PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Sonnen (ranked 3803 p4p, 402 weight class) and Connar Cage (ranked 3280 p4p, 357 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sonnen
vs
Cage

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Sonnen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Connar Cage!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cage is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonnen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cage throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cage closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sonnen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sonnen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cage regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sonnen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cage on the ground.

Cage looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Sonnen postures up in Cage's guard and throws a big left but Cage blocks it.
Sonnen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Cage is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.

Cage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sonnen defends it easily.
Cage is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.

Cage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sonnen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sonnen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cage's head.
Cage wants to stand but Sonnen is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cage's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Cage.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cage has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Cage's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Cage blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is fighting to break Cage's control of his arms but Cage is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot to Cage's brow.

Sonnen stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Cage throws up his legs and catches Sonnen in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Sonnen tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Cage! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Connar Cage!
Connar Cage is the new lightweight champion!