PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Killing Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bashier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonnen comes to the cage accompanied by Alice In Chain Would?. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sonnen
vs
Bashier

185 cm
18
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Killing Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Bashier!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashier is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.

Sonnen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bashier to the ground. Sonnen is now in Bashier's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Bashier manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Bashier breaks the clinch.
John Bashier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bashier.

Sonnen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bashier quickly recovers to half guard.
Bashier is pressing down on Sonnen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bashier is retaining full guard.

Bashier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sonnen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bashier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashier lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sonnen!
Sonnen is trying desperately to improve position.
Bashier tries to control but Sonnen wriggling away.
Sonnen wants to hold on but Bashier pushes him away.

Bashier working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sonnen is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashier controlling from the full mount.
Bashier is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bashier looking to control but Sonnen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sonnen wants to control but Bashier is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashier thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bashier sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
It looks like Bashier 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.
Sonnen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bashier thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Bashier looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sonnen gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bashier is trying to work for a kimura but Sonnen is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bashier in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bashier dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bashier pushes Sonnen up against the cage in a clinch.

Bashier pulls guard successfully.
John Bashier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bashier keeping full guard, as Sonnen tries to pass.
Bashier is adopting a defensive guard.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Killing Sonnen.
Horrible takedown by Bashier or perhaps it was just good defense by Sonnen which made him look bad.
Bashier shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bashier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sonnen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bashier has a takedown stuffed.
Killing Sonnen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Bashier.
Sonnen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sonnen misses the jab.
Bashier scores with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bashier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bashier circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bashier moves into the clinch.
Bashier jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sonnen walks away with a smile on his face. Bashier gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Sonnen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Bashier to get to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bashier tries to avoid it but Sonnen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bashier to the ground. Bashier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bashier defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashier looks for a takedown but Sonnen sprawls well.
Bashier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sonnen as he jumps to the side.
Bashier is breathing heavily.

Bashier has closed the distance and engaged Sonnen in a clinch.
Bashier drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sonnen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sonnen shoots in and drives through. Bashier sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bashier was covering up waiting for the punch and Sonnen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sonnen is looking to advance position but Bashier has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Bashier wants to finish this one by submission but Sonnen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bashier.
Sonnen is trying desperately to improve position.
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 Killing Sonnen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sonnen goes for a double leg but Bashier avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bashier continues to drive forward.
Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bashier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Bashier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bashier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bashier wants to control the position but Sonnen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Sonnen seems to be working for a kimura but Bashier defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bashier!
Bashier is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Sonnen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bashier because Sonnen loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashier is trying desperately to improve position.
Sonnen avoids the attempt from Bashier to control.
Bashier working to try and regain half guard.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Sonnen wants to finish this one by submission but Bashier is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sonnen.
Bashier has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Sonnen's lack of action.
Sonnen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bashier takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sonnen with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sonnen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bashier because Sonnen loaded up on that one.
Sonnen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bashier is looking to get to half guard.
Sonnen trying to control but Bashier is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands a heavy elbow.
Bashier is bucking up trying to escape but Sonnen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen looking to control but Bashier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bashier tries to hold on but Sonnen postures up.
Bashier is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen punching from mount but Bashier doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sonnen looking to finish Bashier with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bashier!
Bashier is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Bashier sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sonnen prevents Bashier from standing back up.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bashier wants to get back to his feet.
Bashier is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen working over Bashier with some ground and pound. Bashier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

And that's the end of the fight!
Killing Sonnen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sonnen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Killing Sonnen!
Killing Sonnen looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Where you at George?'.