PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Zanetti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zanetti
vs
Sonnen

169 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
187 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pablo Zanetti !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steve Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sonnen's corner calls for a 1-2. Sonnen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Pablo Zanetti has been cut.
Zanetti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sonnen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zanetti . Zanetti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zanetti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Clean and Green in the buildup to the fight.
Sonnen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Zanetti scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sonnen trying to control here.
Zanetti is pressing down on Sonnen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sonnen is holding on for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zanetti is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanetti wants to control but Sonnen is keeping him busy.
Zanetti trying to control the pace.
Sonnen is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pablo Zanetti just wasn't active enough.

Zanetti feints and as Sonnen raises his hands in defense, Zanetti changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zanetti is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sonnen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zanetti !
Zanetti is trying desperately to improve position.
Zanetti is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sonnen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zanetti because Sonnen loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti is squirming around, avoiding Sonnen's attempts to control the action.
Sonnen prevents Zanetti from getting the reversal.
Zanetti is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sonnen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zanetti is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanetti is looking to improve his position but Sonnen isn't that keen on the idea.
Zanetti is squirming around, avoiding Sonnen's attempts to control the action.
Zanetti is desperately trying to improve his position but Sonnen has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen looking for a guillotine from mount but Zanetti is having none of it.
Zanetti sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sonnen blocks the strikes from Zanetti .
Sonnen works his foot free and advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zanetti is desperately trying to improve his position but Sonnen has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Sonnen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pablo Zanetti 's cut.
That's time! Zanetti 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sonnen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zanetti counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Zanetti from controlling successfully.
Sonnen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zanetti controls the pace.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Zanetti from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sonnen wants to stand but Zanetti is controlling the position.
Sonnen trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pablo Zanetti just wasn't active enough.

Zanetti closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sonnen is trying to control Zanetti 's posture but Zanetti avoids it.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep.
Pablo Zanetti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti trying to control the action but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

Zanetti tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zanetti has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zanetti working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti trying to control the action but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Sonnen wants to control but Zanetti postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sonnen trying to remain calm as Zanetti controls from the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sonnen looks to land a combination but Zanetti avoids it well.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sonnen throws a leg kick

and Zanetti counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sonnen won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti wants to control but Sonnen is keeping him busy.

Zanetti is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sonnen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen wants to control but Zanetti postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Zanetti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pablo Zanetti 's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zanetti counters with a takedown into side control.
Zanetti wants to control but Sonnen is keeping him busy.
Zanetti looking to control but instead Sonnen has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Sonnen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zanetti pulls his head out easily.

Zanetti is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanetti controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanetti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sonnen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zanetti .
Sonnen gets full guard.
Zanetti stops Sonnen from standing up.
Sonnen is trying to keep Zanetti in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pablo Zanetti .
Sonnen misses with a double jab

and Zanetti decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sonnen's guard.
Zanetti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanetti wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Zanetti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zanetti controlling from the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Pablo Zanetti wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sonnen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Zanetti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zanetti 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Zanetti !