PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travis Odle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Odle comes to the cage accompanied by Let Go. Travis Odle could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chael Sonnen's chin.

Odle
vs
Sonnen

182 cm
24
277 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
275 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Travis Odle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Odle circles away easily
and Sonnen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Odle tries to clinch up but Sonnen circles away and keeps his distance.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Odle tries to clinch

and Sonnen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sonnen.
Odle is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Odle has wrist control.
Odle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Odle is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sonnen thows a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Odle is keeping the position for now.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Odle blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odle keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Odle trying to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sonnen stops Odle from standing up.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Odle controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Odle has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sonnen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Odle.
You can see the frustration on Odle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sonnen throws a strike aimed at the side of Odle's head but Odle avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Odle's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odle is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Odle parries the strikes from Sonnen easily there. Sonnen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Odle to escape.
Sonnen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
Sonnen is chipping away with strikes.

Sonnen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Odle has escaped the position, nice work there.
Odle stops Sonnen from passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Odle taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sonnen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Odle taking a bit of punishment here - Sonnen scoring with strikes.

It looks like Travis Odle has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Odle works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Odle tries to kick Sonnen off but Sonnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Odle's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Odle moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Odle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen tries to clinch up

and Odle counters by moving into the clinch.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Odle scores with a knee to the head.
Odle lands an elbow inside.
Odle lands an elbow inside that Sonnen shrugs off.
Odle stalling.
Knees to the body from Odle.
Odle lands an elbow inside.
Odle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Odle lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Odle lands an elbow that stopped Sonnen in his tracks for a moment.
Odle gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Odle lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Odle lands an elbow inside that Sonnen shrugs off.
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 letting Odle take a breather here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Odle lands an elbow just above Sonnen 's eye.
Odle connects with a knee to the head.
Odle with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odle lands a knee to the head.
Sonnen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Odle gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Odle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Odle trying to stall but Sonnen improves his position.
Odle lands a nice elbow.
Odle missing with knees to the body.
Odle crunches a lovely knee into Sonnen's ribcage.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike.
Sonnen has Odle pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Odle manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Travis Odle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen goes for a takedown attempt but Odle pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Odle darts in trying to clinch

and Sonnen counters with a shoot takedown. Odle fights it but they end up in guard.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen postures up and lands a big shot to Odle's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen won't allow Odle to get back to his feet.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Odle manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Sonnen managing to control the position.

Odle stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Odle has Sonnen up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odle is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Odle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Odle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sonnen blocks an elbow strike from Odle.
Odle stalling.
Odle is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Odle with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Odle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Odle is pressed up against the cage. Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Odle down to the mat. Odle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Odle tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Travis Odle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Odle tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Odle tries to clinch up.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Odle's guard.
Sonnen connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odle being controlled here, momentarily.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Odle keeps moving.

Odle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Odle dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Travis Odle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Odle stuffs the takedown.
Odle moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Odle moves into the clinch.
Odle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sonnen's face.
Sonnen avoids the elbow strike from Odle, against the cage.
Odle lands a knee to the body.
Odle leaning against his opponent.
Odle lands a nice elbow.
Odle lands a knee to the head.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Odle lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Odle.
Nice elbow from Odle.
Odle lands a damaging elbow.
Odle throws an elbow that misses.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Odle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Travis Odle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Odle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sonnen's defenses.
Odle lands a nice elbow.
Sonnen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Odle pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Odle counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Odle crunches a lovely knee into Sonnen's ribcage.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Odle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Odle gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Odle will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sonnen up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Odle throws an elbow but misses.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Odle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Odle comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sonnen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Odle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sonnen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Odle prevents it.
Sonnen takes an elbow to the temple.
Odle crunches a lovely knee into Sonnen's ribcage.
Sonnen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Odle looking to throw knees to the head but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Sonnen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Odle fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Odle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sonnen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Odle as Sonnen shoots in.
Odle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Odle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sonnen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Odle scores a nice knee to the body.
Odle lands a nice elbow.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Odle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Odle gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Sonnen has picked Odle up - he's going for a ride! Sonnen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Sonnen seems to be working for a kimura but Odle defends the submission attempt.
Odle is looking to control Sonnen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Odle avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odle regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sonnen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonnen scoring with punches to the head and body.

Odle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sonnen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sonnen cracks Odle with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sonnen advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen lands a big shot there that rocks Odle but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sonnen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chael Sonnen.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Chael Sonnen!