PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dao Sonnen (ranked 7 p4p, 2 weight class) and Afeef Isa Baba (ranked 106 p4p, 17 weight class). Sonnen comes into the arena with The Devil's Doorbell blaring out of the sound system. Baba is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nation Arabic Orchestra. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sonnen
vs
Isa Baba

183 cm
37
170 lbs
38 - 15 - 1

181 cm
37
172 lbs
20 - 5 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Afeef Isa Baba!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baba looks for the body kick but Sonnen saw that one coming.
Baba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baba throws a front kick aimed at Sonnen's knee but Sonnen avoids it well.
Sonnen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Baba. That one must have hurt.
Sonnen connects with a jab.
Sonnen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a leg kick.
Sonnen backing away here, and Baba unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Sonnen with a nice cross.
Baba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Baba takes one to the chin there.
Sonnen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Baba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Baba.
Sonnen moves out of range as Baba strikes.

Sonnen moves into range and clinches up with Baba.
Sonnen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Baba tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baba blocks a body shot from Sonnen.
Baba prevents a takedown attempt there.
Baba working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen has had enough of the clinch but Baba keeps him there for the moment.
Baba prevents the takedown attempt.
Still in the clinch, Baba scores with a nice short uppercut.

It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Sonnen as the two fighters clinch.
Sonnen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen tries a body shot but Baba blocks it.
Sonnen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sonnen breaks the clinch.
Sonnen connects with an inside leg kick.
Baba looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Baba checks the leg kick.
Sonnen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
An inside leg kick lands from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a wild body kick that Baba sees coming a mile off.
Nice shot by Baba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Baba throws a shot from downtown. Sonnen moves away and avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen throws a front kick aimed at Baba's knee but Baba avoids it well.
Sonnen blocks a leg kick.
Sonnen scores with a leg kick.
Dao Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen throws a chopping leg kick but Baba manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Baba only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Sonnen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sonnen.
Sonnen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Baba's sensitive parts.
Baba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sonnen.
Baba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baba just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSonnen.
Baba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Baba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Baba throws a shot from downtown. Sonnen moves away and avoids it.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut. Baba saw that one coming.
Afeef Isa Baba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sonnen misses with a body kick.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baba clinches up against the cage.
Sonnen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Baba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sonnen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from Baba is predictable there
and Baba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sonnen with a hook.
Baba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sonnen throws a wild body kick that Baba sees coming a mile off.
Sonnen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sonnen tries a low kick but Baba avoids it.
Sonnen misses with a straight left.
Baba swings for the body but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Sonnen darts in and clinches Baba up against the cage.
Baba blocks a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen is looking to break free of the clinch but Baba has double underhooks.
Sonnen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with some punches.
Sonnen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Baba working aggressively here.
Baba struggles to land a body shot inside as Sonnen controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sonnen.
A short right from Sonnen.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
Baba prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dao Sonnen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baba lands a shoulder strike.
Baba lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baba presses Sonnen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sonnen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sonnen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen tries to work over Baba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Baba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sonnen misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dao Sonnen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sonnen misses with a straight right.
Baba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sonnen.
Baba unleashes a big counter combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sonnen misses with a looping left.
Baba thows a body kick. Sonnen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Baba is looking to chop away at Sonnen's legs.

Sonnen dives in and scores a takedown into Baba's guard.
Baba keeping full guard, as Sonnen tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baba seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Baba's guard.
Sonnen moves into full mount! Baba won't be happy about that!
Sonnen looking to control but Baba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Baba felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking to work his way around to Baba's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Sonnen wants to control the pace but Baba is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sonnen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Baba to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Baba shrugs it off.

Sonnen looking to secure an arm triangle but Baba defends it well.
Baba regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Baba is working from the bottom.
Sonnen tries to pass to full mount but Baba defends it.
Sonnen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Baba is not content to let Sonnen control the position.

Sonnen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Baba sees it coming and defends easily.
Sonnen trying to control from half guard but Baba is working away.
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.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Baba is defending the position.
Baba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sonnen stalling.

Sonnen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sonnen.
Baba won't allow Sonnen to pass to mount.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Baba manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Sonnen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Baba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baba working aggressively here.
Baba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sonnen jumps guard but Baba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Baba lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sonnen.
Baba scores with a hook to the body.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baba is leaning against Sonnen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sonnen misses with a punch to the body.
Sonnen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baba avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baba avoiding damage as Sonnen throws knees to the body.
Baba scores with a shoulder strike.
Baba lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Baba works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Afeef Isa Baba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Baba misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Afeef Isa Baba will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sonnen checks a leg kick.
Sonnen closes the distance but Baba moves to the side
and Baba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baba connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Baba throws a low kick but Sonnen moves out of range easily.
Baba is looking to land body kicks.
Baba goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Baba goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sonnen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Good work by Sonnen as he checks the leg kick.
Sonnen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Baba counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sonnen's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sonnen.
Sonnen lunges at Baba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Baba's hand.
Baba misses with a body shot.
A big right from Baba misses.
Sonnen misses with a hook.
Sonnen throws a poor cross that misses
and Baba counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a leg kick.
Sonnen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sonnen manages to avoid it.
Sonnen throws out a leg kick but Baba moves out of range and Sonnen only half commits.
Sonnen throws the kick towards the body but Baba avoids it.
Sonnen digs a good body shot into Baba's ribs.
Sonnen misses the jab.
Baba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Good work by Sonnen as he checks the leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Baba blocks the low kick.
Sonnen motions for Baba to come forward. Sonnen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baba looks to land a body kick but Sonnen moved away.
Sonnen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Baba.
Baba throws a low kick but Sonnen avoids it.
Sonnen clobbers Baba with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen moves out of range of the body kick.
Sonnen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sonnen scores with a hook.
Sonnen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dao Sonnen is winning the standup battle so far.
Sonnen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sonnen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sonnen.
Baba lands a leg kick that knocks Sonnen off balance momentarily.
Baba scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baba takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from Sonnen misses.
Sonnen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baba doesn't seem bothered though.
Baba throws a low kick but Sonnen moves out of range easily.
Baba throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sonnen.
As Baba tries to get set, Sonnen tries to push him back and clinch up but Baba manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen throws a head kick but Baba moves out of range.
Baba takes a swing at Sonnen's ribcage but misses.

Sonnen tries to keep at a distance but Baba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sonnen lands a shoulder strike.
Sonnen is looking to break free of the clinch but Baba has double underhooks.
Baba blocks the elbow strike.
Baba throws a punch but it's blocked by Sonnen.

Sonnen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Baba misses its intended target.
Sonnen throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.
Sonnen swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Baba tries to keep at a distance but Sonnen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sonnen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonnen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baba lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sonnen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Baba avoids it.
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 fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sonnen gets through Baba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Sonnen - that landed with a thud.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body.
Sonnen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Baba after a bit of a struggle.
Baba scores with a shot to the side of Sonnen's head.
A short left from Baba.
Sonnen is trying to break the clinch but Baba has him pressed against the cage.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Baba lands an uppercut.
Baba works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Baba tries a body shot but Sonnen blocks it.
Sonnen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baba tries to work over Sonnen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afeef Isa Baba really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonnen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sonnen throws a leg kick that misses.
Sonnen tries to land a body kick
and Baba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baba takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A jab from Sonnen misses.
Sonnen slips under a jab from Baba.
Baba misses with a double jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Baba.
Sonnen avoids a kick to the body.
Sonnen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sonnen tries to clinch but Baba moves out of range.
Sonnen cracks Baba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sonnen.
Sonnen throws a series of strikes that have Baba backpedaling.
Sonnen is looking to land body kicks.
Baba slips under a jab.
A left lands for Baba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba misses with an uppercut. Sonnen saw that one coming.
Sonnen is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Baba.
Baba ducks under a wild hook from Sonnen.
Sonnen ducks under a wild hook from Baba.
Baba lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Baba. Sonnen shrugs it off though.
Sonnen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sonnen's sensitive parts.
Sonnen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baba thuds a left hand into Sonnen's body.
Sonnen is looking to score with low kicks.
Baba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baba is looking to slow Sonnen down with leg kicks.
Sonnen avoids the body shot from Baba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen drops his hands momentarily and Baba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sonnen wants to clinch.
Baba fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baba takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Baba avoids a kick to the body.
Sonnen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sonnen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sonnen throws a quick counter kick to the body but Baba avoids it.
Baba misses the jab.
Baba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sonnen swings for the body but Baba moves out of range.
It seemed like Baba was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Baba walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sonnen.
Baba takes a swing at Sonnen's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen jabs at Baba's body.
Sonnen moves out of range as Baba strikes.
Baba misses with a looping left.
Baba misses with an uppercut.
Sonnen throws a shot to the body.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baba sprawls well. Baba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Sonnen misses with a leg kick
and Baba counters with a good low kick that Sonnen was not able to check.
Sonnen connects with an inside leg kick.
Baba wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sonnen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baba looks to land a right hand but Sonnen moved out of range.
Sonnen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Baba checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sonnen slips a jab from Baba.
Dao Sonnen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baba. Sonnen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonnen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen tries to counter with a takedown but Baba is quick to defend against it.
Baba takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fighters circling - Sonnen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baba's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sonnen, as that shot connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen misses the jab.

Sonnen has Baba up against the cage in a clinch.
Sonnen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baba tries to throw a body punch but Sonnen avoids it by throwing Baba back against the cage.
Baba misses with the head strike.
Sonnen misses with some punches.
Baba digs a right hand into Sonnen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sonnen's gas tank.
Sonnen has Baba pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baba manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Baba lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Afeef Isa Baba dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Dao Sonnen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonnen throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.
Sonnen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Baba jabs at Sonnen's body.
Sonnen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Baba throws a big shot that misses.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch but Baba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baba throws a head kick but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Baba can pounce on him.
Baba throws a hook to the side of Sonnen's head but Sonnen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sonnen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen loads up on a big right hand but Baba slips the punch.
Baba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sonnen throws out the jab.
Sonnen throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.
Baba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sonnen tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baba lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Baba looks to land a left hand but Sonnen moved out of range nicely.
Baba misses with a hook.
Baba connects with a leg kick. Sonnen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Baba tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Baba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sonnen tries a low kick but Baba avoids it.
Sonnen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baba doesn't seem bothered though.
Sonnen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Baba momentarily.
Baba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sonnen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sonnen throws a hook to the side of Baba's head but Baba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut
enabling Baba to counter with a crisp jab.
Sonnen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sonnen swings widly with a right hand
and Baba counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sonnen.
Sonnen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baba attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sonnen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Baba throws a hook to the side of Sonnen's head but Sonnen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sonnen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sonnen tries to clinch but Baba is having none of it.
Sonnen misses with a kick to the body.
Sonnen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sonnen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sonnen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Baba checks it well.
Sonnen misses with a body kick.
Baba misses with a low kick.
Baba stuns Sonnen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sonnen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baba.
Sonnen throws a shot from downtown. Baba moves away and avoids it.
Baba feints a counter leg kick.
Sonnen misses with an uppercut.
Sonnen moves out of range of the body kick from Baba.
That kick from Baba tenderised Sonnen's leg. Sonnen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown but Baba shows good takedown defense.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Baba scores with a nice body kick.
Baba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sonnen's sensitive parts.
An inside leg kick lands from Baba.
Sonnen wants to land a leg kick but Baba is out of range.
Baba throws a big counter head kick but Sonnen avoids it with no problem.

Baba drives through and clinches with Sonnen against the cage.
Baba lands with a light punch inside.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baba prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Afeef Isa Baba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baba gets underhooks to prevent Sonnen's takedown attempt.
Sonnen tries a knee to the head but Baba blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
Sonnen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Baba's 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!
Baba prevents Sonnen from breaking the clinch.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Sonnen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Baba blocking some punches.
Baba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Baba tries to throw a body punch but Sonnen avoids it by throwing Baba back against the cage.
Baba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sonnen's elbow.
Sonnen scores with a shoulder strike.
Sonnen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baba pushes Sonnen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baba.

And that's the end of the fight!
Afeef Isa Baba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baba 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 46:49
Judge James Glass scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Afeef Isa Baba!
Afeef Isa Baba is the new welterweight champion!
A relieved looking Afeef Isa Baba thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Dao Sonnen stepped up to the mic, saying 'Wow! He was the fighter I've ever faced, hands down......as he holds up Shin's hand. "That Shin is the best"'.