PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Feofilakt Markarian (ranked 4327 p4p, 5517 weight class) and James Cena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Feofilakt Markarian has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Markarian
vs
Cena

194 cm
25
245
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
251
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Feofilakt Markarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Cena!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cena will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Markarian throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Markarian tries to work over Cena's front leg with a kick but Cena checks it.

Markarian closes the distance and clinches.
Cena keeps control of Markarian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Markarian is trying to break the clinch but Cena has him pressed against the cage.
Markarian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cena keeps control of Markarian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cena manages to pull guard.

Cena has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Markarian has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Markarian is trying to force a seperation but Cena has the dominant position.
Markarian working aggressively here.
Cena looking for a takedown.

Markarian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Markarian goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markarian leaves Cena with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Feofilakt Markarian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Cena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markarian shoots for a double leg takedown but Cena sprawls well. He's pushed Markarian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cena or perhaps it was just good defense by Markarian, which made it look bad.
An inside leg kick from Markarian misses.
Cena fails with an attempt to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Markarian.
Markarian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cena manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cena shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Markarian as he avoids it easily.
A low kick from Markarian is predictable there

and Cena counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cena working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cena trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cena stands and steps away. Markarian gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Markarian lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cena circles away quickly and effectively.
Cena is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Markarian scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Markarian is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markarian looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Markarian as he jumps to the side.
Cena will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cena misses with a takedown attempt - Markarian sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Markarian. That snapped Cena's head back.
No luck for Cena with that takedown attempt.
Cena misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Markarian!
Cena fails to land the takedown.
Markarian stalks Cena and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cena's face. Cena staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markarian misses with a takedown attempt - Cena sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cena fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Markarian avoids it really well and circles away.
Markarian throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Markarian lands with a good body shot.
Cena takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice takedown defense from Cena. No joy for Markarian on that attempt.
A combination from Markarian does no damage.
Markarian shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cena eats them both and turns towards Markarian to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cena shoots in looking for a takedown. Markarian tries to sprawl out of it but Cena keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Markarian manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Cena looks to move away, Markarian throws a big counter combo but Cena just gets out of the way.
Markarian throws a leg kick but Cena sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cena showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Markarian.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cena fails with the takedown.
Markarian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cena avoids it really well and circles away.
Cena throws a right and a left that Markarian avoids nicely.
Markarian went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cena has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cena shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Markarian defends it nicely.
Cena has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Cena moves into range and clinches up with Markarian.

Markarian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Feofilakt Markarian dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cena closes the distance and clinches up with Markarian, looking for a takedown. Cena pushes Markarian against the cage but Markarian circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Markarian will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cena shoots in and drives through. Markarian sprawls well.
Markarian lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Markarian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cena can do to turn this around?
Markarian swats away the attempt to clinch by Cena.
Cena shoots in for a takedown but Markarian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Feofilakt Markarian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Cena.
Markarian stalks Cena and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cena's face. Cena staggers backwards, shaken.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cena or perhaps it was just good defense by Markarian, which made it look bad.
Cena closes the distance and clinches up with Markarian, looking for a takedown. Cena pushes Markarian against the cage but Markarian circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Markarian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cena tries to avoid it but Markarian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cena to the ground. Cena escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cena misses with a wild combination.

Markarian closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cena is breathing heavily.
Markarian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena tries for a takedown but Markarian manages to get underhooks.
Markarian has Cena pushed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Markarian.
Cena has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Markarian is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cena blocks an uppercut.
Markarian lands with a short shot to the head.
Markarian tries to break the clinch but Cena is controlling the position.
Markarian is looking to control Cena's arms but Cena gets an underhook and turns him. Now Markarian has his back to the cage.
Markarian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cena.
Cena has Markarian pressed against the cage, preventing Markarian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markarian swings wildly with an uppercut but Cena uses good head movement to avoid it.
Markarian throws a punch but it's blocked by Cena.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Markarian.
Markarian misses with a hook from the clinch.
Markarian gets through Cena's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Markarian misses with a hook to the ribs.
Markarian tries to circle away but Cena has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cena.
Cena has Markarian pressed against the cage, preventing Markarian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Markarian gets underhooks to prevent Cena's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Markarian.
Cena blocks an uppercut.
Markarian fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Markarian wants to break free but Cena has control.
Cena keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Markarian's efforts to push away.
Markarian swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Markarian looking to slow down the pace here.
Cena blocking some punches.
Cena keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Markarian's efforts to push away.
Markarian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Markarian can't find room to land a body shot as Cena controls the action.
Markarian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Markarian working aggressively here.
Markarian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Markarian trying to stall but Cena improves his position.

Cena drags the fight down to the ground.

Cena pushes Markarian off and gets back to his feet.
Cena shoots in looking for a takedown but Markarian manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cena's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cena fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cena tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Markarian defends well and Cena ends up having to push Markarian into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Markarian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cena swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cena gets tackled into the cage by Markarian. Markarian maintains the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Feofilakt Markarian dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Markarian stuffs the takedown attempt from Cena. Cena gets slowly back to his feet.
Feofilakt Markarian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cena gets a clinch.
Markarian is looking to break free of the clinch but Cena has double underhooks.
Cena blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Markarian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Markarian throws a punch but it's blocked by Cena.
Markarian makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cena keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Markarian's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markarian scores with a nice hook to the head.
Markarian fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Markarian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena has Markarian pressed against the cage, preventing Markarian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Markarian stalling in the clinch.
Markarian working aggressively here.
Markarian misses with some punches.
Markarian is trying to force a seperation but Cena has the dominant position.
A shot in the inside from Markarian.
Markarian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Markarian misses with a punch on the inside.
Markarian throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Cena decides to pull guard.
James Cena has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cena wants to stand and escape but Markarian is having none of it.

Cena manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markarian misses with a punch on the inside.
Markarian tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cena's elbow.
Markarian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Markarian is trying to push Cena away but Cena has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cena drops down looking for an ankle pick but Markarian pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cena looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Markarian!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Markarian avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cena.
Cena is looking to take a break and control but Markarian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cena is trying to get an arm triangle but Markarian is defending well.

Cena thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Markarian taking punishment in the form of punches.
Markarian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cena on the ground.
Cena works to advance to full mount. Markarian defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Markarian is desperately trying to improve his position but Cena has a good base and remains in mount.
Cena looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cena looking to finish Markarian with some ground and pound. This is bad for Markarian!
Markarian wants to control but Cena is having none of it.
Cena working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cena has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cena lands a big elbow.

Markarian is rocked!
Cena postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Markarian in real trouble here! The ref calls for Markarian to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Cena!