PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erlend Vadevjen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vadevjen comes to the cage accompanied by Rancid,Ruby Soho. Erlend Vadevjen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Vadevjen
vs
Sonnen

175 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Cobra Pharmaceuticals (159++ Stamina)

Just Fight

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erlend Vadevjen!
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 Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen shoots for a double leg takedown but Vadevjen sprawls well. He's pushed Sonnen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vadevjen dives in and grabs Sonnen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sonnen pushes down on Vadevjen's head and hops out.
Vadevjen tries to clinch but Sonnen is having none of it.

Vadevjen gets caught napping as Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown. Vadevjen manages to retain guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sonnen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vadevjen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sonnen stops Vadevjen from standing up.
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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Sonnen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sonnen gets a clinch.

Sonnen tightens his grip and picks Vadevjen up, before dumping him to the ground. Vadevjen manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vadevjen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sonnen.

Vadevjen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sonnen prevents Vadevjen from getting back to his feet.
Vadevjen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

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

Vadevjen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Chael Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Sonnen. No joy for Vadevjen on that attempt.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown but Vadevjen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Erlend Vadevjen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen avoids the head kick by Vadevjen.
Vadevjen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sonnen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonnen checks a low kick from Vadevjen.

Sonnen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vadevjen sprawls well initially but Sonnen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vadevjen is trying to stand up here but Sonnen is controlling him well.
Sonnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looks gassed!

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Vadevjen misses with a straight left.
Vadevjen throws a nice head kick!

Sonnen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vadevjen was covering up waiting for the punch and Sonnen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vadevjen being controlled here, momentarily.
Vadevjen wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen won't allow Vadevjen to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sonnen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sonnen with a poor takedown
and Vadevjen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No joy there for Vadevjen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
Sonnen prevents Vadevjen from getting back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sonnen trying to control but Vadevjen is working from the bottom.
Vadevjen wants to sweep here but Sonnen controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sonnen clinches up against the cage.
Vadevjen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sonnen keeps control of Vadevjen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vadevjen working aggressively here.
Sonnen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vadevjen's efforts to push away.

Vadevjen gets control of Sonnen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vadevjen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Sonnen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sonnen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sonnen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vadevjen is trying to keep Sonnen in close.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Vadevjen working for a triangle but Sonnen defends it easily.
Sonnen is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vadevjen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sonnen.
Vadevjen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonnen.

Sonnen gets a takedown into half guard.
Sonnen moves into full mount! Vadevjen won't be happy about that!
Sonnen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Vadevjen looks for a takedown but Sonnen sprawls well.
Vadevjen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sonnen but Sonnen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sonnen blocks a head kick by Vadevjen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches.
Vadevjen prevents the takedown attempt.
Vadevjen is trying to break free.
Vadevjen tries to pull guard but Sonnen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erlend Vadevjen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vadevjen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sonnen is working for takedown but Vadevjen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sonnen is pressed up against the cage. Vadevjen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sonnen down to the mat. Sonnen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.
Erlend Vadevjen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vadevjen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sonnen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Vadevjen tries to sprawl but Sonnen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vadevjen wants to get back to his feet.
Sonnen slows the pace down in half guard.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but Vadevjen defending well.
Sonnen trying to control the pace.
Vadevjen tries to kick Sonnen off but Sonnen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sonnen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chael Sonnen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Vadevjen's guard.
Vadevjen controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vadevjen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vadevjen is working hard here to advance position.
Vadevjen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Erlend Vadevjen just wasn't active enough.
Sonnen blocks a head kick by Vadevjen.

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Vadevjen's guard.
Sonnen stops Vadevjen from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chael Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chael Sonnen was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Vadevjen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vadevjen keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chael Sonnen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Vadevjen looks to land a body kick but Sonnen moved away.
Vadevjen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vadevjen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sonnen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sonnen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vadevjen misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sonnen is defended easily by Vadevjen.
Sonnen shoots in for a double leg but Vadevjen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Erlend Vadevjen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Vadevjen misses with a wild combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonnen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vadevjen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sonnen did well to prevent Vadevjen getting side control.
Vadevjen throwing shots but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Vadevjen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Sonnen kicks off Vadevjen and gets to his feet.
Erlend Vadevjen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice takedown defense from Vadevjen. No joy for Sonnen on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sonnen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chael Sonnen!
A determined Chael Sonnen didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!