PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Elliott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Cena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elliott
vs
Cena

157 cm
22
346 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

163 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Napoleon Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kurt Cena!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elliott looks for a takedown but Cena sprawls well.
Elliott really is a fat lump.
Cena with a lazy takedown attempt
and Elliott counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Elliott closes the distance and pushes Cena back into the cage.

Cena gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cena is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elliott is trying to maintain the position but Cena is very close to passing his half guard.
Cena trying to control from half guard but Elliott is working away.

Cena stands up from half guard.
Elliott moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Kurt Cena has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena slaps away a takedown attempt from Elliott, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Elliott gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cena looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cena has Elliott pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Elliott manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Elliott stops a takedown attempt from Cena.
Napoleon Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Cena.
Cena tries for a takedown but Elliott manages to get underhooks.
Cena tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Elliott just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena jumps guard but Elliott stands there with Cena around his waist. Cena gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cena displaying some good clinch control by pressing Elliott up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Elliott fails to land.
Cena is trying to force a seperation but Elliott has the dominant position.

Elliott gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cena regains guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cena avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Elliott throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cena works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cena is trying to keep Elliott in close.

Cena pushes Elliott off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Elliott scores with a jab to the body.
Elliott wants to clinch up but Cena keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott tries to clinch up.

Cena scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cena looks winded!
Elliott is trying to control but can't.
Elliott holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Cena trying to control the action but Elliott is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Elliott holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Elliott trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Napoleon Elliott wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cena shoots and misses
and Elliott counters with a right hand to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cena avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cena leaves Elliott with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
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 Napoleon Elliott will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kurt Cena's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Elliott tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cena paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cena moves into the clinch successfully.
Elliott is looking for a takedown.
Cena working aggressively here.
Elliott drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cena pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cena moves in looking to clinch but Elliott pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliott defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cena.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cena.

Elliott has closed the distance and engaged Cena in a clinch.

Cena lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Elliott is trying to control but can't.

Cena is working for a submission of some sort.
Cena is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Elliott tries to get to full guard but Cena has control of the leg.
Elliott is looking to control Cena's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Elliott avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elliott makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Elliott.
Elliott is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Elliott avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Cena from controlling successfully.
Cena might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Elliott haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Elliott has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Elliott is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kurt Cena hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Elliott misses with a series of wild punches.

Cena moves into range and clinches up with Elliott.

Cena decides to pull guard.

Elliott drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cena looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cena looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cena!
Elliott is looking to reverse the position.
Cena is looking to take a break and control but Elliott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elliott tries to buck Cena off but Cena is having none of it.
Elliott wants to control but Cena postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cena is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Elliott will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cena connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Elliott some visible discomfort.
Cena takes a little break here. Elliott wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Elliott tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elliott struggling a bit here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cena wants to control but Elliott is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Cena showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kurt Cena's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cena circles away from the clinch attempt.

Cena gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cena pulls Elliott into guard.
Elliott postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cena looking to control.

Cena is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Elliott has gone for a leg lock! Cena slips out almost immediately though and dives into Elliott's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena is looking to advance position but Elliott has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Cena tries to lock up and control but Elliott gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Elliott moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cena has worked his arm free - good work by Cena!
Elliott working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elliott landing strikes.

Elliott is trying to get an arm triangle but Cena is defending well.
Cena struggling a bit here.
Kurt Cena has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cena takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elliott tries for a kimura but Cena is defending well.
Cena tries to improve position but can't.

Cena explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Napoleon Elliott is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Elliott changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elliott looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Elliott gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elliott gets control of Cena's arms and successfully pulls guard. Elliott will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Cena from controlling successfully.
Cena looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Elliott is trying to keep Cena in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cena tries to stand but Elliott is controlling from the bottom.
Elliott controls Cena momentarily but Cena frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Napoleon Elliott.
I think Elliott has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Napoleon Elliott!