PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Jones (ranked 5206 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Sonnen (ranked 5177 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Sonnen

175 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Sonnen.
Jones tries to counter with a takedown but Sonnen is quick to defend against it.
Sonnen lands with a slapping head kick.
Sonnen throws a head kick that misses.
Jones changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Jones looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jones in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen pushes Jones off looking to stand but Jones dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sonnen kicks off Jones and gets to his feet.
Jones darts in looking for a takedown but Sonnen gets double underhooks and turns Jones into the cage.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries a head kick but it misses.
Sonnen throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jones darts in looking for a takedown but Sonnen gets double underhooks and turns Jones into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick by Sonnen misses

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!

Sonnen being controlled here momentarily.
Sonnen wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

Sonnen gets to his feet. Jones looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jones shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones is just content to waste time from the top position. Sonnen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sonnen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Sonnen keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Jones throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is pulling down on Sonnen's head. It's preventing any offense from Sonnen, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Sonnen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sonnen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jones blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Jones throws a body punch but Sonnen moves out of range.

Sonnen pushes Jones up against the cage in a clinch.
Jones wants a takedown.
Jones keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sonnen's efforts to push away.
Jones keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sonnen's efforts to push away.
Jones wants to take the fight to the mat but Sonnen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sonnen regains guard immediately.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Jones stands and throws Sonnen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sonnen keeps working.
Jones working the body and head with strikes.

Jones is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sonnen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jones creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sonnen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Jones swings around for an armbar but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jones's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sonnen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sonnen controlling from the top position.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jones lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Sonnen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Sonnen has wrist control.
Jones trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sonnen has control of Jones's left arm, preventing Jones from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Jones dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sonnen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sonnen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jones drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sonnen sprawls and moves away.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Sonnen is looking for the big counter here.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sonnen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jones was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sonnen is defended easily by Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
Anderson Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen misses with a head kick.
Jones changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick misses from Sonnen.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Jones pulls guard effortlessly.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sonnen postures up.
Jones has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sonnen has passed into side control.
Jones wants to control but Sonnen postures up.
Jones sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jones moves into full guard.
Daniel Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jones is proving hard to escape from.
Jones pulls Sonnen in close to prevent any damage.
Jones thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Jones manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sonnen manages to get himself to full guard.

Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jones throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jones's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!

Jones 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 stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Jones pulls Sonnen in close to his closed guard and prevents Sonnen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jones's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anderson Sonnen.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!

Anderson Sonnen wins by unanimous decision!