PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Seagal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Seagal
vs
Sonnen

195 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steven Seagal !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen shoots in and bounces Seagal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Seagal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Seagal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen looking to sit in guard and control but Seagal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Seagal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sonnen's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Seagal stands up from Sonnen's guard - Seagal perhaps looking for a knockout.
Seagal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Seagal wants it to stay on the feet.
Seagal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Sonnen looks gassed!
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Seagal defends it nicely.
Steven Seagal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seagal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonnen.
Seagal throws a series of punches but Sonnen avoids them all with ease.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Seagal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sonnen's guard.
Seagal pushing down on Sonnen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Seagal stands up and beckons Sonnen to join him on the feet.
Seagal fails to land with a series of punches.

Seagal pushes Sonnen up against the cage in a clinch.
Sonnen looking to slow down the pace here.
Seagal prevents the takedown attempt.
Seagal is trying to drag Sonnen to the mat but Sonnen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Seagal breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sonnen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Seagal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sonnen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sonnen shoots in but Seagal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Seagal tries to bum rush Sonnen with a series of wild strikes but Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Seagal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Seagal gets a takedown into half guard.
Sonnen is staying active underneath Seagal , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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.
Seagal thows a huge punch but Sonnen dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Seagal stands up out of the half guard.
A head kick misses from Seagal .

Seagal rushes Sonnen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Seagal gets underhooks to prevent Sonnen's takedown attempt.
Seagal holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Seagal lands an uppercut.

Seagal breaks the clinch.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Sonnen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Seagal clobbers Sonnen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt
and Seagal counters with a two punch combo.

Seagal drives through and clinches with Sonnen against the cage.
Sonnen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Left hook, right uppercut from Seagal .

Sonnen feints and as Seagal raises his hands in defense, Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Seagal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Seagal blocks nicely.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
Seagal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sonnen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Seagal from controlling successfully.
Seagal controlling from the top position.

Seagal stands up and waves to Sonnen to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Seagal lands a two punch combo.
Seagal wants to clinch up but Sonnen keeps it at a distance.
Steven Seagal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Seagal .
Seagal throws a nice looking combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steven Seagal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Seagal tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Seagal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Seagal lands with a slapping head kick.
Seagal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Seagal does no damage.
Seagal misses with the combination.
Seagal cracks Sonnen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sonnen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Seagal .
Seagal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Steven Seagal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Seagal has managed to clinch.

Seagal manages to break the clinch.
Seagal throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Seagal moves into the clinch.

Seagal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sonnen with a poor takedown
and Seagal counters with a two punch combo.

Seagal darts in and clinches Sonnen up against the cage.

Seagal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Seagal has Sonnen up against the cage in a clinch.

Seagal 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Seagal .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Seagal 's half guard.
Seagal gets full guard.
Seagal wants to sweep but no luck.
Seagal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sonnen is controlling him.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Seagal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Seagal 's legs - danger averted.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Seagal has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Seagal dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Sonnen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Seagal swivels and escapes.
Seagal lands a jab.
Seagal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Seagal lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sonnen will feel that in the morning.
Seagal is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Seagal swinging wildly here.
Seagal throws a series of punches but Sonnen avoids them all with ease.
Seagal lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sonnen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Seagal clinches.
Sonnen goes for a takedown attempt but Seagal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Good exchange - Seagal coming out on top.

Seagal drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Seagal gets to his feet. Sonnen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Seagal bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seagal scores with a three punch combo!
Seagal misses with a head kick.
Seagal throws a front kick that sends Sonnen stumbling back into the cage.
Seagal scores with a three punch combo!

Seagal closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sonnen did well to prevent Seagal getting side control.
Sonnen is refusing to be controlled, as Seagal sits in half guard.
Sonnen is looking to escape.
Sonnen is refusing to be controlled, as Seagal sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Seagal stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to roll over but Seagal keeps him under control.

Seagal decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Seagal throws a front kick that sends Sonnen stumbling back into the cage.
Seagal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Steven Seagal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Seagal tries to bum rush Sonnen with a series of wild strikes but Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seagal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sonnen with a poor takedown
and Seagal counters with a head kick.

Seagal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sonnen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Seagal has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Seagal lands with an overhand left.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sonnen.
Seagal gets back to half guard.
Seagal keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Steven Seagal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonnen is trying to control. Seagal wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
Sonnen with the ground and pound but Seagal uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Seagal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Seagal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Seagal is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chael Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Seagal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sonnen's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Seagal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Seagal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Seagal !