This is the UFC 109 live blog for Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen, a middleweight bout on tonight's pay-per-view card.
Marquardt and Sonnen fight to determine the next title challenger. The winner here will face the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort.
The live blog begins below.
Round 1: Marquardt opens with a front kick and Sonnen almost catches it. Sonnen with rights and he's looking straight for the takedown. He clinches and exits with a left uppercut. Sonnen scores the takedown at 4:18. Marquardt with an arm-in guillotine and Sonnen pops out. Sonnen drops punches and elbows. The elbows are getting through and Marquardt is bleeding. Marquardt eventually kicks out. Marquardt gets up and lands a flying knee. Sonnen forces Marquardt down. Sonnen drops brutal left elbows followed by right punches. Marquardt kicks him off seconds before bell. Sonnen dominated on the ground against Marquardt, who wasn't active from his guard.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Sonnen.
Round 2: Sonnen gets the double-leg seven seconds in. Sonnen ground and pounds. Marquardt attempts a kimura. Sonnen escapes. Lots of blood pouring on Marquardt, but it's coming from Sonnen. It was from Marquardt's elbows off his back. Sonnen pounds and Marquardt looks for a leglock. Sonnen has Marquardt's back and continues pounding away. Sonnen controls and scores points with strikes. Marquardt slips out to his feet. Sonnen puts him right back on the ground. Sonnen rams elbows.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Sonnen.
Round 3: Marquardt goes for the takedown but Sonnen defends. Sonnen takes him down. Sonnen with more ground and pound. Marquardt gets to his feet and Sonnen drags him to his knees. Marquardt rolls but ends up on his back. Marquardt back to his feet with under two minutes left. Marquardt lands a knee. Sonnen shoots and Marquardt grabs a guillotine and ... Sonnen escapes. There's 90 seconds left. Marquardt rolls Sonnen down with 53 seconds left. That's the time Marquardt has to finish Sonnen if he wants to win. Marquardt lands a few punches, but it won't be enough.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Sonnen.
Impressive performance by Sonnen. He completely outwrestled and pounded Marquardt to basically guarantee himself a title shot against the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort.
Sonnen wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Marquardt and Sonnen fight to determine the next title challenger. The winner here will face the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort.
The live blog begins below.
Round 1: Marquardt opens with a front kick and Sonnen almost catches it. Sonnen with rights and he's looking straight for the takedown. He clinches and exits with a left uppercut. Sonnen scores the takedown at 4:18. Marquardt with an arm-in guillotine and Sonnen pops out. Sonnen drops punches and elbows. The elbows are getting through and Marquardt is bleeding. Marquardt eventually kicks out. Marquardt gets up and lands a flying knee. Sonnen forces Marquardt down. Sonnen drops brutal left elbows followed by right punches. Marquardt kicks him off seconds before bell. Sonnen dominated on the ground against Marquardt, who wasn't active from his guard.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Sonnen.
Round 2: Sonnen gets the double-leg seven seconds in. Sonnen ground and pounds. Marquardt attempts a kimura. Sonnen escapes. Lots of blood pouring on Marquardt, but it's coming from Sonnen. It was from Marquardt's elbows off his back. Sonnen pounds and Marquardt looks for a leglock. Sonnen has Marquardt's back and continues pounding away. Sonnen controls and scores points with strikes. Marquardt slips out to his feet. Sonnen puts him right back on the ground. Sonnen rams elbows.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Sonnen.
Round 3: Marquardt goes for the takedown but Sonnen defends. Sonnen takes him down. Sonnen with more ground and pound. Marquardt gets to his feet and Sonnen drags him to his knees. Marquardt rolls but ends up on his back. Marquardt back to his feet with under two minutes left. Marquardt lands a knee. Sonnen shoots and Marquardt grabs a guillotine and ... Sonnen escapes. There's 90 seconds left. Marquardt rolls Sonnen down with 53 seconds left. That's the time Marquardt has to finish Sonnen if he wants to win. Marquardt lands a few punches, but it won't be enough.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Sonnen.
Impressive performance by Sonnen. He completely outwrestled and pounded Marquardt to basically guarantee himself a title shot against the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort.
Sonnen wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)