PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Cena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Cena
vs
James

195 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

213 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Cena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard James!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cena gets a takedown into half guard.
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.
Cena trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cena knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cena doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cena manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cena missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cena stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
Cena throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena thows a big elbow that misses.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cena 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.
Cena trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cena is stalling in the full guard.
Cena advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cena landing with the ground and pound.
James wants to improve his position but instead Cena has moved into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cena wants to stand up but James has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Cena trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Cena prevents James from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James wants to sweep but no luck.

Cena gets to his feet - James follows without any prompting.

Cena closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cena is breathing heavily.
James regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cena.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cena can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cena would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cena is trying to reverse the position but instead James has taken his back - oops!
Cena is in bad spot here.
James scores with punches and elbows.
James is not going to allow Cena to sit and survive in this position.
Cena turns into James and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Cena will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cena shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cena trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cena preventing the sweep.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Cena advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cena prevents James from improving his position.
Cena missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cena not doing much here.

Cena postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for James to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries for a takedown but Cena circles away easily
letting Cena counter with a right hand.
James is breathing heavily.
James shoots and misses

and Cena counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Cena gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cena gets a clinch.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Cena shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
John Cena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard James.
Cena prevents the takedown attempt.

James turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and James manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cena is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
Cena prevents James from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena wants to control but James postures up.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cena keeps working.
Cena tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cena is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cena takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cena sneaks back into half guard.
James misses with a head shot. Cena uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cena 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.
Cena has James pulled in close to control his posture.
Cena keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Cena bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cena stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Cena tries to control but James wriggling away.
James is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cena landing strikes from the mount.
Cena looking to finish James with some ground and pound. This is bad for James!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Cena dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

James blocks a head kick by Cena.
James wants to clinch but Cena slips to the side

and Cena counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cena comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Richard James has been cut.

Cena tightens his grip and picks James up, before dumping him to the ground. James manages to land in guard.
Cena won't allow James to sweep him here.
Cena sitting in guard here, content to control.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cena controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Cena from controlling successfully.
John Cena overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

James working for a triangle but Cena defends it easily.
Cena stays in close to James's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cena wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Cena just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
James takes a kick to the side of the head.

Cena closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cena lands in his opponent's guard.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cena is one step ahead there.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cena doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but James is tightening it up a little... Cena has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Cena reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Cena taps out! nice BJJ there by James!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Richard James!