PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carey Mahoney (ranked 493 p4p, 77 weight class) and Dao Sonnen (ranked 350 p4p, 52 weight class). Sonnen has chosen The Devil's Doorbell as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Dao Sonnen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mahoney
vs
Sonnen

185 cm
26
180 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

183 cm
38
170 lbs
38 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carey Mahoney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dao Sonnen!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonnen lands a high kick!
Jab, jab by Mahoney - just one landing.
Mahoney connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sonnen. Sonnen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mahoney darts in trying to clinch
and Sonnen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mahoney tries to clinch but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sonnen misses with a body shot.
A cross from Sonnen lands.
Sonnen staying out of range there.
Sonnen throws a body kick that misses.
As Sonnen tries to get set, Mahoney tries to push him back and clinch up but Sonnen manages to avoid the attempt.
Sonnen wants to land a leg kick but Mahoney is out of range.
Mahoney throws a body punch but Sonnen moves out of range.

Sonnen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sonnen lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sonnen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahoney is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonnen stays in close to Mahoney's body and controls the position.
Mahoney knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sonnen on the ground.
Sonnen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonnen looking to sit in guard and control but Mahoney gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sonnen pulls Mahoney in close to prevent any damage.
Sonnen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mahoney manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonnen tries to free his leg and advance position but Mahoney is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sonnen tries to get to full guard but Mahoney has control of the leg.
Mahoney is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sonnen trying to control but Mahoney postures up.

Sonnen actively working from the bottom here.
Mahoney prevents Sonnen from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sonnen looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Mahoney pushes past his half guard into mount!
Sonnen is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen is squirming around, avoiding Mahoney's attempts to control the action.
Sonnen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sonnen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sonnen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sonnen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mahoney's guard.

Sonnen looking to pass the guard.
Mahoney keeping moving, preventing Sonnen from controlling successfully.
Sonnen is looking to advance position but Mahoney has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Mahoney tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dao Sonnen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sonnen connects with a body shot that sends Mahoney's belly button to the back.
The fighters circling - Mahoney throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mahoney tries to clinch there but Sonnen circles away.
Mahoney swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sonnen.

Sonnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mahoney tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sonnen is in Mahoney's guard.

Mahoney pushes Sonnen off and scrambles back to his feet.
Decent striking displayed by Sonnen there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mahoney tries to clinch up but Sonnen circles away and keeps his distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mahoney throws a hook but Sonnen avoids it easily.
Mahoney has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mahoney there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sonnen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mahoney.
Sonnen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mahoney's head backwards.
Dao Sonnen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mahoney looks to land a left hand but Sonnen moved out of range nicely.
Sonnen throws out a counter right but Mahoney avoids it with no problem.
A telegraphed right hand from Sonnen misses the target.
Mahoney scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Dao Sonnen has been cut.
Mahoney has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahoney ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sonnen moves away.
Mahoney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mahoney lands with a shot to the body.
Mahoney takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mahoney stuffs the takedown attempt from Sonnen. Sonnen gets slowly back to his feet.
Carey Mahoney is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Sonnen.
Sonnen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A slow jab from Sonnen misses its intended target.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
Mahoney moves out of range as Sonnen throws a body kick.
Carey Mahoney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mahoney tries to clinch up but Sonnen circles away and keeps his distance.
Sonnen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sonnen misses with a right hand

and Mahoney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A body shot lands from Sonnen.
Sonnen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sonnen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney stalls.
Sonnen jumps guard but Mahoney stands there with Sonnen around his waist. Sonnen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mahoney has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Sonnen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sonnen is looking to break free of the clinch but Mahoney has double underhooks.
Mahoney misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sonnen lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mahoney throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mahoney pushes off an throws an elbow but Sonnen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sonnen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mahoney blocking some punches.
Sonnen lands a hook that snaps the head of Mahoney backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Sonnen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sonnen.
Mahoney misses with some punches.
Mahoney doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mahoney doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mahoney lands a knee to the head.
Mahoney blocks an uppercut.
Mahoney blocking some punches.
Sonnen misses with some punches.
Sonnen jumps guard but Mahoney stands there with Sonnen around his waist. Sonnen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carey Mahoney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dao Sonnen.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mahoney.
Sonnen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney scores with a knee to the head.
Sonnen tries to throw a body punch but Mahoney avoids it by throwing Sonnen back against the cage.
Sonnen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mahoney backwards.
Sonnen misses with the head strike.
Mahoney prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Mahoney tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sonnen's elbow.
Mahoney digs a right hand underneath Sonnen's ribcage. Sonnen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mahoney.
Sonnen misses with a punch on the inside.
Mahoney goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Sonnen pulls guard.
Carey Mahoney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mahoney controlling from the top position.

Sonnen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mahoney is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dao Sonnen 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! This is the final round!

Mahoney scores with a jab.
Sonnen keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Sonnen finds it's way through Mahoney's defenses.
Mahoney misses with an uppercut. Sonnen saw that one coming.
Sonnen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sonnen sizes up Mahoney with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mahoney moves in looking to clinch but Sonnen pushes him off.
A nice side step and Sonnen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mahoney drops his hands momentarily and Sonnen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mahoney swings for the body but Sonnen moves out of range.
Sonnen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sonnen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mahoney tries to close the distance and clinch but Sonnen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mahoney blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mahoney fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonnen, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
Mahoney has a couple of punches blocked by Sonnen.
Mahoney lands with a right to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonnen misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.
Sonnen tries to pull guard but Mahoney holds him up against the cage and eventually Sonnen drops back down to his feet.
Mahoney is working Sonnen over against the cage.
Mahoney blocking some punches.
Mahoney blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sonnen slows down the pace here.
A head punch on the inside from Sonnen fails to land.

Sonnen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mahoney takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sonnen swats away the attempt to clinch by Mahoney.
Sonnen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Carey Mahoney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahoney closes the distance and pushes Sonnen back into the cage.
Mahoney blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mahoney blocking some punches.

Mahoney breaks from the clinch.

Sonnen closes the distance and clinches.
Mahoney blocks a body shot from Sonnen.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Sonnen breaks from the clinch.

Mahoney moves into the clinch.
Sonnen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sonnen blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen managing to block the knees to the body from Mahoney.
Sonnen can't find room to land a body shot as Mahoney controls the action.
Sonnen blocking some punches.
Sonnen lands a shot to the body.
Sonnen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sonnen has a couple of punches blocked by Mahoney.
Sonnen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sonnen misses with a punch on the inside.
Sonnen scores with a shot to the side of Mahoney's head.
Mahoney lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mahoney misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mahoney lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sonnen struggles to land a body shot inside as Mahoney controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonnen misses with a knee to the head.
Mahoney looking to stall.
Mahoney goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mahoney prevents a body shot from Sonnen.
Sonnen misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Sonnen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sonnen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mahoney as Sonnen tries to tie him up.
Mahoney tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mahoney throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Sonnen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mahoney throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dao 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dao Sonnen!
A victorious Dao Sonnen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.