PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rian MacFarlane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen's entrance music is Scream Aim Fire. A fine choice. MacFarlane has chosen The Foggy Dew as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sonnen
vs
MacFarlane

178 cm
26
261 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

195 cm
27
247 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rian MacFarlane!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen misses with a shot to the body
and MacFarlane counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sonnen goes for a double leg but MacFarlane avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as MacFarlane continues to drive forward.

Sonnen shoots in and bounces MacFarlane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
MacFarlane keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacFarlane pulls Sonnen in close to his closed guard and prevents Sonnen from doing any damage or advancing position.
MacFarlane looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but MacFarlane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sonnen misses with a left hand
and MacFarlane counters with a good low kick that Sonnen was not able to check.

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.
Sonnen works the jab nicely.
No luck for Sonnen with that takedown attempt.
MacFarlane tries a quick counter leg kick but Sonnen is wise to it.
Leo Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen throws a series of punches but MacFarlane avoids them all with ease.
A slow jab from Sonnen misses its intended target.
MacFarlane follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
MacFarlane has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sonnen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sonnen scores with a nice strike.
Sonnen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
MacFarlane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
MacFarlane throws a leg kick but Sonnen sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonnen. MacFarlane does a little dance to reset his feet.
MacFarlane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sonnen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacFarlane walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
MacFarlane takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sonnen looks for the body kick but MacFarlane saw that one coming.
MacFarlane looks to score with a jab to the body but Sonnen is just out of range.
Sonnen tries to counter with a takedown but MacFarlane is quick to defend against it.
MacFarlane chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sonnen throws a body shot but no joy.
Sonnen walks into a left hand.
Sonnen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
MacFarlane throws a hook but Sonnen blocks it.
Sonnen dips to his left and cracks MacFarlane with an uppercut!
Sonnen looks for the body kick but MacFarlane saw that one coming.
Sonnen takes a swing at MacFarlane's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!
MacFarlane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sonnen wants to control but MacFarlane is keeping him busy.
Sonnen is really struggling to control MacFarlane but he's trying to hold on to the position.
MacFarlane desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ground and pound from Sonnen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Sonnen dominated that round.
That's time! Sonnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

MacFarlane avoids a kick to the body.

Sonnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. MacFarlane tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sonnen is in MacFarlane's guard.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

MacFarlane throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sonnen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
MacFarlane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacFarlane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MacFarlane working a defensive guard here.
MacFarlane keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacFarlane not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but MacFarlane blocks nicely.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but MacFarlane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sonnen connects with an inside leg kick.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that MacFarlane can do to turn this around?

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 throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
MacFarlane wants to land a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range.
Sonnen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from MacFarlane.
A shot to the body from Sonnen misses
and MacFarlane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from MacFarlane.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacFarlane. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen is looking to wear down MacFarlane with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
MacFarlane throws the left hand but Sonnen avoids the punch easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sonnen.
It seemed like MacFarlane was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sonnen moves out of range as MacFarlane strikes.
MacFarlane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
MacFarlane tries a quick counter leg kick but Sonnen is wise to it.
Sonnen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacFarlane throws a hook but Sonnen avoids it easily.
Sonnen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
MacFarlane buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
MacFarlane takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
MacFarlane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sonnen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MacFarlane.
Sonnen just misses with a punch to the body.
MacFarlane connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
An inside leg kick from MacFarlane misses.
MacFarlane is looking to chop away at Sonnen's legs.
Rian MacFarlane seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from MacFarlane.
MacFarlane digs a good hook to Sonnen's body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for MacFarlane.
Sonnen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
MacFarlane takes one to the side of the head.
MacFarlane misses with a wild body shot.
Sonnen misses with a straight right.
Sonnen is trying hard to land a takedown here. MacFarlane sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
MacFarlane looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sonnen thumps MacFarlane with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Sonnen lands an impressive looking overhand right. MacFarlane doesn't seem phased though.
Sonnen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
MacFarlane scores with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rian MacFarlane will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

MacFarlane lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
MacFarlane lands with a good body shot.
Sonnen misses with a shot to the body
and MacFarlane counters with an inside leg kick.
MacFarlane finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sonnen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A low kick from Sonnen misses
and MacFarlane counters with a leg kick.
MacFarlane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sonnen manages to avoid it.
MacFarlane keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws out a loose jab but MacFarlane uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen tries to move into range but MacFarlane moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sonnen swings away with a body shot that misses
and MacFarlane counters with a thumping low kick.
Sonnen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
MacFarlane throws a leg kick
and Sonnen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacFarlane connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Crunch! MacFarlane slams his shin into Sonnen's torso.
MacFarlane lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
MacFarlane drops Sonnen with a huge uppercut! Sonnen drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. MacFarlane is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rian MacFarlane!
In his post fight interview, Rian MacFarlane started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
In defeat, Leo Sonnen stepped up to the mic, saying 'Dislocated my shoulder at the start, i'll be back and better than ever! '.