PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 16 p4p, 3 weight class) and Masa Sanada (ranked 7 p4p, 1 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by The Devil's Doorbell. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sonnen
vs
Sanada

183 cm
36
171 lbs
35 - 15 - 1

180 cm
31
174 lbs
26 - 6 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Urban Fighter
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 6 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Sanada!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen scores with a nice body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sanada crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sonnen - the referee stops the clock and Sanada gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sonnen. Sanada manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sonnen lands a jab to the nose.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sonnen!
Sonnen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sanada is able to avoid easily.
Sonnen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A slow jab from Sanada misses its intended target.
Sonnen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice defenses there by Sanada.
Sanada on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sonnen jabs Sanada to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sonnen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sanada checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice straight punches there by Sonnen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sonnen.
Sonnen looks to land a combination but Sanada avoids it well.
A little jabbing left from Sanada on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good work by Sanada as he checks the leg kick.

Sonnen gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sonnen is thwarting Sanada's attempts to control the position.
Sonnen stalling.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but Sanada defending well.
Sonnen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sanada keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanada moves into full guard.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanada has control of Sonnen's left arm, preventing Sonnen from doing any damage.

Sonnen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sanada is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Sanada keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sanada loads up on a big right hand but Sonnen slips the punch.
Sonnen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut.
Sanada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sonnen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sonnen lands a nice looking body shot.
Sanada moves out of range of the leg kick from Sonnen.
Sanada cracks Sonnen with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Sanada blocks a low kick nicely.
Sanada walks into a left hand.
Sanada moves forwards but Sonnen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A lazy left from Sonnen finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen with a poor takedown
and Sanada counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sanada throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sonnen on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sonnen.
Sanada takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sonnen misses with a low kick.
Sanada lands with an uppercut that bounces Sonnen off the cage and back into range.
Sanada connects with a single shot there.
Sonnen throws a low kick but Sanada avoids it.
Sonnen with a hook.
A shot to the body from Sonnen misses
and Sanada counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen tries to land a leg kick but Sanada saw it coming and moves away.
Sanada misses with a looping right.
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 Dao Sonnen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sanada on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sanada connects with a body shot.
Sonnen misses with a straight left.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
Sonnen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanada under the eye.
Sonnen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sonnen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sanada takes a step back to recover.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sanada napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sanada manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sonnen is keen to just control but Sanada is a slippery customer.
Sanada keeping hold of Sonnen's head, controlling as best he can.
Sonnen is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanada is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanada.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Sanada is keeping the position.
Sonnen is working hard here to advance position.
Sanada controlling the position.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sanada keeping full guard, as Sonnen tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sanada has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sonnen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sanada takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sonnen misses with a straight right.
Sonnen fakes the leg kick and cracks Sanada in the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sonnen.
Sonnen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanada throws out the jab.
It appears Sonnen was looking to counter with a kick there.
Sonnen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sanada takes a step back to recover.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanada can do to turn this around?
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanada tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a nice head kick!
Sonnen throws a hook but Sanada blocks it.
Sanada is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sonnen with a body shot.
Sanada has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sonnen.
Good exchange - Sonnen coming out on top.
Sonnen avoids the body shot from Sanada.
Sonnen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sanada counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sonnen thinking.
Sanada lands a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanada. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen feints and then cracks Sanada's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sanada down.
Sanada checks a leg kick.
Masa Sanada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sanada misses.
Sanada scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sanada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A nice side step and Sanada releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sanada 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Sonnen misses
and Sanada counters with a straight right hand.
Sonnen throws a shot from downtown. Sanada moves away and avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Sanada on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sonnen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sonnen there as he acknowledges the shot.

Dao Sonnen's cut is getting worse.
Sonnen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dao Sonnen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
That's time! Sonnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sonnen tries to work over Sanada's front leg with a kick but Sanada checks it.
Sonnen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sanada! But no joy.
Sonnen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sanada.
Sanada lands a body shot.
Sanada's corner calls for a 1-2. Sanada obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sonnen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Sonnen clinches.

Sanada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanada takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Sanada gets tackled into the cage by Sonnen. Sonnen maintains the clinch.

Sanada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanada misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada lands with a right hand.
Dao Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen misses with a body kick.
Sanada avoids a kick to the body.
Sanada looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sonnen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sonnen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
Sanada throws a big shot that misses.
Sanada takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sonnen misses with a head kick.
Sanada misses with a hook.
Sonnen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanada.
Sanada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanada throws out a loose jab but Sonnen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sonnen misses the body punch
and Sanada counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sonnen thinking.
Sonnen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sanada takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sanada tries to sprawl but Sonnen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sanada gets back to full guard.
Sanada wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Let's hope that Sanada has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sanada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control but Sanada is working from the bottom.
Sanada is controlling Sonnen's posture.
Sonnen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Sanada is working away.

Sonnen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanada, who protects the arm well.
Sanada struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanada tries to buck Sonnen off but Sonnen is having none of it.

Sonnen tries for a kimura but Sanada is defending well.
Sonnen working away.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanada keeps working.
Dao Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanada struggling a bit here.
Sonnen works to advance to full mount. Sanada defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sonnen pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Sonnen avoids the attempt from Sanada to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dao Sonnen clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sanada has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sonnen.
Sonnen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sonnen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sanada's calf.
Sonnen scores with a jab. Sanada acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sonnen throws a right hand that misses
and Sanada counters with a right hand to the body.

Sonnen clinches with his opponent.

Sanada breaks from the clinch.
Sonnen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but Sanada checks it.
A little jabbing left from Sanada on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Sonnen darts in and clinches Sanada up against the cage.

Sanada manages to break the clinch.
Sonnen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada throws a hook but Sonnen avoids it easily.
Sanada throws out a powerful jab.
Sonnen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sanada counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sonnen.
Sanada missing with a left hand there. Sonnen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sanada fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sonnen manages to avoid it.
Sanada throws a shot from downtown. Sonnen moves away and avoids it.
Sonnen with a nice cross.
Sonnen with a jab.
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanada.
Sanada throws a jab but it's blocked by Sonnen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen takes a swing at Sanada's ribcage but misses.
Sonnen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sanada's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sanada lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sanada throws the left hand but Sonnen avoids the punch easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanada is fending him off so far but Sonnen persists. Nope, Sanada circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanada swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sonnen scores with a hook.
Sonnen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sanada lunges at Sonnen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sonnen's hand.
Sonnen misses with a straight left.
Sonnen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanada but Sanada pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with a right hand
and Sanada counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Sanada misses the target.
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanada.
Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sanada now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dao Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen misses with a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sanada! But no joy.
A shot to the liver by Sanada. Beautiful body shot.
Sonnen looks to throw a body kick
enabling Sanada to counter with a crisp jab.

Dao Sonnen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Sonnen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanada, pushing him back against the cage.

Sanada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sonnen.
Sanada throws a big shot that misses.
Sonnen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanada swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sonnen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanada counters with a nice uppercut.

Jeez, Dao Sonnen's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Sonnen staying out of range there.
Sanada throws a hook but Sonnen blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanada on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sonnen thuds a left hand into Sanada's body.
Sanada misses with a looping left.
Sonnen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanada.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Masa Sanada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sonnen tests Sanada's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sonnen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sanada backs up against the cage.
Sonnen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sonnen tried to score with a low kick but Sanada checks it.
Sanada checks a leg kick nicely.

Sonnen clinches with his opponent.
Sanada stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sonnen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sanada has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sonnen looks to clinch
and Sanada connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sonnen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sanada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sanada throws out a counter right but Sonnen avoids it with no problem.
A lazy left from Sonnen finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sonnen.
Sonnen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sonnen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sanada looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A head kick misses from Sonnen.
Sonnen missing with a left hand there. Sanada was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sanada let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sanada moves out of range of the body kick from Sonnen.
Sonnen avoids the body shot from Sanada.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanada takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Sonnen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanada's sensitive parts.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Masa Sanada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen tried to score with a low kick but Sanada checks it.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
Sonnen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanada's sensitive parts.
Sonnen throws the kick towards the body but Sanada avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Sonnen.
Sanada takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sonnen just misses with a punch to the body.
Sonnen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanada under the eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanada throws out the jab.
Nice body kick from Sonnen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Sonnen does no damage.
It seemed like Sanada was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sonnen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sanada at a distance.
Sonnen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sonnen throws a body kick that misses.
Sonnen throws an overhand right that lands on Sanada's shoulder, as Sanada tries to avoid the shot.
Sonnen throws a solid leg kick but Sanada takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sonnen.
Sanada misses with a straight left.
Sonnen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sonnen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sonnen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sanada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sonnen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sonnen tries to land a front kick but Sanada steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sonnen throws a lazy uppercut
and Sanada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sonnen throws a nice outside leg kick.

Sanada gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanada swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Sanada is working from the bottom.

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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:47
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dao Sonnen!
Dao Sonnen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.