PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Polo Kimo (ranked 5055 p4p, 5715 weight class) and Ben Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kimo
vs
Sonnen

186 cm
25
189
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
188
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Polo Kimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kimo has closed the distance and engaged Sonnen in a clinch.
Kimo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kimo lands with a left to the head.
Kimo lands a nice uppercut.
Kimo lands a body punch.
Kimo lands a right hand.
Sonnen is trying to drag Kimo to the mat but Kimo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kimo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kimo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kimo misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kimo has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Kimo lands a hook that snaps the head of Sonnen backwards.
Sonnen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kimo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sonnen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kimo is trying to keep an underhook but Sonnen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sonnen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sonnen lands a nice short elbow.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sonnen throwing shots but Kimo is blocking nicely.
Sonnen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kimo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sonnen on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sonnen in particular looking to stall.
Kimo taking some punishment here, with Sonnen in his half guard.
Kimo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kimo tries to get out of the position.
Sonnen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kimo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sonnen.
Kimo is breathing heavily.
Sonnen drops an elbow to the side of Kimo's head.
Kimo is not content to let Sonnen control the position.
Sonnen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sonnen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sonnen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sonnen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kimo keeps working.
Sonnen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sonnen not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Sonnen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen postures up in Kimo's guard and throws a big left but Kimo blocks it.
Kimo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sonnen controls the pace.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kimo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sonnen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kimo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Kimo keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sonnen controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sonnen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sonnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kimo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sonnen is in Kimo's guard.
Sonnen cracks Kimo with a solid left hand.
Sonnen postures up in Kimo's guard and throws a big left but Kimo blocks it.
Sonnen throws a big elbow that misses.
Sonnen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kimo has momentary wrist control but Sonnen slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Kimo blocks nicely.
Sonnen content to stall in guard here.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen throwing strikes from guard but Kimo blocks nicely.
Sonnen lands a couple of elbows.
Sonnen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kimo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sonnen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Kimo keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sonnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kimo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sonnen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kimo did well to prevent Sonnen getting side control.
Ben Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen is keen to just control but Kimo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sonnen passes to side control.
Sonnen working the body and head with strikes.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
Sonnen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kimo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Check out the look on Sonnen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sonnen working the ground and pound.
Sonnen working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with the ground and pound.
Sonnen throws an elbow but Kimo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Kimo is working from the bottom.
Kimo dodges the ground and pound from Sonnen.
Sonnen just content to control the position.
Kimo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sonnen.
Sonnen throws an elbow but Kimo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sonnen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kimo keeps working.
Sonnen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kimo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sonnen.
The strikes coming from Sonnen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sonnen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kimo some visible discomfort.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Kimo is working from the bottom.
Sonnen looks up at the clock and then as Kimo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sonnen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sonnen landing strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kimo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sonnen.
An elbow from Sonnen crashes against the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Sonnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sonnen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kimo on his heels. He'll look to pass Kimo's guard now, I'm sure.
Sonnen throws a big right hand that misses.
Sonnen with a nice head shot there.
Sonnen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sonnen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sonnen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kimo defending against the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen trying to control the action but Kimo is working from the bottom.
Sonnen advances to full mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kimo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sonnen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kimo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sonnen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sonnen unloads with some shots from mount but Kimo bucks and avoids them well.
Sonnen lands a couple of good shots and Kimo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Sonnen lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Sonnen landing with strikes.
Kimo is trapped and Sonnen is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Sonnen has Kimo flattened out and is raining down punches.
Polo Kimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Kimo.

Kimo is rocked!
Sonnen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Oh Kimo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kimo is trapped and Sonnen is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Sonnen punches the canvas rather than the man.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen lands a shot to the head.
Sonnen throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Kimo avoids the strikes from Sonnen.
Kimo covering up well under a series of strikes from Sonnen.
Kimo seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen cracks Kimo with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Kimo from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Kimo is looking for a way out.
Sonnen is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Kimo up.
Sonnen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sonnen somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Sonnen misses with an elbow to the head.
Sonnen punches the canvas rather than the man.
What can Kimo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Sonnen is working the ground and pound. Can Kimo escape?
Sonnen throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Sonnen lands a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimo covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Sonnen misses with punches from the back.
Sonnen lands with a hammerfist to the side of Kimo's head.
Sonnen lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Kimo covers up after that shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Sonnen gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Sonnen gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Sonnen apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Sonnen feints and as Kimo raises his hands in defense, Sonnen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Kimo keeps moving.
Sonnen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Sonnen!