UFC on Fox 2: Chael Sonnen defeats Michael Bisping via unanimous decision
Posted on January 28, 2012, 08:33 PM by Joey SantosusChael Sonnen has cemented his place as number-one contender, defeating Michael Bisping to earn his long awaited rematch with reigning Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
As the fight got underway, Sonnen's strategy was immediately evident: take the Brit to the mat. Despite finding mixed results with doing so throughout the first two-rounds of the bout, keeping Bisping there was proving harder said than done for Sonnen. Able to quickly regain his footing following each takedown, Bisping looked to score points of his own, controlling Sonnen against the cage, as the two fighters exchanged short punches in the clinch.
It wasn't until the last round that Sonnen was finally able to put Bisping on his back for any extended period of time. As the Wolfslair product attempted to break free, Sonnen seized the opportunity to take his back before transitioning to full mount, where he was able to control Bisping for much of the final minutes.
Though closely contested, Sonnen comes away with a unanimous decision victory and will now await Silva's recovery. Though there has not yet been a date confirmed, the Brazilian is expected to return sometime in June.
Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
Bisping Won That Fight!!!
See how the fights mysteriously turn out a certain way if it's in danas best interest?
Rampage got robbed so that forrest could legitimize the ultimate fighter. Hammill got robbed so that bisping could make british MMA look good. Shogun robbed so that UFC could have an undefeated champion back when Dana was still concerned about fedor. Franklin getting robbed so that TUF would have more hype as henderson went up against bisping....
Lol the silva rematch though, guess there's alot of embarrassment coming from nuthuggers that thought chaels awesomeness came from anything other than steroids and lucky timing.
I completely agree, Angeles. Bisping just got a new fan.
That was a clear win for Sonnen !
all people saying Bisping won are so easy manipulated by Joe Rogans comments, you have to have a mind of your own.
Think , analyze and see the fight itself
Sonnen got the takedowns the GnP the full mount , submission attemp , Bisping just land a few weak punches on the stand up and hold Chael Lil bit on the fence in the 1st and a lil longer on the 2nd round on the fence, you call that winning??
I guess people who claim holding someone on the fence a few minutes during a fight is winning are the same that the One who claims that getting fire from the best paying job on TV is also winning
really bad commentating from Rogan.
and to be honest really bad Main Card also.
the only good fighter that shine tonight was Cub Swanson.
You're a bit dilusional. I think it was a very close fight. Yes Sonnen had more takedowns but only did anything with them in the 3rd round which should count no more than the fact that Bisping dominated the first to rounds for position and strikes which actually do damage. I gave the nod to Bisping knowing it was a close fight and the fact he turned the only significant circumstance Sonnen had in the whole fight around to take the top was a sighn of the next 2 rounds going to Bisping as well. The judge who scored 30-27 is a mockiery to his own legitimacy. I and everyone else thought Sonnen would steamroll Bisping and we all on a boat that was sailing on his performance over Stann. I don't like either of these guys and picked Sonnen to win but I feel I was handed my pick.
Oh and when ure at mount in the third round, and behind on points, 9 of 10 mma fighters would go for a tko, and what did chael do?, he went for punches to the body.. wow
well, he wasn't behind on points though. Also, sonnen won that fight. I think the surprise factor made people feel bisping won, where in reality, he basically did nothing the whole fight. Landed a few knees on the fence, and they landed more or less equally on the feet.
The only significant things that happened that fight was chaels takedowns, gnp, and positioning control.
Courtes
Fighters try to punch to soften guys up that are defending the choke so they can sink it in....any mma fan would know that.
Welcome to the sport, you must be new
@tatmutz- Chael dictated where the fight took place!?! So, at some point in the fight, did this little exchange happen?
Sonnen: Bisping! Push me against the fence and hold me here dammit!
Bisping: But I don't wanna wrestle, I wanna strike....
Sonnen: NO COMPLAINTS! Clinch me now, you British weakling!
**two minutes later**
Bisping: Uhh.... can I let go now? The fans are starting to boo....
Sonnen: WHAT!?! INCONCEIVABLE!!
**Sonnen pushes Bisping off**
Sonnen: (to crowd) ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!
Bisping: You're so cool Uncle Chael!
I agree about the Rogan comment but that fight could have gone either way. I don't like Bisping but was thought he was gonna be given the first two rounds.
It's nothing to do with Joe Rogan's comments, what you talking about think for yourself? This was a fight bro, and Bisping did more damage I don't care what you say... The one round that Chael won, I don't recall him landing one solid shot to Bisping? Bisping controlled the majority of the first 2 and landed some decent shots. Bisping has been severely mugged off
http://media.photobucket.com/image/haters gonna hate/seansheehan/haters-gonna-hate.jpg?o=26
no it sucks but Chael did win cause it was close before the take downs
but was an ugly ass fight neither fought like they did there last fight not even close,... both head butted the crap out of each other in the clinch..
looked like two guys in high school fighting over the chic who gave it up
the most.....punch any way u can and just keep going forward was a UGLY fight...... Bisping did great or looked great against Miller and Akiyama with his punches the Foreman way where he jabs with the straight followed without the jab even hitting yet real fast and Chael with Stann good wrestling great defence but 2nite was ???? i dont know
I do Know if either one fought Silva like that would be a short night
and Chael its not even selling a fight he just looks and sounds like a DUMBASS now at first was funny now is just way to much pray that Silva
knock him back to reality
@Angeles0
stop doing drugs i know you might think
is cool , but actually that shit is for losers
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Above The Influence.
strikes takedown subbmisions pass
sonnen 40 4 0 2
bisping 30 1 0 0
Close fight and not a good one, bisping off course the better punches, sonnen edged it out !
Man he did so well against AS wonder why Chael got so tired so quick and had such a hard time with Bisping who isnt even on anderson's level!!! Oh wait he was on steroids when he fought AS see what PED do Lol
All Jokes aside though..Seeing sonnen fight tonight he should be easy work for AS! Chael's Stand-Up is way more terrible then i thought!!!
And chem trails are sterilizing us all to keep the population under 500 000 people in the master plan of the Freemasons to establish the New World Order right?
@Nemesis
Dana said he thought bisping won....whether someone is going to say its another conspiracy theory to make himself look innocent....thats another story.
Sonnen edged out the 1st round with takedowns, didnt do much but landed some GnP. 2nd round was definitely Bisping. 3rd round definitely went to Sonnen.
29-28 in my book. judge that said 30-27 for Sonnen obviously wasnt watching the 2nd round much.
I will agree that Sonnen didnt look good, but maybe Bisping just has extremely underrated TDD, Idk. If Silva can stuff TD's like bisping. Sonnen will have a rough title fight.
I can accept a reasonable point of view like that.
As much as I dislike how the UFC does business this is not the UFC its America and its love for wrestling.
Umm I think your on the wrong website! Theres Alot of conspriracy sites out there im sure you'd fit right in Lol!!!
51 there's some fluoride water with your name on it somewhere..
Chael, the so called judges just set you up for failure. Fortunately for you, Anderson Silva will put you out of your misery very soon.
how the **** did 1 judge score it 30-27? Sure, Chael got some takedowns, did **** all with them though. very close fight, could have gone either way.
He probably scored it 30-27 Bisping and Bruce Buffer fvcked up! That's the only explanation that makes even the remotest amount of sense. Bisping looked excellent and Chael looked like dog crap tonight, if this Chael shows up against Anderson he's going to get raped.
Ok...but 30-27 for Bisping is just as dumb as 30-27 for Sonnen, if not dumber. The third round was the most clearly won round of the fight by a lot.
I think both fighters had a good pace, as of the 3 rounds they fought it's a little hard to choose a clear winner but Bisping won that fight in my books.
Either way silva would win.
im with slickrick cheal may have won but i didnt see anythnig to make it 30 to 27 was close fight. rematch will be fun
......rematch?!
sonnen act is causing him to fight poorly, Enough with the fake belts and the bullshit now its time to fight!
I was going for chael in this fight, but imo he did not win that fight bisping landed more clear shots, go rite back up from the takedowns and was controlling him.
OMG Cat, Bisping got screwed big time! I didn't like that guy before, but I feel damn sorry for him! It may well have been his last chance to get into a title fight...
Close fight. Think Sonnen won it.
If Bisping's name would have been called out I wouldnt be calling it a robbery.
Close fights can not be robbery's.
You guys use that term way too much.
Hendo/Shogun. Rampage/Machida. I wanted Shogun to win but I would never call that fight a robbery. It was way too close.
Again I am finding you very reasonable. I think Bisping got the Nod but i am only truly angry at the Judge who scored 30-27.
That 30-27 seems to happen alot when a fighter gets robbed. it's almost like a judge is trying to outright tell everyone he was paid for.
I've always gotten the impression that a 30-27 fight is just the judge not scoring any rounds until the fight is finished. Then they just mark every round a 10-9 for the fighter they feel won the whole fight. It's a bad idea to do this though, because a very good performance in the 3rd round can sway the judge's view to the point where he turns what should be a 29-28 victory into a 30-27 loss.
I thought Bisping was the better fighter, but wasn't surprised by the decision.
Chael clearly won the third round and his takedowns in the first were enough to convince the judges, even though he didn't do much with them.
But 30-27? Anyone who gave them the second round must have been watching a different fight.
not "them", I meant "him"
rough night for the ufc in front of a multitude of new fans, poor performances all round and no finishes, plus you can imagine new fans asking each other how the hell did chael win that 30-27, does not make sense
New fans wouldnt really be able to critique it much. I doubt any controversy talk will come from new fans without an old fan telling them it was.
Dudes,dudes,dudes! Sonnen won,but its obvious he had no growth hormone in his gatoraid this time!Close fight,the ref should have stood them up alot faster (as they should generally) but hey-Bisping will get his chance cause Chael isabout 2 step in2 the Spuders Webamundo!!
I thought Chael would win this fight and picked him.....however i call the fight like i see it and i hate robberies....that was a robbery. Bisping won that fight, got the first 2 rounds with more control and strikes. 3rd round was Chael's but Bisping did well to get out of tough positions and ended up being in the dominant position when he final round ended
Chael landed more shots and had more takedowns. The only thing Bisping did better was hold Sonnen against the cage.
According to Compustrike, Bisping out-landed Sonnen 109-81...
Quote from Chael Sonnen on the strikes Bisping landed: "I was surprised about everything," Sonnen said. "Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round I didn't even know what day it was. I remember when I came to, looking at him and thinking, 'Oh my God, you have no idea how bad you hurt me or you would step in and do something about it.' "
Apparently Bisping landed way better power shots. I never saw him get even close to rocked against Sonnen. And grats on Chael's poker face.during the fight.
Funny, FightMetric says
Sonnen actually outlanded Bisping in both total strikes (135-102) and significant strikes (40-30).
Bisping landed more head strikes though (80-79).
Sonnen landed 4 takedowns to Bisping's 1
This should clear up all the robbery accusations. Rogan was surprised Bisping did better then expected and it muddled his judgment and made him say Bisping was winning, which in turn inceptioned you guys.
Considering even different professional sites couldn't agree on the decision, I think it's fair to say people are justified in disagreeing. The fundamentals of what to score on are laid out, but there's no hard rubric for how to scorem meaning there's even disagreements between the judges, seen whenever there is a split decision of any kind.
Here's the question you ask to determine the outcome of this fight in the judges' minds: How much is a takedown worth? Answer that question and you explain the decision.
Oh, and believe it or not, many of us watch UFC in a sports bar and can't even hear Joe Rogan during the fights, and we still came to the same conclusion. Then again, so did Chael before he heard the decision.
Maybe this fight is similar to Guida vs. Pettis...Unanimous decision is bs. Also, Bisping was a better fighter tonight.
Yeah Bisping is a better fighter than we gave him credit for.
Better fighter than Chael? Nah. He did well though
You cannot give fight for Bisbing, Chael scored takedowns and landed more shots even at standing, Chael was the agressor, Bisbing won the clinch... And fight wasn't boring at all they both constantly working, Chael is very intresting to watch he so hard working
Bisping landed more shots.
Weird...fightmetric and compustrike say Sonnen outstruck Bisping every round?
I don't need notoriously inaccurate analysis sites to tell me who out struck who. I have eyes.
You know what is even more notoriously inaccurate? The fans who think Bisping got robbed.
Close fight, I saw Bisping outlanding Chael in the 2nd, saw Chael outlanding in the 3rd.
1st was pretty even but saw Chael landing more, and even visibly hurting Bisping.
A site that goes back to the fight and watches in slow motion tallying every strike is a lot more reliable than what you thought you saw in real time.
I don't think they go back a nd rewatch in slow mo since they post the results as soon as the fight ends so they wouldn't have time for that.
Compustrike definitely doesn't considering their results are posted as soon as the round ends. Not sure about fight metric though.
Not impressed by Sonnens performance....he will get manhandled in his next figth.
Yeah, I agree with the majority on this one. I had Chael in the picks but Bisping clearly won that fight. Before this fight I had Bisping in the top 20. I am not sure this fight lands him in the top 10 because the only time Chael ever looked amazing he was roid raging but it definitely makes me reconsider where Bisping ranks.
You agree with the majority here. The majority online agree with the judges.
Chael looked like poo. Bisping did well, certainly enough to get a split decision at least. That looked nothing like the Sonnen that nearly beat Silva and made short work of Stann.
I think Chael is in real trouble with Anderson now, his stand up looked terrible tonight and if the dude can't dominate Bisping in the wrestling department then he literally has nothing going for him when he travels to Brazil. Bisping deserves some respect for his performance and it also shows you how over hyped Stann was...
Great observation dude.
Both you guys dont know shit.... How do you figure tha because chael couldnt dominate Bisping with wrestling he will now be in trouble with Silva. obviously you didnt see ufc117. Silva is just as concern as before because of their last fight and how he was dominated by chael.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I think Ed Soares just called Dana on speed dial to set it up. I still think if Chael barely beat a 5 year girl Anderson would not want to fight Chael because he doesn't like cheaters getting ahead. I think this fight was a picture that resounds with the obvious factors of their first fight.
I agree that Stann was over hyped to much, but Bisping is underratted way too much!
I certainly underrated him. I will move him up now.
I had Bisping winning the first two rounds! i think Bisping deserves another shot at a fight to get the winner of Silva vs Sonnen.
Bisping won that. **** Dana. Oh well, Anderson is going to school him hard this time around.
Thank God your not a judge......
I thought Sonnen did win. but i cant believe how Bisbing has improved. Wasnt as easy as Sonnen thought. But will defininitly have to improve for AS.
I agree, i watched the fight 3 times, & sonnen for sure had rounds 1 & 3. Bispings stand up wasnt all that good as usual. (honestly chael landed just as many, or almost as much) for joe rogan to claim bisping to take round 1 was wild. bisping basically defended himself that round, he had no serious offense, where chael did get 2 takedowns and landed some shots while he got him grounded.
Bisping actually landed some pretty good shots in the first, and Chael did almost nothing with the takedowns. It was really a war for control the whole first round, and I could easily see a judge scoring it 10-10.
The first salvo on the ground saw Sonnen land 4 or 5 hard shots on the ground while Bisping was trying to move.
How is it wild that Rogan thought he won the 1st, Chael even said he thought Bisping won! Bisping out-landed Sonnen 109-81in the striking.
Rampage thought he lost the forrest fight, until he viewed it. so that means nothing about who won the fight. as for the compustrike stats, i said chael landed as many or almost as much so for a 109-81 landing strike difference is not a big difference. in the 1st round bisping did nothing but defend, what did he seriously do that backs rogan point of view in round 1 that over shadowed the 2 takedowns chael did & the agreesiveness.
What site are you looking at to get 109-81? Compustrike and Fight Metric both disagree.
Neeeeevermind. Just saw Compustrike, my mistake. Gotta wonder how one site that is supposed to tally stats see it so differently than another doing the same thing.
My mistake fine sir.
People say bisping was robbed but no one explains how he won rd. 1 in a significant matter. Bisping did a great job imo, but I felt sonnen did truly edge him out that fight.
All these guys posti.g comment dont know crap...Bisping was continously moving backwards...watch the fight again morons. Unfortunately in MMA takedowns are worth points...Chael had I think at least 2per round. Chael was moving forward and pushing the pace. No one really landed any great shots or scored substantial points on their feet. Thats the thing that Anderson couldnt deal with, chael pushed the pace and rushed him, thus taking him down. Anderson had a tougher time getting up than Bisping.
Anderson faced a mutant Sonnen and had injured ribs. Everyone was wondering why Anderson was throwing sloppy strikes and flailing with no accuracy. He faced the same situation with Dan Henderson in R1 but his strikes were still hitting the mark and he was not all over the place with Dan. That fight was a blue moon event.
Bisping was moving backwards but he was also picking Chael apart. He Machida'd in round one. That is how he won.
He was picking him apart. Ask Chael.
"I was surprised about everything," Sonnen said. "Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round I didn't even know what day it was. I remember when I came to, looking at him and thinking, 'Oh my God, you have no idea how bad you hurt me or you would step in and do something about it.' "
Oh so were believing the guy that just in the past week said: " I stole the belt (the fake belt he's holding) like a thief in the night)".
Plus just because he rocked him once, doesn't mean he picked him apart.
I wonder how Chael's dad would feel about Chael's mouthy actions as of late??........
But talking obviously goes a long way arounnnd here
Bisping won that ...Chael might have taken him down but he couldn't make it pay on the ground....Bisping didnt take any damage and infact inflicted more on Sonnen each time he was taken down.....I think the re- match with Silva and Sonnen was on the judges minds in this fight.....business is business.....right at the end of the fight Bisping gained top position and had just started to elbow Sonnen another minute and Bisping would have stopped Sonnen....i could see defeat in Sonnens eyes...he had had enough and at the decision he knew it too.
Who was on the defensive? Do you know what MMA is?
no i think that if someone takes you down and takes more damage themselves in doing so then its a bit stupid to take you down in the first place.....Sonnen won the fight because the judges ,DW and evryone else involved wants Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2.
By the way its not my fault that you are not very bright.
You're one of those fans who thought Bisping had no answer for Wanderlei too, aren't you?
Bisping did lose to Wanderlei, and he almost got K'd twice.
true that!
Well he didnt have much of an answer. 2nd round...2 seconds from being choked out, saved by the bell. Then at the last seconds of the final round Wandi rocked Sisping again.
Sissping has no answer for a heavy handed Wandi. Wanderlie should have rushed him from the start and got the KO.
The taliban must have bad reception over there.
Duuuudes I think Sonnen is douche bag numero uno,but by todays standards in UFC judging he won.Everythings wrestling based and he scored take downs in every round.Remember the Rumble Belford fight?They stood them up rapitamundo!thats how they have 2 do it dudes and the game will be much more exciting!The bottom line is he didnt dominate like everyone thought he would cause like I said b4 The Count is a British Bruiser.The Spider,without cracked ribs and Sonen off roids is gonna be alot like the fight against the japanese dude-a wipe out
This wasn't Sonnen looking bad people this was Bisping looking great, there is little doubt that Bispings takedown defense is MUCH better then that of Anderson. That isn't even an opinion just an objective fact.
Great point.
I'm not gonna say the decision was completely bull, but I think bisping was the better fighter tonight. The first 2 rounds were for Bisping imo. Either way Chael is an idiot for acting like he's superamazing after winning a decision that even the biggest chael fans would admit was arguable.
@Nemesis
with silva of course
typical sonnen win. no good punches, no submissions, no good strikes on the ground just holding his opponent until the fights over and not even that this time....
and this was a cloooose decision...
I dont know what people see in this guy....
I don't know if it's so much they like Sonnen as they want someone to beat Silva, and Sonnen came closer to doing it than anyone else.
Honestly though, early blitzing and strong wrestling seem to be the only weaknesses Silva has at this stage in his career. Bisping showed he's even stronger in the clinch than Sonnen tonight, so it might not be completely unthinkable that Bisping could beat Silva if he came with Chael's gameplan. The odds would still be stacked against him, to be sure, but this fight makes it seem like it could possibly happen.
Chael didn't look good at all. Jeremy Horn would have subbed him last night.
This is fight is another reason why I think all main card fights should be 5 rounds, and title fights should be 7 rounds. This was too close of a fight and should have gone on longer to get a more clearly defined winner. I thought Bisbing won that fight myself. Sonnen looked shaky to say the least and I hope Silva invites Bisbing to his training camp. lol The judge who gave 3 rds to Sonnen needs to give his head a shake. Is Dana gonna be the new Don King? Its kinda suspicous the way some fights are scored. Definite huge paydays for all in the Silva/Sonnen rematch.
Sonnen was lucky
Bisping was not defending the entire fight, he was COUNTERSTRIKING.
Bisping did a good job realistically, but fight metric said sonnen outstruck him. (which i was surprised, cause i thought compustrike was accurate) the 2nd round bisping for sure counterstriked throughout that round. but imo ppl are aruging about that 1st round. was it chaels takedowns that did it? or bispings clinch control? cause rd. 1 sonnen outstruck bisping by a little bit (fight metric) so ppl should say bisping "beat him in the stand up"& in the clinch he didnt do nothing honestly but keep sonnen against the cage.
Shouldn't say (I mean)*
Re watch the fight and watch every striking exchange from the beginning, Bisping was dominating the striking in round one.
Already done, and again you've posted a completely inaccurate statement.