PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marlon Raynard (ranked 2387 p4p, 3786 weight class) and Mark Ceni (ranked 0 p4p, 449 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Raynard
vs
Ceni

180 cm
25
180
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Likes musicals

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marlon Raynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Ceni!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ceni decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ceni content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ceni prevents Raynard from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ceni is trying to control. Raynard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Raynard gets full guard.
Ceni must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Raynard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ceni doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ceni manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ceni slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ceni got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raynard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ceni has managed to get both his arms back between Raynard's legs - danger averted.
Raynard looking for a sweep. Not yet Raynard, not yet.
Ceni not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ceni passes Raynard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Raynard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raynard has his hands on Ceni's head, controlling the position.
Raynard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Raynard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ceni defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ceni wants to control from the top but Raynard keeps moving.
Ceni slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Raynard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ceni won't allow Raynard to sweep him here.

Raynard looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ceni has picked Raynard up and slammed him! Raynard can't keep hold of the triangle and Ceni manages to pass to side control!
Raynard trying to remain calm as Ceni controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raynard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ceni wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Ceni is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Raynard has escaped the position, nice work there.
Raynard tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Ceni trying to control the position but Raynard is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ceni working the head and body with strikes.
Ceni lands an elbow.
Raynard is looking to reverse the position.
Raynard is not content to let Ceni control the position.
Raynard tries to bench press Ceni off him but Ceni keeps the position.
Ceni is looking to take a break and control but Raynard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raynard manages to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ceni slips a nice elbow through Raynard's hands, connecting with Raynard's forehead.
Raynard manages to get to full guard.

Raynard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Ceni dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ceni shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Raynard is not content to let Ceni control the position.
Ceni sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Raynard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raynard works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raynard looking for a sweep. Not yet Raynard, not yet.
Ceni advances to half guard.
Ceni trying to control from half guard but Raynard is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ceni in particular looking to stall.
Ceni wants to free his trapped foot but Raynard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Raynard is looking for a sweep. Ceni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ceni is looking to stall here but Raynard recovers full guard.

Raynard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ceni gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Raynard throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ceni uses it to pass to side control.
Raynard is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ceni working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Raynard manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ceni prevents Raynard from improving his position.
Raynard is refusing to be controlled, as Ceni sits in half guard.

Raynard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ceni pulls his head out easily.
Raynard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mark Ceni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raynard looking to control.
Raynard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ceni puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Raynard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ceni pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ceni wants to free his trapped foot but Raynard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Raynard is looking for a sweep. Ceni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ceni trying to control from half guard but Raynard is working away.
Raynard is looking for a sweep. Ceni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raynard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ceni trying to control but Raynard is working from the bottom.
Raynard trying to control the position here.
Ceni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ceni looking to pass the guard.
Ceni wants to control from the top but Raynard keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Raynard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ceni to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Raynard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Raynard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ceni connects with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Ceni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ceni closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Ceni seems content to control.
Ceni scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Raynard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ceni lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Raynard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ceni can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Raynard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raynard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ceni manages to get himself to full guard.

Raynard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ceni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raynard is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ceni not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Raynard stopping the sweep attempt from Ceni.
Raynard passes Ceni's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Raynard is looking for a kimura here.
Ceni is trying to get back to full guard.
Mark Ceni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ceni trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ceni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Raynard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raynard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Raynard preventing the sweep.
Ceni controls Raynard momentarily but Raynard frees himself.
Ceni can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Raynard controls the pace.
Raynard wants to control from the top but Ceni keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We've been told by Raynard's head coaches at Zombie MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Raynard moves into range and clinches up with Ceni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raynard fails to pull guard.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Ceni forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Ceni won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marlon Raynard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raynard tries to pull guard but Ceni won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Ceni's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Raynard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ceni just stands there and leans against the cage.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but Ceni turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ceni to keep the fight standing.

Raynard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ceni uses from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raynard being controlled here, momentarily.
Ceni's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raynard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Raynard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ceni is one step ahead there.
Raynard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ceni controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ceni advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Ceni.
I've got Ceni 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Ceni!