PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Corner Cutting (ranked 4675 p4p, 6329 weight class) and Ben Sonnen (ranked 568 p4p, 0 weight class). Corner Cutting has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cutting
vs
Sonnen

184 cm
23
188
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
188
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Corner Cutting!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cutting fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sonnen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cutting is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sonnen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sonnen wants to control but Cutting is keeping him busy.
Cutting on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Cutting looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cutting is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen is nestled in close to Cutting, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.

Cutting actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sonnen lands a nice short elbow.

Cutting looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cutting is breathing heavily.
Sonnen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cutting is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Sonnen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Sonnen there.
Cutting is looking to improve his position.

Cutting is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sonnen pulls his head out easily.
Sonnen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cutting with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working over Cutting with some ground and pound. Cutting looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sonnen is taking a breather. Cutting says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cutting is refusing to be controlled, as Sonnen sits in half guard.
Sonnen works his way into full mount!
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sonnen lands a heavy elbow.
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cutting taking shots to the head.
Sonnen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cutting looks a forlorn figure.
Sonnen lands a couple of good shots and Cutting has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Sonnen connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Cutting to escape the position.
Cutting is trying to remain composed but Sonnen is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Sonnen scores with strikes from the back.
Sonnen cracks Cutting with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Cutting from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Cutting looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sonnen.
Sonnen scores with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is punishing Cutting with strikes - can he finish him?!
Cutting trying to control the position but Sonnen manages to sink in the hooks.
Sonnen scores with punches to the body.
Sonnen connects with a big shot to the side of Cutting's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen is punishing Cutting with some ground and pound.
Sonnen is punishing Cutting with strikes - can he finish him?!
Sonnen lands a shot to the head.
Sonnen scores with strikes from the back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sonnen.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cutting. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cutting covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sonnen. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sonnen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sonnen.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cutting working for a triangle but Sonnen defends it easily.
Sonnen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Cutting blocks nicely.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cutting is keeping the position for now.
Cutting preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cutting is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Sonnen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sonnen cracks Cutting with a solid left hand.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cutting's head.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cutting keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen cracks Cutting with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cutting works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cutting swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control but Cutting is working from the bottom.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cutting's head.
Sonnen distracts Cutting with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sonnen is working Cutting over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Cutting is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cutting avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cutting is looking for a counter combo.

Sonnen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cutting on his heels. He'll look to pass Cutting's guard now, I'm sure.

Cutting is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen is in close to Cutting's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Cutting is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sonnen defends well.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Ben Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Cutting keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cutting utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control but Cutting is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben 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! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cutting enables Sonnen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cutting manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cutting tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cutting wants to stand but Sonnen is controlling the position.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Cutting is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cutting not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonnen stands up over Cutting, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control but Cutting is working from the bottom.

Cutting working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sonnen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sonnen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control but Cutting is working from the bottom.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Cutting blocks nicely.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cutting swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot to Cutting's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sonnen trying to control but Cutting is working from the bottom.
Sonnen stands up over Cutting, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sonnen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sonnen is in close to Cutting's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sonnen stands up over Cutting, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Cutting 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 working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cutting's head.

Cutting throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sonnen escapes and throws Cutting's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cutting is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen landing a few strikes.
Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cutting to see if he's OK.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Cutting is working away.
Cutting taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cutting takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sonnen lands a few punches from side control.
Cutting taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cutting keeps working.
Cutting is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sonnen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cutting is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working the body and head with strikes.
Sonnen working the ground and pound from side control.
Sonnen cracks Cutting with a big elbow.
Sonnen wants to control but Cutting is keeping him busy.
Sonnen has control of an arm but Cutting manages to advance to Sonnen's back!
Sonnen wants to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Corner Cutting has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sonnen defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cutting's arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 26:30

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