|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 1090 p4p, 157 weight class) and Alasdair Thacker (ranked 956 p4p, 139 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by Sure to be sure. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 183 cm
29
193 lbs
16 - 8 - 0 |
|
175 cm
32
197 lbs
17 - 11 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
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
16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thacker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Thacker on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sonnen ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
Thacker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sonnen avoids the body shot from Thacker.
Sonnen tries to score with a low kick but Thacker moves his leg out of the way.
Sonnen tried to score with a low kick but Thacker checks it.
Thacker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sonnen lands an overhand right.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonnen throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker looks to score with a jab to the body but Sonnen is just out of range.
Sonnen throws a poor cross that misses
and Thacker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sonnen tries to score with a low kick but Thacker moves his leg out of the way.
Sonnen swings for the body but Thacker moves out of range.
Sonnen throws a big shot that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen staying out of range there.
Thacker lands a nice hook to Sonnen's body. Sonnen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sonnen moves out of range of the strikes.
Alasdair Thacker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen misses with a looping left.
Sonnen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thacker is out of range.
Sonnen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sonnen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thacker throws a body shot but no joy.
Sonnen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Sonnen has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sonnen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thacker on the side of the head.
Thacker ducks under a wild hook from Sonnen.
Thacker cracks Sonnen with a good jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sonnen.
Thacker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thacker swinging wildly here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a leg kick
and Thacker counters with a thumping low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thacker takes one to the chin there.
Sonnen lands a leg kick that knocks Thacker off balance momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thacker. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen blocks a jab.
Thacker swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sonnen counters with a nice body shot.
Thacker connects with a leg kick. Sonnen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sonnen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thacker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sonnen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thacker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lets loose with a powerful body kick. Thacker will feel that in the morning.
Sonnen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thacker's sensitive parts.
Dao Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thacker loads up on a big right hand but Sonnen slips the punch.
Sonnen wants to slow Thacker down by chopping away at his legs.
Thacker jabs at Sonnen's body.
Nice sprawl there from Thacker as Sonnen shoots in.
Sonnen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen is working for a kimura here but Thacker manages to reverse the position and he's now in Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thacker is aware though and is defending well.
Sonnen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thacker defends it easily.
Sonnen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sonnen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sonnen has momentary wrist control but Thacker slips an elbow through the middle.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Thacker from controlling successfully.
Sonnen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thacker manages to get himself to full guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Thacker is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dao Sonnen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Thacker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
Thacker throws out a counter right but Sonnen avoids it with no problem.
Sonnen lands with a nice body punch.
Sonnen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sonnen connects with a solid leg kick.
Thacker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sonnen.
Thacker moves out of range of the body kick.
Sonnen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Sonnen.
A bone on bone clash there as Thacker blocks the leg kick.
Sonnen throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Thacker as he connects with a hook.
It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thacker.
Thacker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thacker can do to turn this around?
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thacker.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thacker. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thacker tried to score with a low kick but Sonnen checks it.
Sonnen throws a jab but it's blocked by Thacker.
Thacker blocks the body kick.
Thacker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sonnen counters with a body kick.
Thacker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sonnen can pounce on him.
Sonnen slips under a jab from Thacker.
Sonnen looks to land a left hand but Thacker moved out of range nicely.
Thacker let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Thacker checks a low kick from Sonnen.
Sonnen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sonnen ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
A good leg kick by Sonnen.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thacker finds it's way round the side to connect with Sonnen's head.
Thacker misses with a series of wild punches.
Sonnen throws a leg kick which misses Thacker's front leg but catches the back leg as Thacker tries to avoid it.
Sonnen drops his hands momentarily and Thacker takes advantage with a crisp shot to 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 connects with an inside leg kick.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
Sonnen misses with a hook to the body
and Thacker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sonnen connects with a right hand. Thacker shakes it off.
Sonnen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thacker.
Sonnen throws a hook but Thacker blocks it.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sonnen.
Sonnen avoids a punch combination nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker lands a jab to Sonnen's midsection.
Thacker lands with an overhand left.
Thacker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sonnen throws a jab when Thacker was well out of range.
Sonnen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Thacker.
Sonnen throws a jab but it's blocked by Thacker.
Sonnen misses with a wild body shot.
Thacker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thacker fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thacker lands the left hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It seemed like Thacker was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sonnen scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen throws a leg kick
and Thacker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thacker looks to land a right hand but Sonnen moved out of range.
Sonnen digs a good body shot into Thacker's ribs.
Thacker misses with a hook.
Thacker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thacker darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sonnen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thacker lands a nice shot to the body.
Sonnen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thacker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sonnen tries to land a body kick
enabling Thacker to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Alasdair Thacker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen'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!
Thacker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sonnen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sonnen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Sonnen misses the target.
Thacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Thacker.
Thacker misses with a hook. Sonnen ducked under it nicely.
Thacker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sonnen misses with a low kick.
Thacker misses with a hook
and Sonnen counters with a good low kick that Thacker was not able to check.
Thacker missing with a left hand there. Sonnen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Thacker - just one landing.
Thacker tries a head kick but it misses.
Sonnen ducks right into an uppercut from Thacker.
Thacker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sonnen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thacker scrambles back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a really nice looking cross but Thacker seems unphased.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thacker was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
Thacker unleashes a big counter combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thacker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thacker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thacker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sonnen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thacker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sonnen is able to avoid easily.
Thacker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sonnen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thacker slips a straight right by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a right hand that Thacker ducks under and follows up with a left that Thacker also avoids with ease.
Thacker throws a hook to the side of Sonnen's head but Sonnen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sonnen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thacker.
Sonnen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thacker.
Thacker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sonnen moves away.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but Thacker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sonnen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thacker throws a right and a left that Sonnen avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Sonnen misses.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thacker.
Sonnen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thacker swivels and escapes.
Sonnen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thacker steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Sonnen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sonnen tries a low kick but Thacker avoids it.
Thacker looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Thacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Thacker.
Sonnen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thacker circles away quickly and effectively.
Sonnen jabs at Thacker's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thacker. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen lunges at Thacker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thacker's hand.
Thacker staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonnen. Thacker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Thacker.
Sonnen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thacker misses with a hook. Sonnen ducked under it nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thacker with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sonnen to score with a decent uppercut.
Thacker just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Sonnen tenderised Thacker's leg. Thacker is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sonnen throws a shot from downtown. Thacker moves away and avoids it.
Sonnen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thacker walks into a straight right hand from Sonnen.
Some bone on bone action there as Thacker checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sonnen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thacker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sonnen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thacker.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thacker defends it nicely.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dao Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sonnen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dao Sonnen!
Dao Sonnen decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
58% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
