PBP Commentary

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

Zygan
vs
Sonnen

190 cm
21
198 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kamil Zygan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zygan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sonnen defends it nicely.

Sonnen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zygan sprawls well initially but Sonnen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sonnen working Zygan over with strikes.
Sonnen winds up and cracks Zygan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen lands strikes from half guard.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Zygan is working from the bottom.
Sonnen working over Zygan with some ground and pound. Zygan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zygan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Zygan looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Zygan blocks nicely.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zygan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Zygan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Zygan!
Zygan wants to get up but he can't break Sonnen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sonnen is looking to stand up but Zygan isn't so interested in that idea.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Zygan from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Zygan is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kamil Zygan just wasn't active enough.
Zygan tries to clinch

and Sonnen counters with a single leg into guard. Zygan didn't expect that.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zygan looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zygan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sonnen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zygan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zygan looking for a sweep. Not yet Zygan, not yet.
Zygan keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen is working Zygan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sonnen distracts Zygan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen throws an elbow that misses. Zygan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sonnen's guard. Nice move by Zygan!
Sonnen wants to stand but Zygan is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zygan throwing strikes but missing.
Zygan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zygan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sonnen is proving hard to escape from.

Sonnen wriggles free and stands up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zygan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zygan tries to sprawl but Sonnen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zygan throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Sonnen manages to pass to side control.
Zygan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Sonnen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zygan fails with a takedown attempt.
Zygan wants to clinch up but Sonnen keeps it at a distance.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Zygan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zygan to the ground. Sonnen is now in Zygan's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen trying to control but Zygan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Zygan keeps moving.

Dan Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Zygan as Sonnen shoots in.
Zygan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Sonnen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zygan shoots for a double leg takedown but Sonnen sprawls well. He's pushed Zygan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sonnen throws a poor cross that misses

and Zygan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sonnen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zygan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
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 trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Zygan wants to finish this one by submission but Sonnen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zygan.
Zygan with shots to the head and body - Sonnen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sonnen is squirming around, avoiding Zygan's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zygan landing punches.
Sonnen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sonnen is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is in a horrible position here. Zygan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zygan controlling the pace for now.
Zygan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Dan Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zygan wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Sonnen really wants to buck Zygan off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kamil Zygan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sonnen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zygan shoots in but no luck this time.
Zygan is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zygan is defended easily by Sonnen.

Sonnen clinches up with Zygan and pushes him back against the ropes.
Zygan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Zygan tries for a takedown but Sonnen manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kamil Zygan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zygan fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zygan prevents the takedown attempt.

Zygan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zygan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Zygan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sonnen cracks Zygan with a solid left hand.
Zygan has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
Sonnen throwing strikes but missing.
Sonnen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zygan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zygan has a closed guard, preventing Sonnen from standing up.
Sonnen scoring with some ground and pound.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zygan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen throws a strike but Zygan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zygan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sonnen pushes Zygan away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Zygan gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sonnen fails to land the takedown.
Zygan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sonnen's waist but Sonnen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zygan off to one side.
Zygan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sonnen's waist but Sonnen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zygan off to one side.

Sonnen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sonnen has Zygan pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Zygan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zygan has Sonnen pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Sonnen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sonnen is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sonnen prevents the takedown attempt.
Zygan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zygan is trying to break the clinch but Sonnen is controlling him.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown.

Sonnen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zygan regains guard immediately.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen advances position into side control!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
You can see the frustration on Zygan's face as Sonnen controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Sonnen!
A pretty intense looking Dan Sonnen took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.