PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Witson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sonnen
vs
Witson

185 cm
30
192 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
201 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Bad Man Clothing

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chael Sonnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johny Witson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ron Honeybunn and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen thuds a left hand into Witson's body.
Good standup being displayed there by Sonnen as he connects with a hook.
Sonnen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Witson avoids it really well and circles away.
Sonnen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Witson leaves Sonnen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen lands an overhand right.
Sonnen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hate Made Me Asylum in the buildup to the fight.
Witson misses with a low kick.
Witson stuns Sonnen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sonnen shoots in looking for a takedown but Witson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sonnen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horrible takedown by Sonnen or perhaps it was just good defense by Witson which made him look bad.
Sonnen goes for a double leg but Witson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Witson continues to drive forward.
Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Witson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Sonnen is trying to trip Witson. He has hold of a leg but Witson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sonnen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Witson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Witson is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to move into half guard but instead Witson has managed to sweep!
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Witson from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Witson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonnen trying to control the position.
Sonnen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Witson preventing the sweep.
Witson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Witson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Johny Witson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sonnen fails with the takedown
and Witson counters with a nice body kick.
Sonnen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Chael Sonnen has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Witson throws a series of punches but Sonnen avoids them all with ease.

Sonnen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Witson sprawls well initially but Sonnen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Witson is concentrating on defense, preventing Sonnen from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sonnen is working away from the top position though.
Witson is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Witson gets caught napping as Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown. Witson manages to retain guard.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Witson is trying to control the position but Sonnen postures up.
Witson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sonnen postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johny Witson.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Witson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Witson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witson looks to land a combination but Sonnen avoids it well.
Witson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sonnen checks the leg kick.

Sonnen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Witson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Witson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Sonnen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Witson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witson working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonnen pushes down on Witson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johny Witson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chael Sonnen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonnen closes the distance and pushes Witson back into the cage.
Witson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Witson.

Witson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Witson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sonnen. That did some damage!
Sonnen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Witson defends it nicely.

Sonnen scores with a takedown into Witson's guard.
Sonnen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sonnen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen preventing the sweep.

Sonnen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Witson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sonnen has managed to get both his arms back between Witson's legs - danger averted.
Sonnen is looking to work some ground and pound but Witson has wrist control.
Witson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Witson is looking for a triangle but Sonnen pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonnen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Witson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sonnen manages to get himself to full guard.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Witson from controlling successfully.
Witson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chael Sonnen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Witson from controlling successfully.
Sonnen wants to sweep here but Witson controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Witson with a flurry of punches that miss.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Witson 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witson throws an elbow that misses. Sonnen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Witson's guard. Nice move by Sonnen!
Witson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sonnen trying to control but Witson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Witson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Witson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Witson keeping full guard, as Sonnen tries to pass.
Witson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Witson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Witson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Sonnen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control but Witson is working from the bottom.
Sonnen landing with the ground and pound.
Sonnen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
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 trying to control but Witson is working from the bottom.
Sonnen postures up.
Witson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sonnen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Witson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Witson keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Witson is keeping the position.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Witson.
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 Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chael Sonnen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Witson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonnen, pushing him back against the cage.
Witson prevents a takedown attempt there.

Witson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Witson misses with a body shot.
Witson lands a nice hook to Sonnen's body. Sonnen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Sonnen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Witson, pushing him back against the cage.
Witson misses with an elbow strike.
Witson prevents the takedown attempt.
Sonnen looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chael Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonnen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Witson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sonnen is trying to drag Witson to the mat but Witson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sonnen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Witson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sonnen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Witson.
Witson connects with an inside leg kick.
Witson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sonnen. That did some damage!

Witson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonnen, pushing him back against the cage.
Witson lands a knee to the body.

Witson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Witson throws a shot to the body.
Witson misses with a low kick.
Witson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sonnen's calf.
Decent striking displayed by Witson there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen fails with the takedown.
Some bone on bone action there as Sonnen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sonnen shoots for a double leg takedown but Witson sprawls well. He's pushed Sonnen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Witson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Witson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witson passes Sonnen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Witson lands strikes from half guard.
Sonnen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Witson.
Witson is trying to control the action in half guard but Sonnen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep. Witson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witson is just content to waste time from the top position. Sonnen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Witson looking to sit in guard and control but Sonnen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sonnen stopping the sweep attempt from Witson.
Witson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Witson trying to control the position here.
Sonnen passes Witson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen prevents Witson from improving his position.
Well, if Sonnen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Witson trying to control but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen is pressing down on Witson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Witson is holding on for now.
Sonnen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sonnen lands a big elbow.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonnen landing shots from mount.
Sonnen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sonnen landing strikes from the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Witson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Witson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Johny Witson!