The dramatic difference in their wrestling skills decide this one. Sonnen was on top most of the fight and did a lot of damage from that position. Marquardt hurt Sonnen and ended the fight in a dominant position but it wasn't enough to make up the two round deficit Sonnen had taken.
The two top middleweight contenders came out firing at each other. But Sonnen quickly shot in and put his neck out where Nate Marquardt threatened a guillotine. But Sonnen escaped. From there Sonnen applied some text book ground and pound from inside Marquardt's guard.
Marquardt then escaped to his feet only to be taken down again and the beating resumed. Sonnen ground Marquardt down as the first round ended.
The third round was the same as the first two. Sonnen's wrestling advantage showed immediately as he quickly found himself in Marquardt's guard, landing elbows and punches. Marquardt threatened a kimura at one point but Sonnen escaped. From there the assault recommenced. But then Marquardt landed an elbow from the bottom and soon Sonnen was bleeding like a stuck pig. But Sonnen remained in control and continued to work ground and pound even as he bled. Marquardt nearly got back to his feet but Sonnen took the fight down.
In the third Marquardt shot in and seemed to nearly have Sonnen on his back, helpless like a crab but for naught. Then Sonnen immediately took Marquardt down again. Marquardt would threaten for a knee only to be punished for rolling into a bad position. Toward the end of the third round Marquardt threatened a guillotine but couldn't finish. Then Marquardt pulled an incredibly sweet reversal and swept Sonnen onto his back. Marquardt fired with ground and pound at the end. Sonnen ended the fight on his back, bleeding and helpless.