PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Burroughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chael Sonnen struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Chael Sonnen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burroughs
vs
Sonnen

194 cm
26
194 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
26
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jordan Burroughs !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen tries to clinch up
and Burroughs counters with a stiff right hand.
Burroughs with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sonnen counters with a one-two to the body.
Burroughs shoots in but Sonnen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burroughs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Burroughs . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burroughs throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Burroughs gets a double leg takedown into Sonnen's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sonnen controlling the position.
Burroughs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sonnen's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sonnen controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen keeping full guard, as Burroughs tries to pass.
Sonnen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Burroughs is one step ahead there.
Burroughs tries to stand but Sonnen is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chael Sonnen.
Burroughs cracks Sonnen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch but Burroughs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sonnen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Burroughs wants to control but Sonnen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burroughs is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sonnen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Sonnen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sonnen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sonnen stuffs the takedown attempt from Burroughs . Burroughs gets slowly back to his feet.

Sonnen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burroughs is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sonnen misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Burroughs is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sonnen grinds an elbow into Burroughs 's temple.
Burroughs wants to control but Sonnen postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burroughs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Burroughs tries to get out of the position.
Sonnen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sonnen is putting a hurting on Burroughs here, landing some big shots from side control.
Burroughs tries to buck Sonnen off but Sonnen is having none of it.
Burroughs tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
You can see the frustration on Burroughs 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sonnen decides to stand back up. Sonnen steps back and let's Burroughs get back to his feet.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burroughs wants to stand and escape but Sonnen is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burroughs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sonnen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chael Sonnen dominated that round.
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.

Burroughs fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonnen sprawls well initially but Burroughs persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Burroughs is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sonnen moves into full guard.

Sonnen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burroughs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Burroughs tries to free his leg and advance position but Sonnen is retaining full guard.
Burroughs trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burroughs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Burroughs advances position into side control!

Burroughs wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sonnen, who protects the arm well.

Burroughs decides to stand back up. Burroughs steps back and let's Sonnen get back to his feet.
Burroughs throws a nice looking combination but Sonnen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burroughs 's half guard.
Burroughs tries to get to full guard but Sonnen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burroughs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Sonnen seems content to control.
Burroughs tries to roll over but Sonnen keeps him under control.
Sonnen is looking to take a break and control but Burroughs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burroughs trying to control but Sonnen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burroughs looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sonnen in particular looking to stall.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Sonnen decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sonnen gets a double leg takedown into Burroughs 's guard.
Burroughs keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.

Burroughs working for a triangle but Sonnen defends it easily.
Burroughs trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burroughs has a closed guard, preventing Sonnen from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch but Burroughs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonnen has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burroughs pinned against the cage. Burroughs gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burroughs .
Burroughs looks to land a combination. Sonnen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Burroughs looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sonnen!

Burroughs stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Burroughs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sonnen circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burroughs pinned against the cage. Burroughs gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sonnen has a takedown stuffed.
Jordan Burroughs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burroughs with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sonnen counters by moving into the clinch.
Burroughs is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sonnen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Burroughs jumps guard but Sonnen stands there with Burroughs around his waist. Burroughs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Burroughs letting Sonnen take a breather here.

Sonnen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Burroughs can't fight it off and eventually Sonnen manages to take the fight to the floor. Burroughs looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burroughs trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.

Burroughs looking for a guillotine here but Sonnen defends easily.
Sonnen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burroughs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sonnen wants to control from the top but Burroughs keeps moving.
Burroughs has control of Sonnen's left arm, preventing Sonnen from doing any damage.
Burroughs trying to control the position.
Sonnen content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Burroughs 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. Burroughs is in Sonnen's guard.
Burroughs postures up.
Burroughs wants to control from the top but Sonnen keeps moving.
Sonnen is trying to keep Burroughs in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonnen wants to sweep but no luck.
Jordan Burroughs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chael Sonnen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Burroughs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Burroughs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan Burroughs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sonnen 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Chael Sonnen!