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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 1065 p4p, 144 weight class) and Rufus McTearson (ranked 1418 p4p, 194 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by Sure to be sure. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 183 cm
29
198 lbs
15 - 7 - 0 |
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193 cm
41
202 lbs
46 - 25 - 4 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
46 - 25 - 4, fighting out of New York, Rufus McTearson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen scores with a hook.
Sonnen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McTearson is out of range.
McTearson throws a head kick that half lands.
It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sonnen tries a low kick but McTearson avoids it.
We've been hearing reports that Sonnen has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sonnen throws a leg kick but McTearson moved away.
A left lands for McTearson.
Sonnen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sonnen blocks a head kick by McTearson.
McTearson misses with a series of wild punches.
Sonnen misses with a looping left.
Sonnen scores with the left hand. McTearson knows he should have avoided that one.
McTearson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McTearson cracks the inside of Sonnen's front leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McTearson lands with a straight right. Sonnen didn't see that one coming.
McTearson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sonnen falls off balance throwing a combination
and McTearson counters with a three punch combo that has Sonnen backing up. Sonnen nods at McTearson to acknowledge the strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McTearson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sonnen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McTearson scores with a nice right hand.
Sonnen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sonnen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McTearson.
McTearson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sonnen throws a chopping leg kick but McTearson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good leg kick by Sonnen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sonnen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut. McTearson saw that one coming.
Sonnen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McTearson.
McTearson throws a body kick that misses
and Sonnen counters with a leg kick.
McTearson 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 misses the jab.
It seemed like McTearson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McTearson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
McTearson misses with a right hand
and Sonnen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
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!
Sonnen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McTearson.
McTearson throws an overhand right that lands on Sonnen's shoulder, as Sonnen tries to avoid the shot.
Rufus McTearson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McTearson misses with a head kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McTearson throws a leg kick but Sonnen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sonnen misses with a low kick.
Sonnen throws a front kick aimed at McTearson's knee but McTearson avoids it well.
Sonnen wants to slow McTearson down by chopping away at his legs.
McTearson misses with a wild combination.
As McTearson backs away, Sonnen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A left and a right from McTearson both land. Nice combination.
A jab from McTearson finds it's way through Sonnen's defenses.
Sonnen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonnen. McTearson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen slips under a jab.
Sonnen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sonnen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
McTearson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sonnen just misses with a punch to the body.
McTearson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McTearson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McTearson is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McTearson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but McTearson keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
McTearson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen trying to control but McTearson is working from the bottom.
Sonnen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McTearson dives on top into guard.
McTearson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen trying to keep a closed guard but McTearson is proving a slippery customer.
Sonnen has control of McTearson's left arm, preventing McTearson from doing any damage.
Sonnen is trying to control the position but McTearson postures up.
Sonnen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McTearson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Rufus McTearson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
McTearson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McTearson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sonnen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McTearson.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McTearson.
McTearson moves out of range of the body kick from Sonnen.
Sonnen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McTearson!
Sonnen trying to control the action but McTearson is working from the bottom.
McTearson taking a bit of punishment here - Sonnen scoring with strikes.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen wants to control but McTearson is keeping him busy.
Sonnen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McTearson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sonnen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McTearson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Sonnen tries to move to mount but McTearson blocks the move with his legs.
Sonnen is looking to take a break and control but McTearson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sonnen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sonnen scores with punches from side control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McTearson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sonnen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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.
Sonnen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McTearson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McTearson gets back to half guard.
Sonnen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McTearson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McTearson trying to hold on to Sonnen's head to control him but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sonnen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McTearson sees it coming and defends easily.
McTearson controlling the position well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking for a kimura but McTearson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sonnen to get the leverage.
McTearson trying to control from the bottom.
McTearson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sonnen is working for a submission of some sort.
Sonnen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McTearson is trying to maintain the position but Sonnen is very close to passing his half guard.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen controlling the action here.
Sonnen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
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 referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McTearson is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Sonnen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sonnen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McTearson defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McTearson is trying to maintain the position but Sonnen is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dao Sonnen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
McTearson blocks a leg kick.
McTearson moves out of range of the body kick from Sonnen.
McTearson throws a counter combo.
McTearson swings widly with a right hand
and Sonnen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McTearson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McTearson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sonnen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McTearson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sonnen checks a low kick from McTearson.
Sonnen loads up on a big right hand but McTearson slips the punch.
McTearson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sonnen looks for the body kick but McTearson saw that one coming.
McTearson lands a lovely overhand right.
Sonnen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McTearson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonnen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sonnen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sonnen throws a leg kick but McTearson checks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McTearson scores with a hook to the body. Sonnen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sonnen.
Sonnen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McTearson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McTearson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sonnen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McTearson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sonnen. That's going to slow McTearson down.
McTearson misses with a series of wild punches.
Sonnen ducks under a wild hook from McTearson.
Rufus McTearson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McTearson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McTearson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sonnen moves away.
McTearson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McTearson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McTearson tries a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen fires out a quick counter leg kick but McTearson just manages to avoid it.
McTearson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
McTearson lands a nice shot that snaps Sonnen's head back.
McTearson tries to land a front kick but Sonnen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McTearson.
Sonnen tries to clinch there but McTearson circles away.
McTearson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McTearson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sonnen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sonnen is defended easily by McTearson.
McTearson misses with a hook
and Sonnen counters with a slapping leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a low kick.
McTearson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McTearson ducks under a wild hook from Sonnen.
Sonnen avoids a kick to the body.
Sonnen tried to score with a low kick but McTearson checks it.
Sonnen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McTearson has time to react.
Sonnen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McTearson can pounce on him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTearson lunges at Sonnen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sonnen's hand.
Sonnen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sonnen is looking to chop away at McTearson's legs.
A clash of legs there as Sonnen blocks the low kick.
McTearson throws a body shot but no joy.
Sonnen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sonnen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McTearson can do to turn this around?
McTearson looks for the body kick but Sonnen saw that one coming.
Sonnen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sonnen lands a leg kick that knocks McTearson off balance momentarily.
A bone on bone clash there as McTearson blocks the leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sonnen.
McTearson just misses with a punch to the body.
McTearson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sonnen throws a big shot that misses.
McTearson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice takedown defense from McTearson. No joy for Sonnen on that attempt.
McTearson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sonnen's hands.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from McTearson.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.
A little jabbing left from McTearson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dao Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McTearson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
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!
Sonnen with a nice cross.
Sonnen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McTearson's calf.
Sonnen misses with a looping left.
A nice side step and McTearson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sonnen moves away from the strike by McTearson.
Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sonnen trying to control the action but McTearson is working from the bottom.
Sonnen is trying to get an arm triangle but McTearson is defending well.
McTearson is trying to get back to half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dao Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sonnen 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dao Sonnen!
Dao Sonnen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
51% |
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