PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chael Sonnen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sonnen
vs
Rogan

187 cm
23
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
217 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Rogan!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogan tried to score with a low kick but Sonnen checks it.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Sonnen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rogan swivels and escapes.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt - Rogan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen fails with the takedown.
Rogan throws a leg kick but Sonnen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sonnen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rogan circles away.
Rogan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sonnen wants to clinch.
Rogan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonnen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rogan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rogan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rogan but Rogan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sonnen is defended easily by Rogan.
Rogan misses with a low kick.
Sonnen shoots in for a double leg but Rogan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rogan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rogan throws a leg kick that misses.
Joe Rogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A leg kick checked by Sonnen.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range and Rogan settles back down.
Rogan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sonnen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rogan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sonnen somewhat.
Rogan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sonnen checks it well.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rogan sprawls well. Rogan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Rogan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range and Rogan settles back down.
Rogan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sonnen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rogan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rogan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rogan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Joe Rogan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rogan misses with a low kick.
Rogan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rogan stuffs the takedown.
Rogan throws a front kick aimed at Sonnen's knee but Sonnen avoids it well.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Rogan is looking to score with low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Rogan misses.
Rogan misses with a low kick.
Sonnen checks a leg kick nicely.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Sonnen or perhaps it was just good defense by Rogan which made him look bad.
Rogan tries a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rogan defends it nicely.
Rogan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rogan defends it nicely.
Rogan tried to score with a low kick but Sonnen checks it.
Sonnen moves out of range of the leg kick from Rogan.
Rogan throws out a leg kick but Sonnen moves out of range and Rogan only half commits.
Sonnen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rogan as he jumps to the side.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rogan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sonnen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sonnen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.

Sonnen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sonnen trying to control but Rogan is working from the bottom.
Sonnen won't allow Rogan to sweep him here.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rogan is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen chips away with some ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control but Rogan is working from the bottom.
Sonnen passes Rogan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sonnen throwing shots but Rogan is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogan is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Sonnen works his way into full mount!
Sonnen with a couple of short strikes.
Sonnen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rogan is trying desperately to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rogan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rogan is squirming around, avoiding Sonnen's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sonnen fails with the takedown.
Rogan throws a leg kick but Sonnen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rogan misses with a low kick.
Sonnen shoots in and drives through. Rogan sprawls well.
Rogan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Sonnen blocks the leg kick.
Rogan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range.
Rogan tries a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sonnen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rogan is looking to control Sonnen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rogan avoid being mounted?
Rogan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sonnen is thwarting Rogan's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Rogan is working from the bottom.
Sonnen is nestled in close to Rogan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sonnen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Rogan is defending the position.
Rogan is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sonnen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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.
Sonnen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sonnen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rogan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Rogan is working from the bottom.
Sonnen passes the guard and advances to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen avoids the attempt from Rogan to control.
Rogan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogan is squirming around, avoiding Sonnen's attempts to control the action.
Rogan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sonnen wants to control the pace but Rogan is squirming around nicely.
Sonnen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rogan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rogan can't escape the position.
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonnen with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to control but Rogan wriggling away.
Sonnen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rogan?
Sonnen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee warns Rogan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rogan is bucking up trying to escape but Sonnen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sonnen landing punches.
Rogan is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen is landing with some decent strikes but Rogan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sonnen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Horrible takedown by Sonnen or perhaps it was just good defense by Rogan which made him look bad.

Sonnen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sonnen goes for a takedown attempt but Rogan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A clash of legs there as Sonnen blocks the low kick.
A leg kick checked by Sonnen.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
Rogan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rogan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rogan throws a leg kick but Sonnen checks it.
Rogan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Rogan as Sonnen shoots in.
Sonnen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Chael Sonnen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rogan throws a leg kick but Sonnen checks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogan stuffs the takedown.
A clash of legs there as Sonnen blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen checks a low kick from Rogan.
Good work by Sonnen as he checks the leg kick.
Rogan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown. Rogan tries to sprawl out of it but Sonnen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rogan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rogan misses with a low kick.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rogan as he avoids it easily.
Sonnen checks a leg kick.
Rogan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sonnen.
A bone on bone clash there as Sonnen blocks the leg kick.
Sonnen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rogan's waist but Rogan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sonnen off to one side.
Sonnen shoots in but Rogan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rogan wants to land a leg kick but Sonnen is out of range.
No luck for Sonnen with that takedown attempt.
Sonnen checks a leg kick nicely.
Sonnen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rogan avoids it really well and circles away.
Rogan throws a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sonnen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rogan. Rogan obviously looking to wear him down.

Sonnen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rogan's guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Rogan keeps moving.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonnen advances position into side control!
An elbow from Sonnen crashes against the mat.
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Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogan keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen cracks Rogan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Rogan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rogan is trying to work for a sweep but Sonnen has mounted him!
Sonnen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sonnen with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looking to control but Rogan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sonnen content just to control the position here.
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonnen landing shots from mount.
Rogan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!

Chael Sonnen wins by unanimous decision!