PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sterling Sonnen (ranked 4369 p4p, 4261 weight class) and Kuzma Reznikov (ranked 0 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.

Sonnen
vs
Reznikov

177 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sterling Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kuzma Reznikov!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reznikov rushes Sonnen and presses him up against the cage.

Sonnen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Reznikov.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Reznikov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Reznikov!

Reznikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reznikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reznikov stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
Reznikov tries to stand but Sonnen is controlling from the bottom.
Reznikov preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reznikov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Reznikov throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sonnen holds on and takes a little breather.
Reznikov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Reznikov preventing the sweep.
Sonnen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sonnen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Reznikov stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
Reznikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reznikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reznikov stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen has control of Reznikov's left arm, preventing Reznikov from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Sonnen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reznikov was covering up waiting for the punch and Sonnen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Reznikov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sonnen dives into side control.

Reznikov dodges the ground and pound from Sonnen.
Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Reznikov to see if he's OK.
Reznikov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Reznikov is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Reznikov trying to hold on to Sonnen's head to control him but Sonnen postures up.
Reznikov wants to improve his position but Sonnen is controlling well.
Reznikov wants to control but Sonnen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reznikov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonnen working over Reznikov with some ground and pound. Reznikov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sonnen lands with a punch from half guard.
Sonnen throwing shots but Reznikov is blocking nicely.
Sonnen trying to mount his opponent but Reznikov defends it.
Reznikov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Reznikov is pulling down on Sonnen's head. It's preventing any offense from Sonnen, at least for the moment.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Reznikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up in Reznikov's guard and throws a big left but Reznikov blocks it.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Reznikov is keeping the position.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen prevents Reznikov from getting back to his feet.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Reznikov keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Reznikov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Reznikov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sonnen defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reznikov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Sonnen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Reznikov did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reznikov is refusing to be controlled, as Sonnen sits in half guard.
Sonnen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Reznikov is trying to maintain the position but Sonnen is very close to passing his half guard.
Sonnen controlling the action here.
Reznikov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen stops Reznikov from getting back to his feet.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Reznikov dodges it nicely.
Reznikov is trying to maintain the position but Sonnen is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing shots but Reznikov is blocking nicely.
Reznikov wants to control but Sonnen is keeping busy.
Sonnen 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 scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sonnen drops an elbow to the side of Reznikov's head.
Reznikov tries to roll over but Sonnen keeps him under control.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Reznikov trying to control from the bottom.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Reznikov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is thwarting Reznikov's attempts to control the position.
Reznikov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Reznikov is defending the position.
Reznikov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Reznikov.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reznikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reznikov can do to turn this around?
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Reznikov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a strike but Reznikov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Reznikov is fighting to break Sonnen's control of his arms but Sonnen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Reznikov wants to stand but Sonnen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Reznikov trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Sonnen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reznikov's guard.

Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Reznikov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Reznikov is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sterling Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reznikov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Reznikov is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Reznikov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Reznikov keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reznikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Sonnen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reznikov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonnen sprawls well initially but Reznikov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Reznikov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sonnen is just riding it out for now. Reznikov eventually gives up the hold.
Sonnen is trying to get back to full guard.
Sonnen is holding on to half guard well.
Reznikov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sonnen wants to improve his position but Reznikov is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reznikov is trying to work for a kimura but Sonnen is defending well.
Sonnen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sonnen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sonnen'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.
Sonnen wants to sweep here but Reznikov controlling him for the moment.
Sonnen is controlling Reznikov's posture.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Reznikov from controlling successfully.
Reznikov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen is controlling Reznikov's posture.
Reznikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reznikov throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.

Reznikov closes the distance and clinches.

Sonnen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sonnen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sonnen looking to control.
Reznikov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sonnen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sonnen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Reznikov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonnen throws a strike but Reznikov avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen cracks Reznikov with a solid left hand.
Sonnen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Reznikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
Sonnen looking to sit in guard and control but Reznikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sonnen trying to control the position here.

Reznikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Reznikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Reznikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen is pulling down on Reznikov's head. It's preventing any offense from Reznikov, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sonnen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reznikov is one step ahead there.
Reznikov wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Reznikov stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
Reznikov wants to pass the guard but Sonnen is keeping the position.
Sonnen trying to keep a closed guard but Reznikov is proving a slippery customer.
Sonnen has a closed guard, preventing Reznikov from standing up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sonnen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reznikov's guard.

Kuzma Reznikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sterling Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Reznikov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sonnen is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kuzma Reznikov.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sterling Sonnen!