PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Salavat Yulaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Iron Maiden Fear of the Dark . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yulaev
vs
Sonnen

182 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 St Petersburg, Salavat Yulaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chael Sonnen !
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonnen gets caught flat footed, as Yulaev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Yulaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.

Sonnen kicks Yulaev off and gets to his feet.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Yulaev circles away easily

and Yulaev counters with a shoot takedown. Sonnen fights it but they end up in guard.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet but Yulaev passes into half guard.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yulaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sonnen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yulaev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sonnen looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen kicks Yulaev off and gets back to his feet.
Yulaev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sonnen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yulaev.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sonnen .
Salavat Yulaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen .

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Yulaev's guard.
Yulaev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yulaev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Yulaev's legs - danger averted.

Sonnen drops back looking for a leg! Yulaev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yulaev manages to kick Sonnen off! Sonnen jumps back into Yulaev's guard.

Sonnen has gone for a leg lock! Yulaev slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sonnen 's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but Yulaev is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sonnen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sonnen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yulaev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sonnen won't be happy with that.
Sonnen looks gassed!

Yulaev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet but Yulaev drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to get back to his feet here but Yulaev is keeping cool and he's managed to take Sonnen 's back.
Sonnen trying to get back to his feet but Yulaev is in full control for now.

Sonnen fending off the submission attempt from Yulaev.
Sonnen is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Yulaev has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Sonnen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen holding both Yulaev 's hands and preventing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salavat Yulaev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yulaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sonnen is fending him off so far but Yulaev persists. Nope, Sonnen circles away and we're back to standing.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yulaev shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sonnen looking to score a takedown here. Yulaev is defending well but Sonnen drives through and ends up in Yulaev's guard.

Sonnen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yulaev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yulaev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yulaev!
Sonnen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Yulaev has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Sonnen is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Yulaev yanks on the arm and Sonnen is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Yulaev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Salavat Yulaev!