PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kruger Vance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by Sure to be sure. Vance has chosen Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck as his entrance music. Dao Sonnen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sonnen
vs
Vance

183 cm
22
198 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
201 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Notorious Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kruger Vance!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vance moves away.
Vance checks a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a leg kick that misses.
Sonnen throws a jab but it's blocked by Vance.
Vance throws out a counter right but Sonnen avoids it with no problem.
Sonnen throws an off balance right hand
and Vance counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vance 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Kruger Vance has been cut.
Sonnen takes a swing at Vance's ribcage but misses.
Sonnen misses with a combination
and Vance counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sonnen lands with a straight right. Vance didn't see that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonnen. Vance does a little dance to reset his feet.
A leg kick checked by Vance.
Sonnen throws a hook but Vance avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sonnen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sonnen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Vance throws the left hand but Sonnen avoids the punch easily.
Vance throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sonnen looks to score with a jab to the body but Vance is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with a wild combination.
It seemed like Vance was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sonnen looks to throw the jab but Vance is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Vance on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vance avoids the head kick by Sonnen.
Vance throws out a counter right but Sonnen avoids it with no problem.
Sonnen cracks a nice hook into Vance's ribs.
Nice shot lands for Sonnen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen scores with a decent looking hook.
Sonnen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Vance under the eye.
Sonnen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Vance counters with a two punch combo.
Sonnen scores with a spinning back kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sonnen lands a front kick.
A jab from Sonnen does it's job there.
Sonnen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice side step and Vance releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Vance looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Vance takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sonnen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vance walks into a straight right hand from Sonnen.
Kruger Vance is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Vance counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance working aggressively here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vance struggles to land a body shot inside as Sonnen controls his hands.
Sonnen looking to throw knees to the head but Vance is blocking nicely.
Sonnen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vance throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sonnen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Vance fails to land.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vance.
Vance swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Sonnen digs a right hand underneath Vance's ribcage. Vance let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vance throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vance pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sonnen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vance up against the cage.
Sonnen missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dao Sonnen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kruger Vance's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sonnen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vance stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sonnen.
Nice defenses there by Vance.
Vance wants to counter the offense by Sonnen and move into the clinch position.
Dao Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen throws a shot from downtown. Vance moves away and avoids it.
Vance swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Vance takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Vance has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
Sonnen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Vance counters with a straight right hand.
Sonnen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Sonnen.
Vance is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sonnen with a body shot.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but Vance moved away.
Vance tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vance was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
Vance unleashes a big counter combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Vance counters with a straight right hand.
Sonnen scores with a hook to the body. Vance takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vance staying out of range there.

Sonnen moves into the clinch.
Sonnen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vance can do to turn this around?
Sonnen taking a breather.
Vance tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vance has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Vance misses with some punches.
Vance throws a head punch that misses.
Sonnen tries to work over Vance's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vance fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sonnen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sonnen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vance lands a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vance misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Sonnen on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vance throws an elbow but misses.
Sonnen just leaning against Vance, taking a breather.
Sonnen trying to land knees to the body.

Sonnen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sonnen drives through and clinches with Vance against the cage.
Vance doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sonnen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vances head.
Sonnen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Sonnen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Vance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body.
Vance dodges an elbow strike from Sonnen.
Vance tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vance scores with a shot to the side of Sonnen's head.
Vance scores with a shot to the side of Sonnen's head.
A right hook to the body lands for Vance.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sonnen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sonnen blocks a body shot from Vance.
A head punch on the inside from Vance fails to land.
Vance tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Vance.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vance.
Vance tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Sonnen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sonnen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vance's elbow.
Vance's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vance misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Sonnen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vance has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen prevents a body shot from Vance.
Vance misses with the head strike.
Sonnen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sonnen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Vance fails to land.
Sonnen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vance backwards.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Vance on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sonnen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sonnen misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dao Sonnen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kruger Vance's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sonnen looks to throw the jab but Vance is out of range.
Vance lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sonnen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sonnen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sonnen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sonnen throws a head kick but Vance moves out of range.
Vance throws a jab when Sonnen was well out of range.
Sonnen misses with a leg kick
and Vance counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen misses with a series of wild punches.
Sonnen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Vance is out of range.
It seemed like Vance was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vance dodges the punch combination from Sonnen.
Sonnen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vance takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sonnen just misses with a punch to the body.
Vance appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Vance moves away from the strike by Sonnen.
Sonnen sets himself, and Vance steps forward looking for the clinch! Sonnen avoids it this time.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sonnen.
Kruger Vance is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sonnen looks to throw a body kick
and Vance counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Vance to counter with a crisp jab.
Vance has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sonnen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vance doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sonnen throws out a loose jab but Vance uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vance unleashes a big counter combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sonnen throws a right hand that misses
enabling Vance to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sonnen instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vance creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vance lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vance misses with the head strike.
Sonnen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vance works on Sonnen's body with a couple of short punches.
Vance tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vance avoids it.

Sonnen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sonnen tries a head kick but it misses.
Vance looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Vance displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sonnen throws out the jab.
Vance wants to counter the offense by Sonnen and move into the clinch position.
Sonnen misses with a hook
and Vance counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sonnen throws an overhand right that lands on Vance's shoulder, as Vance tries to avoid the shot.
Vance tries to counter with a clinch but Sonnen shakes him off and moves away.
Sonnen misses with a hook to the body
letting Vance counter with a right hand.
Vance smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sonnen digs a good hook to Vance's body.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but Vance moves out of range.
Sonnen sets himself, and Vance steps forward looking for the clinch! Sonnen avoids it this time.
Sonnen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Vance ducks under a wild hook from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Vance counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen connects with a crisp jab.
Vance displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sonnen throws out the jab.
Vance uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
A countering left hand to the body from Vance misses.
Sloppy strikes from Sonnen. Those never looked like landing.
Vance is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sonnen misses with a shot to the body
and Vance counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dao Sonnen clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonnen shoots for a takedown but Vance saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vance steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a hook.
Sonnen throws a looping overhand right but Vance ducks down to avoid it.
Vance is looking for the big counter here.
Sonnen lands a right hook to the body.
Sonnen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vance manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sonnen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vance checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sonnen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throws a sloppy body shot
and Vance counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen connects with a single shot there.
Sonnen throws a jab when Vance was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen thows a body kick. Vance tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The fighters circling - Sonnen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Vance drives through and clinches with Sonnen against the cage.
Sonnen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Vance.
Sonnen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vance avoids it.
Vance pushes Sonnen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vance lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sonnen lands a right hand.
Vance tries to throw a body punch but Sonnen avoids it by throwing Vance back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vance.
Vance misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vance has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vance misses with the head strike.
Vance throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vance tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vance lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Vance has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sonnen.
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 tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vance's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Vance fails to land.
Vance lands a hook that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Sonnen throws a head punch that misses.
Vance goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Vance throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen working aggressively here.
Vance throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen scores with a hook to the body.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vance throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Sonnen on the inside.
Vance working aggressively here.
Sonnen lands a hook that snaps the head of Vance backwards.
Vance cracks Sonnen with a nice body shot.
Vance throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sonnen.
Sonnen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Vance.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sonnen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sonnen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vance backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vance.
A bit of stalling here from Sonnen.
Sonnen works on Vance's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Vance on the inside.
Vance misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vance pushes Sonnen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen scores with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vance swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sonnen is pushing Vance up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kruger Vance seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike.
Vance pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sonnen presses Vance against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vance misses with a punch on the inside.
Vance lands with a light punch inside.
Sonnen misses with an elbow over the top.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Vance misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sonnen breaks from the clinch.
Sonnen misses with a shot to the body
and Sonnen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Kruger Vance will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sonnen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sonnen throws a leg kick
and Vance counters with a stiff right hand.
Sonnen throws a combination that misses
letting Vance counter with a right hand.
Sonnen throws a looping overhand right but Vance ducks down to avoid it.
Vance doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Vance misses with a combination
and Sonnen counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sonnen slips a straight right by Vance.
Vance avoids the head kick by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen doesn't manage to clinch there - Vance circles away.
Sonnen swings for the body but Vance moves out of range.
Sonnen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sonnen misses with a wild body shot.
Sonnen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vance blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a body punch but Vance moves out of range.
Sonnen sets himself, and Vance steps forward looking for the clinch! Sonnen avoids it this time.
Sonnen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Vance counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sonnen throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a front kick.
Sonnen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sonnen lands a glancing blow to the side of Vance's head.
Sonnen is looking to slow Vance down with leg kicks.
Sonnen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vance sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sonnen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Vance counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vance uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
Sonnen sets himself, and Vance steps forward looking for the clinch! Sonnen avoids it this time.
A shot to the liver by Sonnen. Beautiful body shot.
Sonnen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with a kick to the body.
A little jabbing left from Vance on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sonnen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A good leg kick by Sonnen.
Vance misses with a body shot.
Sonnen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kruger Vance has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vance circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vance avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen thuds a left hand into Vance's body.
Vance takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sonnen misses with a double jab
enabling Vance to counter with a crisp jab.
Sonnen misses with a wild combination.
Sonnen swings widly with a right hand
and Vance counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sonnen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dao Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sonnen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 49:46
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dao Sonnen!
Dao Sonnen retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Dao 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.
The defeated Kruger Vance had this to say: 'Shite ! ! ! '.