PBP Commentary

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

Marks
vs
Sonnen

182 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Marks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sonnen gets caught flat footed, as Marks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sonnen pulls Marks in close to prevent any damage.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marks is controlling him.

Marks is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marks wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Marks thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marks throwing strikes from guard but Sonnen blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Marks!
Marks is desperately trying to improve his position but Sonnen has a good base and remains in mount.
Marks flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sonnen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marks regains half guard.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Marks pushes Sonnen off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Marks throws a sloppy head kick and Sonnen moves out of range easily.
Sonnen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen avoids it really well and circles away.
Sonnen moves out of range of the body kick.

Marks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sonnen on his heels. He'll look to pass Sonnen's guard now, I'm sure.

Sonnen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sonnen slips a jab and a cross from Marks.
Marks is breathing heavily.
Marks fails with a takedown attempt.
Sonnen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Marks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Marks's legs - danger averted.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Sonnen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Marks working for a triangle but Sonnen defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sonnen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
It looks like Sonnen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carl Marks will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sonnen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marks is pressing down on Sonnen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Marks looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sonnen defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marks wants to sweep here but Sonnen controlling him for the moment.

Marks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Sonnen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sonnen defends it easily.

Marks has his foot on Sonnen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sonnen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen wasn't active enough on the ground.

Sonnen gets a takedown into half guard.
Marks manages to get to full guard.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Marks leaves Sonnen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Marks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sonnen controls Marks momentarily but Marks frees himself.
Marks trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Marks postures up.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sonnen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marks.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown but Marks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Carl Marks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen slaps away a takedown attempt from Marks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Marks dives in and scores a takedown into Sonnen's guard.
Marks trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Marks is looking to work some ground and pound but Sonnen has wrist control.
Marks throws and elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marks's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!

Marks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Marks has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Sonnen should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Marks has tightened it up now! Sonnen should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Carl Marks!