PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Sonnen
vs
Ramayan Koothrappali

181 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali !
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen scores a takedown into full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koothrappali can do anything to dispel that myth.
Koothrappali is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koothrappali wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sonnen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

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.
Koothrappali wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sonnen.
Koothrappali really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sonnen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koothrappali is trying to stand up.
Koothrappali blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looking to finish with strikes here!
Koothrappali is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Koothrappali is in a horrible position here. Sonnen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Sonnen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four 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.
Koothrappali holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sonnen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Koothrappali , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Koothrappali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sonnen manages to avoid it.
Koothrappali doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Koothrappali lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sonnen circles away quickly and effectively.
Koothrappali moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koothrappali pinned against the cage. Koothrappali gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Koothrappali tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Koothrappali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Koothrappali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Koothrappali tries to clinch up.
No joy there for Koothrappali , who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.
Koothrappali misses with a series of wild punches.
Koothrappali wants to clinch.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koothrappali is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
Koothrappali tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.
Koothrappali misses with a double jab.
Sonnen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koothrappali .
Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koothrappali fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.

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.
Koothrappali throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koothrappali tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali swinging wildly here.
Chael Sonnen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koothrappali stuns Sonnen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Koothrappali doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Koothrappali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koothrappali napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Koothrappali wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen trying to control the position but Koothrappali is working away.
Koothrappali is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Koothrappali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koothrappali throws an overhand right that lands on Sonnen's shoulder, as Sonnen tries to avoid the shot.
Koothrappali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Koothrappali sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sonnen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koothrappali throws a series of punches but Sonnen avoids them all with ease.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Koothrappali misses with the combination.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali looks to land a combination but Sonnen avoids it well.
No joy there for Koothrappali , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Koothrappali misses with a wild combination.
Koothrappali looks to land a combination but Sonnen avoids it well.
Koothrappali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Koothrappali .
Koothrappali tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Koothrappali misses with a series of wild punches.
Koothrappali moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Koothrappali throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koothrappali swinging wildly here.
Koothrappali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koothrappali bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sonnen's head.
Koothrappali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koothrappali fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koothrappali misses with a jab, cross combination.
Koothrappali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sonnen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koothrappali .
Sonnen throws an overhand right that lands on Koothrappali 's shoulder, as Koothrappali tries to avoid the shot.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koothrappali lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sonnen shoots in for a double leg but Koothrappali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sonnen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koothrappali .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Koothrappali .
Koothrappali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koothrappali tries to clinch up.
Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Koothrappali misses.
Koothrappali misses with a series of wild punches.
Koothrappali doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
Koothrappali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sonnen feints and as Koothrappali raises his hands in defense, Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sonnen prevents Koothrappali from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen advances to half guard.
Sonnen prevents Koothrappali from standing back up.
Koothrappali is looking to get back to is feet but Sonnen passes into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koothrappali has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali !