PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick sanfillipo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fail Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

sanfillipo
vs
Sonnen

188 cm
23
194 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
191 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

BLKOUT Clothing
BLKOUT Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick sanfillipo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fail Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
sanfillipo doesn't manage to clinch there - Sonnen circles away.
sanfillipo throws a big shot that misses.
Sonnen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
sanfillipo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sonnen but Sonnen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
sanfillipo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
sanfillipo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick sanfillipo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but sanfillipo was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but sanfillipo was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
sanfillipo throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sonnen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sanfillipo looks to land a left hand but Sonnen moved out of range nicely.
Sonnen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
sanfillipo tries to clinch but Sonnen moves away

and Sonnen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
sanfillipo has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
sanfillipo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sonnen.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but sanfillipo blocks nicely.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.

sanfillipo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
sanfillipo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
sanfillipo is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
sanfillipo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sonnen postures up in sanfillipo's guard and throws a big left but sanfillipo blocks it.

sanfillipo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonnen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

sanfillipo is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but sanfillipo blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sonnen working some strikes from top position.
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 is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen cracks sanfillipo with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.

Sonnen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sonnen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

sanfillipo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as sanfillipo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen trying to control but sanfillipo is working from the bottom.
sanfillipo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of sanfillipo's head.
sanfillipo striking off his back but it's not causing Sonnen any problems.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen pushes down on sanfillipo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

sanfillipo looking for submissions off his back.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
sanfillipo is trying to control but Sonnen manages to pass to mount!
sanfillipo throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
sanfillipo is looking to get to half guard.
Sonnen landing strikes, looking to finish!
sanfillipo wants to hold on but Sonnen pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
sanfillipo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

sanfillipo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing sanfillipo from controlling successfully.

Sonnen throws his legs up looking for a submission but sanfillipo uses it to pass to side control.
Sonnen gets back to half guard.
Sonnen wants to control but sanfillipo is keeping busy.
Fail Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
sanfillipo misses with a head shot. Sonnen uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sonnen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. sanfillipo manages to get himself to full guard.

sanfillipo working for a triangle but Sonnen defends it easily.
Sonnen passes sanfillipo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sonnen winds up and cracks sanfillipo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
sanfillipo is trying to get back to full guard.
sanfillipo gets back to full guard.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
sanfillipo is pulling down on Sonnen's head to control his posture.
Sonnen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but sanfillipo keeps moving.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but sanfillipo keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fail Sonnen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
sanfillipo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sonnen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
sanfillipo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sonnen circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen moves out of range as sanfillipo strikes.

sanfillipo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
sanfillipo trying to move into half guard but instead Sonnen has managed to sweep!

sanfillipo looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
sanfillipo has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
sanfillipo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but sanfillipo keeps moving.
sanfillipo is looking to sweep but instead, Sonnen has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
sanfillipo is trying to get back to full guard.
Sonnen working over sanfillipo with some ground and pound. sanfillipo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Sonnen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and sanfillipo defends it well.
sanfillipo taking some punishment here, with Sonnen in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Sonnen.
sanfillipo is staying active underneath Sonnen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sonnen trying to advance position but sanfillipo counters by regaining guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but sanfillipo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fail Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

sanfillipo throws a lazy right hand but Sonnen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
sanfillipo darts in trying to clinch
and Sonnen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sonnen looks to land a left hand but sanfillipo moved out of range nicely.
Sonnen moves away from the strike by sanfillipo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but sanfillipo was well out of range. Poor timing from Sonnen.
sanfillipo loads up on a big right hand but Sonnen slips the punch.
Nick sanfillipo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
sanfillipo throws a jab but it's blocked by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throws an overhand right that lands on sanfillipo's shoulder, as sanfillipo tries to avoid the shot.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Sonnen counter with a right hand.
sanfillipo misses with a takedown
enabling Sonnen to counter with a crisp jab.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
sanfillipo is looking for a sweep. Sonnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen is taking a breather. sanfillipo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
sanfillipo trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sonnen connects with a nice short shot to sanfillipo's temple.
sanfillipo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
sanfillipo wants to get back to full guard.
sanfillipo taking some punishment here, with Sonnen in his half guard.
Sonnen thows a huge punch but sanfillipo dodges it nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

sanfillipo looking for subs from the bottom but Sonnen mounts him!
Sonnen looking to finish sanfillipo with some ground and pound. This is bad for sanfillipo!
sanfillipo is trying to escape the mount.
sanfillipo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sonnen lands a big shot there that rocks sanfillipo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
sanfillipo tries to hold on but Sonnen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, sanfillipo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sonnen working the ground and pound effectively.
Sonnen with a couple of short strikes.
sanfillipo tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
sanfillipo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sonnen trying to control but sanfillipo is having none of it.

sanfillipo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sonnen.
sanfillipo working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns sanfillipo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sonnen prevents sanfillipo from getting the reversal.
Sonnen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sonnen prevents sanfillipo from getting the reversal.
Nick sanfillipo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonnen with good strikes from the mount here!
Sonnen landing punches.
Sonnen lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
sanfillipo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sonnen landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
sanfillipo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sonnen connects with a nice short shot to sanfillipo's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fail Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fail Sonnen! Fail Sonnen retains his middleweight title!