PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Ramero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramero comes to the cage accompanied by The Spade Ramero — Real Thugs. Sonnen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Type 0 Negative Black No .1. Zeke Ramero is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ramero
vs
Sonnen

190 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Canuck Beavermeat Nutrition

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zeke Ramero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ramero as he jumps to the side.
Chael Sonnen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonnen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ramero swivels and escapes.
Ramero shoots in for a takedown but Sonnen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ramero sprawls well. Ramero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Zeke Ramero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.

Ramero shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ramero winds up and cracks Sonnen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ramero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ramero lands strikes from half guard.
Ramero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ramero decides to stand up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramero shoots in looking for a takedown. Sonnen tries to sprawl out of it but Ramero keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sonnen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ramero throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sonnen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramero is looking to clinch.
Ramero tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sonnen swivels and escapes.
Ramero stuffs the takedown attempt from Sonnen. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
A cross from Ramero lands.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ramero as he avoids it easily.

Ramero clinches up against the cage.
Ramero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sonnens head.
Sonnen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ramero fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ramero throws out a powerful jab.
Sonnen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ramero moves into the clinch.
Sonnen looks gassed!

Ramero manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ramero trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ramero on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ramero tries to get out of the position.
Ramero wants to sweep here but Sonnen controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramero is looking to stand up but Sonnen isn't so interested in that idea.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Sonnen forces his way into half guard.
Ramero is staying active underneath Sonnen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ramero punching from the bottom.

Sonnen is trying to work for a kimura but Ramero is defending well.
Sonnen wants to take a breather but Ramero is having none of it.

Sonnen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ramero defends it well.

Sonnen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen works his way into full mount!

Sonnen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ramero wants to control but Sonnen is having none of it.
Sonnen blocks Ramero's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Ramero working to try and regain half guard.

Sonnen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen moves to take his opponent's back.
Ramero is trying to break free.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen doesn't have the hooks in and Ramero manages to turn into his guard.
Ramero lands a couple of elbows.

Sonnen wriggles free and stands up.

Ramero has closed the distance and engaged Sonnen in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ramero looking to stall.
Sonnen looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ramero shoots in looking for a takedown but Sonnen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ramero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ramero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sonnen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ramero is fending him off so far but Sonnen persists. Nope, Ramero circles away and we're back to standing.
Ramero lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Chael Sonnen has been cut.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Ramero circles away easily

so Ramero counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ramero 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.

Sonnen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ramero lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Ramero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zeke Ramero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.

Ramero throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sonnen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ramero is in Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Sonnen wriggles free and stands up.

Ramero shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sonnen is trying to defend but Ramero finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen tries to kick Ramero off but Ramero keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Ramero stands up from half guard.

Ramero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sonnen to the mat! Sonnen manages to get full guard.
Ramero stops Sonnen from standing up.
Ramero wants to stand but Sonnen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zeke Ramero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sonnen pushes Ramero off and gets back to his feet.
Nice cross by Ramero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ramero but Ramero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ramero closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ramero prevents Sonnen from escaping the position.
Ramero connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sonnen some visible discomfort.
Ramero working the ground and pound.
Sonnen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ramero has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ramero knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sonnen on the ground.
Ramero lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sonnen down.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sonnen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ramero cracks Sonnen with a big right hand but Sonnen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ramero cracks Sonnen with a big right hand but Sonnen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramero with the ground and pound but Sonnen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ramero throwing shots but Sonnen is blocking nicely.
Sonnen taking some punishment here, with Ramero in his half guard.
Ramero looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ramero thows a huge punch but Sonnen dodges it nicely.

Sonnen pushes Ramero off and gets back to his feet.
Sonnen has his takedown stuffed

and Ramero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ramero stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ramero jumps guard but Sonnen stands there with Ramero around his waist. Ramero gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sonnen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ramero pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ramero can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Ramero manages to get underhooks.

Ramero breaks from the clinch.
Zeke Ramero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ramero's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ramero duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonnen tries for a takedown but Ramero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ramero is defended easily by Sonnen.
Ramero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ramero shoots in but Sonnen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ramero closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Ramero dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chael 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ramero scores with a head kick. Sonnen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sonnen tries to move into range but Ramero moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ramero stuffs the takedown attempt from Sonnen. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.

Sonnen gets caught flat footed, as Ramero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ramero stands and steps away. Sonnen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Sonnen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sonnen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ramero punching from the bottom.
Ramero is looking to improve his position.
Sonnen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sonnen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonnen has control of Ramero's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ramero regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Sonnen has hold of Ramero's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ramero manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sonnen is looking to work his way around to Ramero's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Ramero is trying desperately to improve position.

Sonnen looking for a guillotine from mount but Ramero is having none of it.
Ramero gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramero trying to control but Sonnen postures up.
Sonnen wants to pass to mount but Ramero is defending the position.
Ramero wants to get back to his feet.

Ramero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sonnen uses his free foot to push down on Ramero's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ramero.
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 working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Ramero looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Sonnen! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Chael Sonnen!