PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rapide (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Rapide will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sonnen
vs
Rapide

195 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
184 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyoto Rapide!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapide tries to bum rush Sonnen with a series of wild strikes but Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rapide fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sonnen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rapide to regain full guard.
Rapide is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Rapide looking for a sweep. Not yet Rapide, not yet.

Rapide working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sonnen has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen is working for a submission of some sort.
Sonnen wants to free his trapped foot but Rapide is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapide tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.
Rapide has hold of Sonnen's hands but Sonnen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Still in half guard, Sonnen seems content to control.
Sonnen is thwarting Rapide's attempts to control the position.
Sonnen moves into full mount! Rapide won't be happy about that!
Rapide keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rapide wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Rapide defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Sonnen scores with punches to the body.
Rapide is trying to stand back up.
Sonnen lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Sonnen controls the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapide trying to control but not successfully.
Sonnen is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The referee is taking a good look at Rapide as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Sonnen!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sonnen.
Rapide rolls, trying to escape but Sonnen keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rapide shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sonnen but Sonnen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rapide fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Rapide as Sonnen shoots in.

Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rapide looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sonnen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rapide can't do much from the bottom here.
Sonnen just content to control the position.

Sonnen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rapide looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rapide gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sonnen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rapide!
Chael Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rapide.
Rapide is breathing heavily.
Sonnen lands an elbow.
Sonnen cracks Rapide with a big right hand but Rapide just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Sonnen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen working the head with strikes.

Sonnen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rapide wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scoring with punches and elbows.
Sonnen controls the position.
Rapide wants to control but Sonnen postures up.
The referee asks Sonnen politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sonnen prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rapide tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapide is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rapide is letting Sonnen control him for a moment.
Sonnen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rapide for as long as he can get away with.
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chael Sonnen just wasn't active enough.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Rapide.

Sonnen has Rapide up against the cage in a clinch.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rapide can do to turn this around?

Sonnen decides to pull guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rapide trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Sonnen pulls Rapide in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rapide has hold of Sonnen's hands but Sonnen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sonnen working Rapide over with strikes.
Rapide trying to control but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen moves into full mount! Rapide won't be happy about that!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sonnen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sonnen raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rapide is trying to reverse the position but instead Sonnen has taken his back - oops!
Rapide rolls, trying to escape but Sonnen keeps control of the position.
Rapide takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen is persistently looking for the submission but Rapide is defending it well.

Sonnen is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rapide is defending well though. Sonnen let's go of the attempt for now.
Rapide really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sonnen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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 gets his hands free as Rapide looks to control.
Sonnen biding his time, controlling Rapide.
Rapide is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Rapide.

Sonnen is looking for a rear naked choke here but Rapide reverses the position brilliantly into Sonnen's guard!
Rapide pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sonnen is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen has his foot on Rapide's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rapide works his way back into a safe position though.
Rapide looking to sit in guard and control but Sonnen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Rapide.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rapide can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sonnen controls the pace.
Sonnen wants to get up but he can't break Rapide's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen passes to side control.
Lyoto Rapide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonnen happy to just control the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sonnen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

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