PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Dorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen's entrance music is Scream Aim Fire. A fine choice. 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.

Sonnen
vs
Dorn

178 cm
26
261 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

187 cm
26
260 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dorn!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen slips a straight right by Dorn.
Dorn wants to clinch.
Dorn throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Leo Sonnen has been cut.
Dorn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dorn scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sonnen in his tracks.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dorn was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
Dorn misses with a straight right.
A big right from Sonnen misses.
Sonnen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dorn swings widly with a right hand
and Sonnen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sonnen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dorn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sonnen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sonnen misses the jab.

Sonnen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Dorn is retaining full guard.
Dorn is adopting a defensive guard.
Sonnen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dorn wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Our spies down at at Russian Top Team Elite Gym inform us that Dorn has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Dorn is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Dorn.
Sonnen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dorn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dorn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sonnen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ivan Dorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dorn is looking to chop away at Sonnen's legs.
A little feinted left hand from Sonnen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dorn throws a combination that misses
and Sonnen counters with a series of strikes. Dorn will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sonnen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Dorn is refusing to be controlled, as Sonnen sits in half guard.
Dorn is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dorn keeps working.
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.
Sonnen is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is trying to control. Dorn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dorn makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dorn.
Sonnen throws a strike but Dorn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dorn trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Sonnen seems keen to control Dorn's posture.
Sonnen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dorn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sonnen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dorn is just content to waste time from the top position. Sonnen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Dorn wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Sonnen's closed guard. He's half up but Sonnen has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Sonnen pivots and extends the arm, Dorn falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Sonnen! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leo Sonnen!
A very excited looking Leo Sonnen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.