PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomez has chosen Bad Motherfucker as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sonnen
vs
Gomez

185 cm
31
192 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

172 cm
27
200 lbs
13 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franco Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gomez shoots in but no luck this time.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Gomez is retaining full guard.
Sonnen stands up over Gomez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gomez keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen distracts Gomez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sonnen cracks Gomez with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot to Gomez's brow.
Gomez 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.

Gomez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gomez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gomez's head.
Gomez keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen cracks Gomez with a solid left hand.
Gomez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sonnen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomez is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Gomez.
Sonnen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Gomez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sonnen!
Sonnen is squirming around, avoiding Gomez's attempts to control the action.

Gomez is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sonnen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sonnen shrugs it off.
Gomez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is working to get back to half guard.
Gomez tries to control but Sonnen wriggling away.

Sonnen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gomez.
Gomez trying to control but Sonnen is having none of it.
Gomez fails to take his opponent's back.
Gomez has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Pitbull MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez tries to control but Sonnen wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Gomez wants to work for an arm triangle but Sonnen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen wants to control but Gomez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gomez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sonnen as he jumps to the side.
Gomez slaps away a takedown attempt from Sonnen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.

Sonnen forces Gomez back against the cage and clinches.
Sonnen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sonnen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gomez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gomez is really stuck here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Gomez to escape the position.
Sonnen is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Sonnen gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Sonnen gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Sonnen apologises and we restart here on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sonnen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gomez prevents the takedown attempt.
Sonnen wants to take the fight to the mat but Gomez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sonnen can't get the takedown.
Gomez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sonnen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gomez is trying to keep an underhook but Sonnen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gomez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sonnen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sonnen's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gomez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Gomez looking to break Sonnen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Sonnen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gomez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Gomez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Sonnen showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gomez looking for the choke from the back.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Gomez just sinks the hooks in.
Gomez somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Gomez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Sonnen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
I really don't envy Sonnen right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Sonnen fending off the submission attempt from Gomez.

Gomez working for a choke but Sonnen is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Sonnen's chin but Sonnen turns very nicely into Gomez's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Sonnen.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomez wants to hit a switch here but Sonnen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gomez there!
Sonnen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Franco Gomez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sonnen defends well and Gomez ends up having to push Sonnen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sonnen is working for takedown but Gomez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sonnen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sonnen gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gomez regains guard.
Gomez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen pushing down on Gomez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sonnen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Sonnen there.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen works his way into full mount!
Gomez tries to lock up and control but Sonnen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez is bucking up trying to escape but Sonnen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
BOOM! Sonnen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gomez is working to get back to half guard.
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gomez tries to lock up and control but Sonnen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.

Gomez is rocked!
Sonnen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gomez looks a forlorn figure.
Gomez is still in real trouble! Can Sonnen finish him?
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 softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Gomez is out cold! Sonnen jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chael Sonnen!
After the fight, Chael Sonnen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.