PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between TJ Graham (ranked 5607 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Sonnen (ranked 5231 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Graham
vs
Sonnen

185 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Graham tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Graham manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Graham avoids the head kick by Sonnen.
Graham circles away from the clinch attempt.

Graham is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sonnen's half guard.
Graham not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Graham 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.
Graham thows a huge punch but Sonnen dodges it nicely.
Graham wants to advance to full mount but Sonnen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham looking to pass the guard.
Graham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sonnen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham lands a couple of digs.

Graham is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sonnen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sonnen has escaped and now he's on top!

Sonnen wants to stand but Graham is controlling his posture from full guard.
Graham has control of Sonnen's left arm, preventing Sonnen from doing any damage.

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.
Graham working a defensive guard here.
Graham managing to control the position.

Graham has his foot on Sonnen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sonnen works his way back into a safe position though.
Graham on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Graham tries to get out of the position.

Sonnen stands up and waves to Graham to follow him.
Anderson Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sonnen misses with a leg kick

and Graham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Sonnen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sonnen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sonnen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Graham feinted with a counter takedown.
Graham walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sonnen.
Graham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sonnen as he avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Graham as he avoids it easily.
Graham tries to counter with a takedown but Sonnen is quick to defend against it.
Sonnen thumps Graham with a low kick.
Graham shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham is breathing heavily.
Graham tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sonnen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Graham somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick and Graham moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Graham is defended easily by Sonnen.
Sonnen feints the counter takedown.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Graham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Graham has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sonnen.

Graham drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sonnen pushes Graham off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick and Graham moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Sonnen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Graham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sonnen pinned against the cage. Sonnen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Graham on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sonnen. Sonnen obviously looking to wear him down.
TJ Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sonnen tries to keep at a distance but Graham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Graham has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sonnen after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graham gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sonnen regains guard.

Sonnen manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Graham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sonnen's efforts to push away.
Graham prevents Sonnen from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Sonnen bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Graham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sonnen to the mat! Sonnen manages to get full guard.
Graham won't allow Sonnen to sweep him here.
Graham wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Graham looking to sit in guard and control but Sonnen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen wanted to stand there but Graham had control of the position.
Graham wants to control the position but Sonnen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Sonnen wants to stand but Graham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Sonnen not doing much here.
Sonnen tries to stand but can't do so whilst Graham controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham wants to control but Sonnen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sonnen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Graham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen misses with a head kick.
A good leg kick by Sonnen.
Sonnen lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Graham is keen to just control but Sonnen is a slippery customer.
Graham prevents Sonnen from standing back up.
Graham tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sonnen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Graham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sonnen is trying to stand up here but Graham is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Graham closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet but Graham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Graham wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Sonnen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Graham trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sonnen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Graham looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sonnen is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graham blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sonnen throws a head kick that Graham semi-blocks.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen throws a head kick that misses.
Graham tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sonnen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Graham somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham has a takedown stuffed.
Sonnen throws a head kick but Graham moves out of range.
Sonnen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sonnen scores with a leg kick.
Sonnen scores with a head kick. Graham tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Graham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graham blocks a head kick by Sonnen.
Graham avoids the head kick by Sonnen.

Graham shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sonnen's guard.
Graham won't allow Sonnen to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Graham trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graham wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Graham wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.

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.
Graham slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sonnen scores with a leg kick.
Sonnen connects with a high kick.
Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick and Graham moves out of range easily.
Sonnen throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen throws a sloppy head kick and Graham moves out of range easily.
Graham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sonnen pinned against the cage. Sonnen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sonnen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Anderson Sonnen!

Anderson Sonnen wins by unanimous decision!