PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dick Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Mariucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sonnen
vs
Mariucci

188 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dick Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Mariucci!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariucci misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sonnen leaves Mariucci with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mariucci shoots in looking for a takedown. Sonnen tries to sprawl out of it but Mariucci keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sonnen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dick Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Mariucci.
Mariucci looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonnen is fending him off so far but Mariucci persists. Nope, Sonnen circles away and we're back to standing.
Sonnen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mariucci.
Mariucci is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sonnen.

Mariucci gets the takedown into side control.

Mariucci swings around for an armbar but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mariucci's guard.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Mariucci working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sonnen has passed into half guard!
Mariucci looks gassed!
Sonnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Mariucci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to advance position but Mariucci won't allow it.
Sonnen is nestled in close to Mariucci, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sonnen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mariucci wants to get back to full guard.
Sonnen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mariucci wants to improve his position but Sonnen is controlling well.
Sonnen wants to control but Mariucci is keeping him busy.

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 moves into full mount! Mariucci won't be happy about that!
Sonnen with the ground and pound from mount.
Sonnen with shots to the head and body - Mariucci looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sonnen lands a big shot there that rocks Mariucci but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mariucci is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sonnen scoring with strikes but Mariucci is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mariucci tries to reverse the position but Sonnen maintains control.
Sonnen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mariucci hang on?
Mariucci sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci gets back to full guard.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.

Mariucci 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.
Mariucci is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mariucci wants to stand and escape but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sonnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mariucci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sonnen is controlling the pace.
Sonnen wants to control but Mariucci is keeping him busy.
Sonnen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Mariucci looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sonnen is taking a breather. Mariucci 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Sonnen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mariucci misses with a straight right.
Mariucci lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Mariucci lands a lovely overhand right.
Sonnen throws a nice looking combination but Mariucci bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mariucci misses with a takedown attempt

and Sonnen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dick Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mariucci slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Mariucci 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. Oh but Mariucci is tightening it up a little... Sonnen has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Sonnen reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Sonnen taps out! nice BJJ there by Mariucci!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Michael Mariucci!