PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buckley Burtopolous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sonnen
vs
Burtopolous

178 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

166 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Buckley Burtopolous!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burtopolous throws a body punch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Burtopolous sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Burtopolous tries for a takedown but Sonnen circles away easily

and Sonnen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Burtopolous is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen prevents Burtopolous from improving his position.
Burtopolous avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
Burtopolous is trying is best to control the position here.
Sonnen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Well, if Sonnen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sonnen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Burtopolous holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen is thwarting Burtopolous's attempts to control the position.
Burtopolous is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Burtopolous is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Burtopolous blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sonnen throwing shots but Burtopolous is blocking nicely.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burtopolous's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burtopolous misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burtopolous throws a head kick but Sonnen moves out of range.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burtopolous blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burtopolous's head.
Sonnen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Burtopolous's head.
Sonnen working Burtopolous over with strikes.
Sonnen is trying to control the action in half guard but Burtopolous is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sonnen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sonnen with the ground and pound but Burtopolous uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Burtopolous is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burtopolous works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Burtopolous not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Burtopolous pulls Sonnen in to control the position.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Burtopolous keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sonnen shoots in and bounces Burtopolous off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Burtopolous tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sonnen trying to control but Burtopolous is working from the bottom.
Burtopolous is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen landing some decent shots from guard.
Sonnen works over Burtopolous with some ground and pound from guard.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonnen is in close to Burtopolous's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Burtopolous is retaining full guard.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Burtopolous is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen won't allow Burtopolous to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Sonnen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Burtopolous fails with the takedown

and Sonnen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burtopolous's guard now.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Burtopolous blocks nicely.
Burtopolous is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.
Sonnen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonnen is in close to Burtopolous's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sonnen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sonnen throwing shots but Burtopolous is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burtopolous is trying to stand back up but Sonnen is controlling him
Burtopolous avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
Ground and pound from Sonnen.
Sonnen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonnen looks to land a strike but Burtopolous avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Burtopolous is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Burtopolous keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen thows a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burtopolous is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sonnen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Burtopolous's guard.
Burtopolous is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Burtopolous keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Burtopolous not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Burtopolous being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burtopolous not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burtopolous works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Burtopolous 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.
An elbow from Sonnen crashes against the mat.
Sonnen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burtopolous keeps working.

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.
Burtopolous is trying to control Sonnen's posture but Sonnen avoids it.
Burtopolous tries to improve position but can't.
Burtopolous takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sonnen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sonnen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Burtopolous to see if he's OK.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Burtopolous's temple.
Burtopolous takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Burtopolous prevents Sonnen from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Sonnen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Burtopolous tries to clinch up but Sonnen circles away and keeps his distance.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Burtopolous tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Burtopolous manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A big right from Burtopolous misses.

Sonnen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burtopolous is trying to buck Sonnen off.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sonnen controlling the position from side mount.
Sonnen is looking to take a break and control but Burtopolous is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burtopolous prevents Sonnen from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burtopolous can't do much from the bottom here.
Burtopolous manages to get back to half guard.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but Burtopolous dodges it nicely.
Burtopolous makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burtopolous.
Nate Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Burtopolous's head.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Burtopolous is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burtopolous trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Burtopolous is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Burtopolous trying to control the position.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burtopolous is looking to land body kicks.
Burtopolous throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Burtopolous napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sonnen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Burtopolous is avoiding damage well.
Sonnen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burtopolous is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Burtopolous is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sonnen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonnen dominating with strikes here.
Sonnen lands a big shot there that rocks Burtopolous but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Sonnen.
Burtopolous tries to lock up and control but Sonnen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burtopolous takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen landing shots from mount.
Sonnen scoring with strikes but Burtopolous is staying in there.
Sonnen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sonnen looking to control but Burtopolous is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sonnen landing shots from mount.
Buckley Burtopolous has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Burtopolous looks a forlorn figure.
Nate Sonnen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sonnen with the ground and pound from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burtopolous tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Burtopolous swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Sonnen!