PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaheli Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomez comes to the cage accompanied by Crazy Train. Sonni has chosen Chica as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gomez
vs
Sonni

186 cm
26
176 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

186 cm
26
185 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mario Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaheli Sonni!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez checks a low kick from Sonni.
Gomez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Sonni shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sonni is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sonni wants to control but Gomez is keeping him busy.
Sonni is pressing down on Gomez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gomez is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sonni in particular looking to stall.
Sonni wants to pass to mount but Gomez is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonni seems to be working for a kimura but Gomez defends the submission attempt.
Gomez wants to get back to his feet.
Sonni looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sonni trying to mount his opponent but Gomez defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonni is keen to just control but Gomez is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sonni in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kaheli Sonni.
Good leg kick by Gomez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A slow jab from Sonni misses its intended target.
Kaheli Sonni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonni fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gomez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gomez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sonni throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Jab, jab by Sonni - just one landing.
Sonni scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonni connects with an inside leg kick.
Sonni tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gomez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sonni somewhat.
Sonni scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni tests Gomez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sonni missing with a left hand there. Gomez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sonni tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gomez swivels and escapes.
Mario Gomez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaheli Sonni.
Gomez misses with a head kick.
Gomez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gomez throws a looping overhand right but Sonni ducks down to avoid it.
Gomez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sonni bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomez. Sonni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonni throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gomez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sonni comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sonni fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonni lands a leg kick that knocks Gomez off balance momentarily.
Sonni looks for the body kick but Gomez saw that one coming.
Gomez missing with a left hand there. Sonni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gomez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sonni.
Gomez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot lands for Gomez.
Gomez checks the leg kick nicely there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sonni.
Sonni throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gomez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sonni.
Sonni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomez cracks Sonni with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gomez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sonni's head.
Gomez throws a head kick but Sonni moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaheli Sonni dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gomez throws a leg kick

and Sonni decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gomez's guard.
Sonni trying to control but Gomez is working from the bottom.
Gomez wants to get back to his feet but Sonni is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonni wants to control from the top but Gomez keeps moving.
Sonni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gomez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gomez wants to sweep but no luck.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kaheli Sonni hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sonni connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gomez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sonni goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gomez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sonni.
Sonni lands a jab.
Sonni lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gomez's sensitive parts.
Gomez throws a body punch but Sonni moves out of range.
Gomez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kaheli Sonni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sonni looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sonni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sonni on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gomez. Sonni shrugs it off though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez wants to land a leg kick but Sonni is out of range.
Gomez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sonni moves out of range of the body kick.
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!
Sonni shoots in for a double leg but Gomez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sonni shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gomez is trying to defend but Sonni finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gomez is staying active underneath Sonni, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sonni is stalling here. Gomez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sonni seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gomez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sonni is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gomez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gomez wants to pass to mount but Sonni is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez wants to control but Sonni is keeping him busy.
Sonni wants to improve his position but Gomez is controlling well.

Sonni actively working from the bottom here.
Sonni wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Sonni.
Sonni manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sonni trying to pass the guard but Gomez defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomez trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaheli Sonni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonni cracks Gomez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sonni throws an overhand right that lands on Gomez's shoulder, as Gomez tries to avoid the shot.
Sonni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomez.
Gomez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonni.
Sonni fails to land the takedown.
Sonni has a takedown stuffed.
Sonni fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gomez checks it well.
Sonni buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sonni.
Mario Gomez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaheli Sonni.
A telegraphed right hand from Sonni misses the target.
Sonni ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sonni. Gomez shrugs it off though.
Sonni misses with a body kick.
Sonni looks for the body kick but Gomez saw that one coming.
Sonni tries to land a front kick but Gomez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gomez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gomez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sonni looks to throw the jab but Gomez is out of range.
Gomez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sonni circles away quickly and effectively.
Gomez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gomez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gomez tries a head kick but it misses.
Gomez fails to land with a series of punches.
Sonni ducks right into an uppercut from Gomez.
Sonni shoots in for a takedown but Gomez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sonni jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez throws a shot from downtown. Sonni moves away and avoids it.
Gomez checks a leg kick nicely.
Sonni throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gomez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Gomez.
Sonni feints and then cracks Gomez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gomez down.
Gomez throws a jab but it's blocked by Sonni.
Gomez throws a lazy right hand but Sonni sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gomez moves out of range as Sonni throws a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Gomez.
Gomez cracks the inside of Sonni's front leg.
Sonni misses with a wild body shot.
A lazy left from Gomez finds it's target.
Gomez checks a low kick from Sonni.
Gomez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Sonni.
Sonni throws a looping overhand right but Gomez ducks down to avoid it.

Sonni manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gomez on his heels. He'll look to pass Gomez's guard now, I'm sure.
Gomez controlling the position.
Gomez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gomez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sonni is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gomez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sonni is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonni is trying desperately to improve position.
Mario Gomez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaheli Sonni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sonni tries to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomez throws a strike there. Sonni manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kaheli Sonni.
Well Sonni 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaheli Sonni!
Kaheli Sonni seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.