PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Vale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vale kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Motorhead-Iron Fist . Sonnen has chosen Scream Aim Fire as his entrance music. Leo Sonnen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Simon Vale's chin.

Vale
vs
Sonnen

190 cm
30
245 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

178 cm
30
261 lbs
12 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Vale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Leo Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Vale scores with a nice head shot.
Vale slips a jab and a cross from Sonnen.
Sonnen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vale fails to land with a series of punches.
Vale lands a jab to the nose.
Sonnen blocks a leg kick.
Sonnen throws a lazy right hand but Vale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sonnen throws a body shot but no joy.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
We've been informed that Sonnen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Vale with a jab.
Sonnen misses with a few strikes there.
Vale takes one to the chin there.
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!
Vale pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sonnen back to the cage. Vale follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Vale fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range.
Vale lands with a hook. Sonnen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sonnen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vale connects with a single shot there.
Vale connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vale looks to throw the jab but Sonnen is out of range.
Sonnen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nice uppercut there from Sonnen.
Vale throws a leg kick but Sonnen moved away.
Vale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vale. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Vale has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Factory in the buildup to the fight.
Simon Vale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A left lands for Vale.
Sonnen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vale moves away.
Vale misses with a leg kick.
Sonnen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vale lands a nice looking body shot.
Vale digs a good hook to Sonnen's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vale tries a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vale misses with a looping right.
Sonnen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A big left from Vale misses.
Sonnen dodges the punch combination from Vale.
Vale lands a glancing blow to the side of Sonnen's head.
Sonnen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vale checks the leg kick.
Vale scores with a punch to the head.
Sonnen walks into a jab.

Sonnen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vale is trying to defend but Sonnen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Vale trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
Sonnen is keen to just control but Vale is a slippery customer.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vale's head.
Sonnen wants to take a breather but Vale is having none of it.
Vale is trying to stand.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen throwing shots but Vale is blocking nicely.

Sonnen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vale has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Vale is defending well.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Vale dodges it nicely.
Sonnen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vale lands a right hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vale. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sonnen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vale manages to avoid it.
Sonnen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vale. Vale circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vale keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vale sprawls well. Vale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Vale dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A jab from Sonnen misses.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut. Vale saw that one coming.
Vale throws a looping overhand right but Sonnen ducks down to avoid it.
Sonnen throws a looping overhand right but Vale ducks down to avoid it.
Vale is looking to chop away at Sonnen's legs.
Vale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
Vale takes a swing at Sonnen's ribcage but misses.
Sonnen misses with a kick to the body.
Vale jabs at Sonnen's body.
Sonnen lands a glancing blow to the side of Vale's head.
Vale is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sonnen can do to turn this around?
A slow jab from Vale misses its intended target.
Vale scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throws a shot to the body.
Vale ducks right into an uppercut from Sonnen.
Vale throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good shot there by Sonnen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sonnen misses with a straight left.
Sonnen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
Sonnen moves out of range of the strikes.
Sonnen slips under a jab from Vale.
A jab from Sonnen misses.
It looked like Vale wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vale slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vale avoids a kick to the body.
It looked like Vale was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sonnen checks a low kick from Vale.
Sonnen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sonnen thuds a left hand into Vale's body.
Sonnen throws a poor cross that misses
and Sonnen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice cross by Vale.
Sonnen slips under a jab.
Vale moves out of range as Sonnen strikes.
Sonnen swings for the body but Vale moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen takes one to the side of the head.
Vale lands with a cross.
Vale misses with a lunging right hand

so Sonnen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Vale wants to stand but Sonnen is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vale utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sonnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vale wants to stand and escape but Sonnen is having none of it.
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.
Vale pulls Sonnen in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Vale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sonnen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vale misses with a head kick.
Vale misses the shot to the body.
Sonnen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vale avoids it really well and circles away.
Sonnen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vale avoids it really well and circles away.
Vale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looks for a takedown but Vale sprawls well.
Simon Vale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Sonnen.
Sonnen moves out of range as Vale strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vale. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vale throwing a counter right hand but Sonnen manages to avoid it.
Sonnen wants to slow Vale down by chopping away at his legs.
Simon Vale is winning the standup battle so far.
Vale looks to throw the jab but Sonnen is out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vale.
Sonnen throws a lazy right hand but Vale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sonnen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vale moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vale cracks Sonnen with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen takes a swing at Vale's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Vale dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sonnen fails to land with a series of punches.
Sonnen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Vale with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vale with a jab.
Vale moves out of range as Sonnen throws a body kick.
Vale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
Vale misses with the combination.
Vale misses with a body shot.
Sonnen looks to land a body kick but Vale moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sonnen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Simon Vale has been cut.
Sonnen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vale throws a jab but it's blocked by Sonnen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonnen. Vale does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vale moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sonnen misses with a lunging right hand
letting Vale counter with a right hand.
Sonnen lands with a shot to the body.
Vale lands an overhand right.
Vale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Vale on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vale is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vale throws a leg kick but Sonnen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sonnen with the counter takedown but Vale avoids it easily.
Vale scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Sonnen shoots in and gets a takedown into Vale's guard.

Vale has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sonnen is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vale misses with a punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Sonnen.
Vale looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sonnen breaks from the clinch.
Vale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Vale. No joy for Sonnen on that attempt.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a wild body kick that Vale sees coming a mile off.
Sonnen tries to move into range but Vale moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Vale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sonnen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vale tries to counter with a takedown but Sonnen is quick to defend against it.

Vale gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leo Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vale keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Leo Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simon Vale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
Vale being controlled here, momentarily.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Sonnen throws a nice outside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Vale misses the target.
Vale is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Vale just misses with a punch to the body.
Sonnen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sonnen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vale scores with a nice head shot.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
Vale misses with a series of wild punches.
Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Simon Vale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Sonnen.
Vale misses with a head kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sonnen. Vale shrugs it off though.
Vale cracks Sonnen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Vale showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vale, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Vale!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Simon Vale waved his t-shirt featuring Amped Performance's logo in front of the cameras.
Leo Sonnen was interviewed post fight and said 'Dislocated my shoulder at the start, i'll be back and better than ever! '.