonnen to the ground. Sonnen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Sonnen with that takedown attempt.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Sonnen sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sonnen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jones was covering up waiting for the punch and Sonnen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sonnen!
Jones controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
Sonnen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sonnen is looking to escape.

Jones looking for a guillotine from mount but Sonnen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
and Jones counters with a body kick that stops Sonnen in his tracks momentarily.

Sonnen gets a clinch.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sonnen is keeping busy.
Sonnen tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones has Sonnen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sonnen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jones pushes Sonnen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Sonnen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sonnen is looking to control Jones's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sonnen has his back to the cage.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Sonnen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonnen tries to clinch
and Jones counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt

and Sonnen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sonnen.
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!
Jones throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sonnen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jones is proving hard to escape from.
Sonnen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but instead Jones has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sonnen trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones is looking to advance position but Sonnen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chael Sonnen.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

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