PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Bond (ranked 5990 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chael Sonnen (ranked 5592 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bond
vs
Sonnen

150 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Bond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chael Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bond gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sonnen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sonnen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bond's guard.
Bond wants to sweep here but Sonnen controlling him for the moment.
Bond wants to get back to his feet but Sonnen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bond looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bond pulls Sonnen in close to prevent any damage.
Sonnen won't allow Bond to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bond controls Sonnen momentarily but Sonnen frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sonnen tries to sprawl but Bond drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sonnen tries to kick Bond off in order to stand up. Bond Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Bond decides to stand back up.

Bond bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bond working the head and body with strikes.
Sonnen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonnen pushes Bond off looking to stand but Bond dives back in and keeps control.
Sonnen tries to roll over but Bond keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bond is looking for a kimura but Sonnen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bond to get the leverage.
Bond is breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sonnen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sonnen wants to stand and escape but Bond is having none of it.
Bond trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Bond prevents Sonnen from getting back to his feet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sonnen holds on and takes a little breather.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Let's hope that Sonnen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen fails with the takedown.
Bond tries to land a front kick but Sonnen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bond looks to land a combination but Sonnen avoids it well.
Sonnen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sonnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bond's half guard.
Bond is trying to control but can't.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sonnen is looking for a kimura here.
Bond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonnen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Bond is looking to control Sonnen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bond avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chael Sonnen will probably get the nod.
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.

Bond scores with a takedown into Sonnen's guard.
Sonnen is wriggling around but Bond manages to pass to half guard.
Sonnen is trying to stand back up but Bond is controlling him
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bond connects with a nice short shot to Sonnen's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bond is pressing down on Sonnen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sonnen is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bond is working away from the top position though.
Bond is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen controls Bond momentarily but Bond frees himself.
Bond trying to control but Sonnen is working from the bottom.
Bond works over Sonnen with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bond's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bond stays in close to Sonnen's body and controls the position.

Sonnen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sonnen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Bond has passed into half guard!
Bond tries to pass to full mount but Sonnen defends it.
Sonnen pushes Bond off looking to stand but Bond dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is looking for a sweep. Bond is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonnen wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sonnen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bond manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sonnen gets a double leg takedown into Bond's guard.
Sonnen is breathing heavily.
Bond looking to control.
Bond really is a fat lump.
Bond looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sonnen is one step ahead there.
Bond trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sonnen wants to pass the guard but Bond is keeping the position.
Sonnen lands a couple of digs.
Bond is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sonnen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sonnen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bond dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sonnen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bond paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sonnen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bond to the mat! Bond manages to get full guard.

Bond is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sonnen is aware though and is defending well.
Sonnen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sonnen won't allow Bond to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sonnen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sonnen preventing the sweep.
Bond trying to keep a closed guard but Sonnen is proving a slippery customer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bond wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bond is looking to clinch but Sonnen is avoiding it.
Sonnen lands a two punch combo.
Sonnen throws a right and a left that both miss.

Sonnen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sonnen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sonnen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bond is aware though and is defending well.
Sonnen looking for a sweep. Not yet Sonnen, not yet.
Chael Sonnen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonnen working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bond won't allow Sonnen to get back to his feet.
Bond stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonnen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bond stopping the sweep attempt from Sonnen.
Sonnen scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bond shoots in but no luck this time.

Bond shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bond showed some decent athleticism there.

Sonnen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bond is looking for a counter combo.
Sonnen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bond manages to avoid it.

Bond scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bond trying to control from Sonnen's half guard. Sonnen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sonnen managing to control the position.
Sonnen wants to stand up but Bond is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bond trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonnen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bond is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sonnen keeping moving, preventing Bond from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bond wanted to stand there but Sonnen had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chael Sonnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Chael Sonnen!

Chael Sonnen wins by unanimous decision!