Wow, Bisping was ahead by 2 rounds and scored a takedown in the 3rd.
First Round Sonnen is coming forward early, but Bisping jabs him. Sonnen gets Bisping down on his first takedown attempt. As promised, Bisping gets right back up. Bisping stuffs Sonnen's second takedown attempt, using the wall to support his weight. They break out and both fighters land a couple punches. Sonnen locks back up with Bisping. A knee to the body is followed by a throw to the ground. Sonnen is feeding ground-and-pound strikes, but Bisping wall-walks to his feet. They clinch up and trade knees. Sonnen is throwing more. They go to a different part of the cage, but lock up once again. Midway through the round, it's all going Sonnen's way. Bisping has landed a few dirty boxing jabs, however, this time. Sonnen shoots for a takedown and Bisping stays up. Sonnen elbows Bisping against the cage. They are back in the middle and Sonnen connects with Bisping's temple with a left hand. Bisping locks up in position against the fence. Bell sounds, and Sonnen wins the first round 10-9.
Second Round Bisping hits Sonnen with a combination to open the stanza. Bisping is opening up with his striking to success so far. They're clinched back up 45 seconds in and neither fighter is scoring many points. Bisping actually wrapped his arms around Sonnen's waist, looking as if he contemplated taking the world-class wrestler down. But he abandons those plans. Bisping dirty-boxes Sonnen along the fence until the referee breaks them apart. Bisping is keeping Sonnen from shooting in for takedowns with a high-volume of strikes. But Sonnen can't be stopped forever. He puts Bisping on his back. Bisping is desperately trying to get to his feet, but Sonnen is smothering him. Sonnen pulls Bisping off of the fence and rains down some ground-and-pound strikes. Bisping is up, but bleeding and Sonnen uses the opportunity to hit him a couple more times. Bisping lands a couple jabs before locking back up. Bisping is out-striking Sonnen, but he's not controlling the fight. Sonnen grimaces after a Bisping left hand to the body. Bisping fires a short-range elbow with 30 seconds to go. They break apart and Bisping tries a spin kick that misses. It's a round that could go either way, but Las Vegas Sun will give it to Sonnen 10-9.
Third Round They touch gloves and it doesn't take long before Sonnen dumps Bisping on his back. He's in Bisping's guard, much to the pleasure of the pro-Sonnen crowd at the United Center. Bisping nearly spins to his feet, forcing Sonnen to stand up. But Sonnen comes back down and feeds Bisping a fist. Bisping gets to his feet, but Sonnen passes to his back. He's looking to lock in his feet to attempt a rear-naked choke. He's got it. Now, it's a matter of sinking his arm below Bisping's neck. Bisping has a hold of Sonnen's hands and seems to be defending against it. Sonnen passes into full-mount. Bisping could be in real trouble. The Brit is escaping damage by controlling Sonnen's arms, but he's definitely losing the round. Sonnen starts thrusting his chest onto Bisping's head. But he abandons the plan after a few seconds. Bisping throws his hands from the bottom. Sonnen is suffocating him and not giving Bisping any opening to stand up with a minute to go. Bisping maneuvers to a knee and eventually his feet with 20 seconds to go. He takes Sonnen down, but that's it. Sonnen wins 10-9 on the Las Vegas Sun scorecard and 30-27 overall. Sonnen takes a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) over Bisping.
THE BEEF
