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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Nickels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by My rap . Mike Nickels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 185 cm
21
225 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
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188 cm
21
218 lbs
5 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Nickels!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen slips under a jab.
Nickels scores with a body shot.
Mike Nickels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen staying out of range there.
Sonnen is looking to clinch but Nickels is avoiding it.
Sonnen blocks a jab.
Sonnen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nickels.
Sonnen moves out of range of the strikes.
Sonnen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nickels's waist but Nickels gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sonnen off to one side.
Sonnen lands a jab to Nickels's midsection.
Nickels throws a looping overhand right but Sonnen ducks down to avoid it.
Nickels jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nickels throws a good cross that connects.
Nickels lands with a cross.
Sonnen clinches up with Nickels and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nickels wants a takedown.
Sonnen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nickels is trying to keep an underhook but Sonnen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nickels manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nickels trying to control the position.
Nickels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen postures up.
Nickels keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nickels is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nickels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Nickels trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
Nickels being controlled here, momentarily.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nickels swats away the attempt to clinch by Sonnen.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sonnen scores with a hook to the body.
Nickels drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sonnen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sonnen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nickels taking some punishment here, with Sonnen in his half guard.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nickels's head.
Nickels won't allow Sonnen to pass to mount.
Sonnen throwing shots but Nickels is blocking nicely.
Sonnen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nickels knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sonnen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nickels felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Nickels with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Nickels with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nickels regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sonnen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen is working Nickels over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Chael Sonnen dominated that 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.
Sonnen moves into the clinch.
Nickels jumps guard but Sonnen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nickels is looking for a takedown.
Sonnen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chael Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Nickels.
Nickels is looking to break free of the clinch but Sonnen has double underhooks.
Nickels wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sonnen has hold of one of Nickels's legs. Nickels is fighting the takedown attempt but Sonnen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sonnen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nickels 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.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Nickels blocks nicely.
Sonnen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nickels is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nickels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nickels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nickels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickels is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen won't allow Nickels to sweep him here.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
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.
Chael Sonnen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nickels swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen tries to clinch but Nickels is having none of it.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Nickels sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sonnen wants to clinch.
Nickels lands with a nice body punch.
Sonnen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sonnen is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Nickels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jab, jab by Nickels - just one landing.
Sonnen slips a jab from Nickels.
Nickels takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sonnen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nickels.
Sonnen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nickels.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen lands with a cross.
Nickels bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sonnen's head backwards.
Sonnen shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nickels tries to avoid it but Sonnen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nickels to the ground. Nickels escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sonnen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mike Nickels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen tries to clinch there but Nickels circles away.
Sonnen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nickels will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nickels misses with a two punch combination.
Sonnen staying out of range there.
Nickels swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Sonnen.
Sonnen rushes Nickels and presses him up against the cage.
Sonnen tightens his grip and picks Nickels up, before dumping him to the ground. Nickels manages to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Nickels blocks nicely.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nickels preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen works over Nickels with some ground and pound from guard.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nickels is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen throws a strike but Nickels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nickels wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickels wanted to stand there but Sonnen had control of the position.
Nickels slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Nickels.
Sonnen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
That's four 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.
Nickels cracks Sonnen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nickels misses with a few strikes there.
Sonnen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nickels tries for a takedown but Sonnen manages to get underhooks.
Sonnen tightens his grip and picks Nickels up, before dumping him to the ground. Nickels manages to land in guard.
Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot to Nickels's brow.
Sonnen works over Nickels with some ground and pound from guard.
Sonnen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sonnen trying to control but Nickels is working from the bottom.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nickels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nickels can do to turn this around?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Chael Sonnen clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nickels swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Nickels looking to control.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Nickels blocks nicely.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nickels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a strike but Nickels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sonnen wants to stand but Nickels is controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sonnen drives through and clinches with Nickels against the cage.
Nickels goes for a takedown attempt but Sonnen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nickels just misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickels misses with a body shot.
Sonnen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nickels was covering up waiting for the punch and Sonnen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sonnen stands up over Nickels, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nickels working a defensive guard here.
Nickels 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.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nickels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
Nickels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nickels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Nickels keeps moving.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Nickels keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickels keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
We're going to have a standup here because Chael Sonnen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sonnen forces Nickels back against the cage and clinches.
Sonnen has clasped his hands together around Nickels's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sonnen is trying to get an arm triangle but Nickels is defending well.
Nickels is trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Chael Sonnen had his way with Mike Nickels in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Nickels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sonnen was well out of range. Poor timing from Nickels.
Nickels drops his hands momentarily and Sonnen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nickels swings for the body but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen doesn't manage to clinch there - Nickels circles away.
Nickels scores with a jab to the head.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nickels pinned against the cage. Nickels gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nickels!
Sonnen wants to clinch up but Nickels keeps it at a distance.
Nickels scores with the left hand. Sonnen knows he should have avoided that one.
Sonnen wants to clinch up but Nickels keeps it at a distance.
Sonnen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nickels trying to control from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickels avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
Nickels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nickels is trying to stand.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sonnen connects with a nice short shot to Nickels's temple.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Nickels with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen with the ground and pound but Nickels uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nickels is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We're going to have a standup here because Chael Sonnen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nickels has Sonnen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sonnen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nickels looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nickels has had enough of the clinch but Sonnen keeps him there for the moment.
Nickels has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sonnen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nickels tries for a takedown but Sonnen manages to get underhooks.
Chael Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Nickels.
Nickels drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sonnen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nickels is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Nickels misses with a left hand
and Sonnen counters with a single leg into guard. Nickels didn't expect that.
Sonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chael Sonnen.
Nickels throws a hook but Sonnen blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nickels looks to score with a jab to the body but Sonnen is just out of range.
A big right from Nickels misses.
Mike Nickels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickels throws a hook to the side of Sonnen's head but Sonnen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sonnen clinches with his opponent.
And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sonnen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 50:45
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Sonnen!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
95% |
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