PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tenzin Nadoem (ranked 5000 p4p, 3009 weight class) and Rocky Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 404 weight class). Rocky Sonnen told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nadoem
vs
Sonnen

188 cm
25
208
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tenzin Nadoem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocky Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen swinging wildly here.
Sonnen throws a right and a left that Nadoem avoids nicely.

Nadoem clinches.
Nadoem doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sonnen tries to circle away but Nadoem has him pinned against the cage.
Nadoem doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nadoem throws a head punch that misses.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nadoem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nadoem can't find room to land a body shot as Sonnen controls the action.
Nadoem misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nadoem has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Nadoem blocks an uppercut.
Nadoem tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sonnen blocks a body shot from Nadoem.
Nadoem tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadoem has Sonnen pressed against the cage, preventing Sonnen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nadoem misses with a body punch.
Nadoem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nadoem misses with the head strike.
Sonnen wants to break free but Nadoem has control.
Nadoem keeps control of Sonnen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nadoem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sonnen's elbow.
Sonnen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nadoem throws a head punch that misses.
Nadoem goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen has had enough of the clinch but Nadoem keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nadoem.
Sonnen is trying to push Nadoem away but Nadoem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sonnen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen is trying to force a seperation but Nadoem has the dominant position.
Nadoem misses with some punches.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Nadoem.
Sonnen working hard to break the clinch.
Nadoem lands a right hand.
Nadoem swings wildly with an uppercut but Sonnen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nadoem throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nadoem has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Nadoem prevents Sonnen from breaking the clinch.
Nadoem swings wildly with an uppercut but Sonnen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nadoem throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nadoem.
Nadoem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nadoem keeps control of Sonnen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nadoem tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Nadoem tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nadoem misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Nadoem fails to land.
Nadoem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nadoem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Nadoem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sonnen's elbow.
Nadoem tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nadoem struggles to land a body shot inside as Sonnen controls his hands.
Nadoem prevents Sonnen from breaking the clinch.
Nadoem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sonnen's elbow.
Nadoem misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Nadoem fails to land.
Sonnen blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sonnen breaks the clinch.
Sonnen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nadoem throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sonnen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nadoem.
Nadoem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen throws a combination. Nadoem tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sonnen scores with a one two! Nadoem had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sonnen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nadoem finds it's way round the side to connect with Sonnen's head.
Nadoem moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Sonnen with a hook.
Sonnen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sonnen looks to land a combination. Nadoem sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tenzin Nadoem will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sonnen scores with a three punch combo!
Nadoem is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
Rocky Sonnen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nadoem misses with a right hand
and Sonnen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nadoem tests Sonnen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sonnen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nadoem is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sonnen.
Nadoem tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sonnen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nadoem works the jab nicely.
Nadoem throws a body punch but Sonnen moves out of range.
A combination from Sonnen does no damage.

Nadoem clinches with his opponent.
Sonnen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nadoem throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen is trying to force a seperation but Nadoem has the dominant position.
Sonnen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to work over Nadoem's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nadoem struggles to land a body shot inside as Sonnen controls his hands.
Nadoem doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nadoem throws a head punch that misses.
Nadoem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nadoem digs a right hand into Sonnen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sonnen's gas tank.
Nadoem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nadoem lands an uppercut.
Nadoem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nadoem keeps control of Sonnen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nadoem misses with the head strike.
Nadoem prevents Sonnen from breaking the clinch.
Nadoem misses with a punch on the inside.
Nadoem tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Nadoem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sonnen has had enough of the clinch but Nadoem keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nadoem misses with a body punch.
Nadoem blocks an uppercut.
Nadoem lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nadoem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sonnen is trying to force a seperation but Nadoem has the dominant position.
Nadoem keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sonnen's efforts to push away.
A short uppercut from Nadoem.
Nadoem lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nadoem lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen can't find room to land a body shot as Nadoem controls the action.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sonnen can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sonnen.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sonnen tries to circle away but Nadoem has him pinned against the cage.
Sonnen has a couple of punches blocked by Nadoem.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sonnen.
Nadoem working aggressively here.
Nadoem lands a nice shot to the body.
Nadoem has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Nadoem misses with some punches.
Sonnen working hard to break the clinch.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Nadoem working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sonnen is trying to push Nadoem away but Nadoem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nadoem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sonnen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nadoem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sonnen can do to turn this around?
Sonnen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen prevents a body shot from Nadoem.
Nadoem throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
Nadoem lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nadoem working aggressively here.

Sonnen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
Sonnen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sonnen misses with the combination.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big left from Nadoem misses.
Nadoem avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nadoem tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Nadoem.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
Nadoem wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tenzin Nadoem dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nadoem looks to throw the jab but Sonnen is out of range.
Sonnen throws a right hand that Nadoem ducks under and follows up with a left that Nadoem also avoids with ease.
Nadoem tries to counter by clinching up but Sonnen breaks away and moves out of range.
Sonnen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sonnen is looking for the big counter here.
Nadoem avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sonnen misses the shot to the body.
Nadoem tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sonnen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nadoem throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sonnen on the side of the head.
Sonnen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nadoem throws out the jab.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throws a series of strikes that have Nadoem backpedaling.
Sonnen throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nadoem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sonnen throws out a counter right but Nadoem avoids it with no problem.
Sonnen misses with a wild combination.
As Sonnen tries to get set, Nadoem tries to push him back and clinch up but Sonnen manages to avoid the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadoem dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rocky Sonnen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nadoem doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Sonnen is looking for the big counter here.
Nadoem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sonnen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
Sonnen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nadoem in his tracks.
Nadoem moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Sonnen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nadoem doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Nadoem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sonnen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nadoem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nadoem lands with a good body shot.
Nadoem moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen connects with a nice looking jab.
Nadoem catches Sonnen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sonnen connects with a looping right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nadoem slips a jab and a cross from Sonnen.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Sonnen tries to get set, Nadoem tries to push him back and clinch up but Sonnen manages to avoid the attempt.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
Nadoem fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Some wild striking there from Sonnen.
Sonnen walks into a left hand.
A left lands for Nadoem.
Sonnen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nadoem.
Nadoem is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sonnen.
Nadoem doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nadoem tries to clinch up.
Nadoem tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Nadoem fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tenzin Nadoem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nadoem doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Sonnen looks to land a combination but Nadoem avoids it well.
Sonnen walks into a left hand.
Nadoem ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nadoem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nadoem lands a nice looking body shot.
Sonnen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sonnen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nadoem feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sonnens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sonnen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sonnen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but Nadoem avoids them all with ease.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nadoem tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nadoem cracks Sonnen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nadoem steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sonnen.
Nadoem tests Sonnen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nadoem moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Rocky Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen walks into a straight right hand from Nadoem.
Sonnen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nadoem.
Sonnen walks into a stiff left hand from Nadoem.
Nadoem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nadoem is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
Nadoem tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nadoem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tenzin Nadoem.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nadoem, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tenzin Nadoem!