PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ilander Runner (ranked 25325 p4p, 4373 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 510 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Runner
vs
Sonnen

185 cm
18
185
0 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ilander Runner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Runner has managed to clinch.
Runner misses with a knee to the head.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Runner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sonnen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Runner definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Runner lands an elbow inside.
Runner pushes off an throws an elbow but Sonnen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Runner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Runner tries a knee to the head but Sonnen blocks it.
Runner pushes off an throws an elbow but Sonnen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Runner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Runner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Runner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runner pushes off an throws an elbow but Sonnen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Runner looking to throw knees to the head but Sonnen is blocking nicely.

Sonnen gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Runner's head.
Sonnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sonnen is working Runner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Runner wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
Runner wants to stand up but Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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 lands a couple of elbows.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Runner wants to stand and escape but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Runner wants to stand but Sonnen is controlling the position.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
It looks like Sonnen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Runner wants to clinch but Sonnen slips to the side

and Sonnen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Runner!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Runner to see if he's OK.
Sonnen is putting a hurting on Runner here, landing some big shots from side control.
Runner takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sonnen lands a nice forearm strike.
Sonnen cracks Runner with a big right hand but Runner just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sonnen scoring with punches from side control.
Sonnen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sonnen prevents Runner from escaping the position.
Sonnen working the ground and pound from side control.
Sonnen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sonnen working the head with strikes.
Runner is trying to buck Sonnen off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runner is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Runner taking a bit of punishment here - Sonnen scoring with strikes.
Runner is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Runner is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sonnen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sonnen working the head with strikes.
Sonnen is staying tight to Runner's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Runner is pushing Sonnen's head away, looking to escape. Sonnen manages to hold on to the position though.
Sonnen is putting a hurting on Runner here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Runner tries to clinch up.
Sonnen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Runner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Runner throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Runner throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Runner rushes Sonnen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sonnen blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike.
Sonnen tries to pull guard but Runner won't allow it.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Runner manages to get underhooks.
Runner trying to control the position but instead, Sonnen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Runner into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Runner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Runner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Runner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ilander Runner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Runner throws an elbow but it misses.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike.
Runner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sonnen blocks it with crossed arms.
Ilander Runner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sonnen avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is trying to trip Runner. He has hold of a leg but Runner is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sonnen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Runner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chael Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen stops Runner from standing up.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Runner's head.
Sonnen trying to control but Runner is working from the bottom.
Sonnen prevents Runner from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
Runner is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen distracts Runner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sonnen works over Runner with some ground and pound from guard.
Sonnen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Runner wants to stand up but Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen works over Runner with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Runner is proving hard to escape from.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Runner's head.
Runner wants to stand up but Sonnen is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Runner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Runner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sonnen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Runner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Runner. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sonnen blocks a head kick by Runner.
Sonnen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A head kick misses from Runner.
Sonnen with the counter takedown but Runner avoids it easily.
Runner throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runner doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Sonnen feints the counter takedown.
Runner throws a body kick that misses

and Sonnen counters with a shoot takedown. Runner fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Runner is wriggling around but Sonnen manages to pass to half guard.
Runner is trying to stand.
Sonnen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Runner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen passes to side control.
Sonnen working the head and body with strikes.
Sonnen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sonnen is chipping away with strikes.
Sonnen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Runner's temple.
Sonnen working the ground and pound from side control.
Sonnen wants to control but Runner is keeping him busy.
Sonnen working the head with strikes.
Runner is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sonnen connects with a decent elbow.
Runner taking a bit of punishment here - Sonnen scoring with strikes.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
Sonnen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Runner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sonnen cracks Runner with a big right hand but Runner just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Runner takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Runner is looking to get back to his feet here but Sonnen is keeping cool and he's managed to take Runner's back.
Sonnen trying to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Runner do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Will Sonnen go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sonnen lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Sonnen scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Runner is looking for a way out.
Runner is trying to get back to his feet but Sonnen has full control of the position and if anything, Runner has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Sonnen gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has good solid back control here.
Sonnen lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Runner is covering up but some of the strikes from Sonnen are getting through and doing damage.
Runner trying to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in full control for now.
Sonnen is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Sonnen gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Sonnen gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Sonnen apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Sonnen avoids the head kick by Runner.
Sonnen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Runner tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonnen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ilander Runner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Runner lands with a good body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Sonnen!
Chael Sonnen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.