PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 82 p4p, 11 weight class) and Ulrik Meyer (ranked 311 p4p, 41 weight class). Sonnen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Devil's Doorbell. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sonnen
vs
Meyer

183 cm
35
173 lbs
30 - 13 - 1

185 cm
36
180 lbs
31 - 14 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Ulrik Meyer!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Meyer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sonnen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sonnen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sonnen moves out of range as Meyer strikes.
Sonnen with a jab.
Sonnen dips to his left and cracks Meyer with an uppercut!
Sonnen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Meyer scores with a jab to the body.
Good exchange - Meyer coming out on top.
Sonnen misses with a body kick.
Meyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab from Meyer does it's job there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sonnen connects with a single shot there.
Meyer tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Meyer has closed the distance and engaged Sonnen in a clinch.
Meyer throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Meyer has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Meyer's elbow.
Meyer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Meyer - that landed with a thud.
Sonnen tries to work over Meyer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meyer working aggressively here.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Meyer has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with the head strike.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meyer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meyer misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sonnen.
Meyer blocks a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen lands a right hand.
Sonnen struggles to land a body shot inside as Meyer controls his hands.
Meyer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A shot in the inside from Meyer.
Meyer tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Meyer can't find room to land a body shot as Sonnen controls the action.
Meyer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sonnen tries to score a body lock takedown but Meyer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sonnen gets through Meyer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Meyer.
Meyer lands a shoulder strike.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Meyer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Meyer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sonnen.
A short uppercut from Meyer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Meyer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen pushes Meyer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meyer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Meyer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Meyer on the inside.
Nice body punch from Sonnen.
Good body shot from Sonnen.
Meyer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Meyer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Meyer tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Meyer has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
A head punch on the inside from Meyer fails to land.
Sonnen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meyer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Sonnen on the inside.
Meyer throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.
A head punch on the inside from Meyer fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meyer.
Sonnen throws a punch but it's blocked by Meyer.
Sonnen can't find room to land a body shot as Meyer controls the action.
Meyer lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sonnen.
Meyer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Meyer manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dao Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen is leaning against Meyer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sonnen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meyer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.

Sonnen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Meyer uses from the top position.
Sonnen trying to keep a closed guard but Meyer is proving a slippery customer.
Meyer stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
My spies in Big Bear Fight Factory inform me that Meyer has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Meyer wants to get up but he can't break Sonnen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sonnen controls Meyer momentarily but Meyer frees himself.

Sonnen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Meyer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Meyer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sonnen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meyer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sonnen.
Meyer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sonnen defending well as Meyer loads up on a big left hand.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Meyer's 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!
Meyer wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Meyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen passes into half guard.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Meyer is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ulrik Meyer will probably get the nod.
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 throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A telegraphed right hand from Meyer misses the target.
Sonnen jabs at Meyer's body.

Meyer has closed the distance and engaged Sonnen in a clinch.
Meyer misses with a body punch.
Sonnen scores with a shoulder strike.
Meyer prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meyer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Meyer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Meyer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sonnen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Meyer tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Meyer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Meyer can't find room to land a body shot as Sonnen controls the action.
Meyer pushes Sonnen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Meyer blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meyer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Sonnen lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen struggles to land a body shot inside as Meyer controls his hands.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Meyer can't find room to land a body shot as Sonnen controls the action.
Ulrik Meyer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Meyer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meyer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sonnen takes a shot to the head.
Meyer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Meyer gets underhooks to prevent Sonnen's takedown attempt.
Sonnen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sonnen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Meyer lands with a light punch inside.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meyer.
Sonnen blocks an uppercut.
Sonnen tries a body shot but Meyer blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meyer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meyer.
Meyer throws a head punch that misses.
Meyer lands a right hand.
Meyer misses with some punches.
Sonnen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Meyer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dao Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Meyer fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meyer scores with a nice hook to the head.
Meyer misses with a punch on the inside.
Meyer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sonnen misses with the head strike.
Sonnen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Sonnen lands with a left to the head.
Meyer lands with a left to the head.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Meyer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sonnen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Meyer lands a shoulder strike.
Sonnen is trying to pull guard but Meyer has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meyer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sonnen misses with some punches.
Sonnen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Meyer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen working aggressively here.
Meyer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Meyer misses with a punch on the inside.
Meyer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Meyer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sonnen scores with a shoulder strike.
Meyer lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Sonnen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Sonnen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sonnen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Meyer.
Sonnen moves away from the strike by Meyer.
Sonnen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Meyer scores with a nice strike.
Meyer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dao Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sonnen throws out a loose jab but Meyer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sonnen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Meyer moves into the clinch.
Meyer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
Meyer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Meyer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meyer tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meyer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meyer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen presses Meyer against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Meyer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meyer struggles to land a body shot inside as Sonnen controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sonnen.
Sonnen prevents a body shot from Meyer.
Meyer can't find room to land a body shot as Sonnen controls the action.
Sonnen swings wildly with an uppercut but Meyer uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulrik Meyer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Meyer lands with an overhand left.
Meyer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sonnen throws a wild body kick that Meyer sees coming a mile off.
Sonnen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sonnen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Meyer.
Meyer wants to clinch.
Meyer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Meyer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Meyer takes one to the side of the head.
Meyer misses with a body shot.
Meyer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen cracks Meyer with a good jab.
Meyer wants to clinch up but Sonnen keeps it at a distance.
Sonnen feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meyer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sonnen on the side of the head.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meyer was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meyer was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
A little jabbing left from Meyer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sonnen connects with a body shot that sends Meyer's belly button to the back.
Meyer throws a hook but Sonnen blocks it.
Meyer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Meyer comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Meyer.
Meyer moves out of range of the strikes.
Ulrik Meyer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sonnen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Decent striking displayed by Meyer there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meyer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sonnen throws out a loose jab but Meyer uses good head movement to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Meyer! But no joy.
Meyer checks a leg kick.
Meyer misses with an uppercut.
Sonnen tries to score with a low kick but Meyer moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Meyer tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sonnen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sonnen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Meyer scores with a punch to the head.
Meyer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sonnen.
Meyer scores with a nice head shot.

Sonnen moves into range and clinches up with Meyer.
Meyer misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Meyer.
Meyer prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Meyer scores with a shot to the side of Sonnen's head.
Meyer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Meyer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sonnen or not.
Meyer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hand to the body from Meyer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meyer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Meyer tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Meyer misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sonnen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen breaks from the clinch.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Meyer tries to clinch up.
Meyer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonnen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meyer staying out of range there.
Meyer tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonnen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sonnen scores with a jab to the head.
Meyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sonnen throws a low kick but Meyer avoids it.
Meyer thuds his right hand into Sonnen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sonnen tries to score with a low kick but Meyer moves his leg out of the way.

Meyer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Meyer scores with a hook to the body.
Meyer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sonnen goes for a takedown attempt but Meyer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meyer was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
Meyer scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meyer is looking to clinch.
Sonnen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
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 throws a hook but Meyer avoids it easily.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
Meyer connects with a single shot there.
Meyer is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ulrik Meyer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Meyer scores with a jab to the body.
Sonnen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sonnen looks to score with a jab to the body but Meyer is just out of range.
Meyer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sonnen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Meyer throws a nice head kick!
Sonnen throws a lazy body kick
and Meyer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meyer lunges at Sonnen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sonnen's hand.
Sonnen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Meyer scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Meyer is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ulrik Meyer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Meyer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulrik Meyer!
A relieved looking Ulrik Meyer thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.