PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Siadius Shade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shade comes to the cage accompanied by In The Shadows. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shade
vs
Sonnen

173 cm
21
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

[MMABR]Quality Nutrition Only - 150Q $40

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Siadius Shade!
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, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shade has a takedown stuffed.
Shade shoots for a double leg takedown but Sonnen sprawls well. He's pushed Shade's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shade is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonnen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siadius Shade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shade shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen checks the leg kick.
Shade shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shade gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen postures up in Shade's guard and throws a big left but Shade blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Shade.
Shade is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shade working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.

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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sonnen throws and elbow that misses. Shade uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Shade!

Shade stands and steps away. Sonnen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Siadius Shade seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shade gets caught flat footed, as Sonnen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shade drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shade jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shade could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sonnen wants to sweep here but Shade controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shade drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shade jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shade trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.

Shade gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Shade closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sonnen to the mat! Sonnen manages to get full guard.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shade. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shade is breathing heavily.
Shade pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sonnen is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen can't keep his opponent in guard - Shade advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shade is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sonnen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shade looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sonnen is looking to improve his position.
Sonnen tries to kick Shade off but Shade keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sonnen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shade is looking to advance position but Sonnen won't allow it.
Shade is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Siadius Shade will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sonnen misses with a takedown

and Shade decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sonnen's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sonnen holds on and takes a little breather.
Shade trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shade gets to his feet - Sonnen follows without any prompting.
Shade misses with a takedown

and Sonnen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shade looking for a sweep. Not yet Shade, not yet.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shade prevents Sonnen from getting back to his feet.

Shade decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Sonnen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shade gets back to full guard.
Shade controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shade is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shade looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shade drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shade jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands some shots froms side control.
Shade regains half guard, as Sonnen was trying to land strikes.
Sonnen misses with a head shot. Shade uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shade stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shade's half guard.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Chael Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sonnen is working an open guard so Shade takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Shade misses with a takedown attempt

so Sonnen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shade is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sonnen postures up in Shade's guard and throws a big left but Shade blocks it.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shade stands up and waves to Sonnen to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shade with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sonnen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shade!
Sonnen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sonnen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shade?
Shade manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Shade avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shade wants to get back to his feet.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands strikes from half guard.
Shade has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sonnen is working away from the top position though.
Shade makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shade.
Shade utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shade preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shade is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a strike but Shade rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shade won't allow Sonnen to get back to his feet.
Shade wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Shade looking to pass the guard.

Shade stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

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