PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Cena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Joskovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Joskovic's choice of entrance music: Iron Man. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cena
vs
Joskovic

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Cena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dean Joskovic!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joskovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joskovic tries to clinch up but Cena circles away and keeps his distance.
Joskovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cena throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cena dives in and grabs Joskovic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Joskovic pushes down on Cena's head and hops out.

Joskovic pushes Cena up against the cage in a clinch.
Cena is looking to break free of the clinch but Joskovic has double underhooks.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joskovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cena shoots in for a takedown but Joskovic shows good takedown defense.
Joskovic wants to clinch up but Cena keeps it at a distance.
Dean Joskovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cena is defended easily by Joskovic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cena. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Joskovic has taken the fight to the clinch.

Joskovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Joskovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena trying to control the position from guard on top but Joskovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cena won't allow Joskovic to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cena wants to control from the top but Joskovic keeps moving.
Joskovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cena has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Joskovic is proving hard to escape from.
Joskovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cena. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cena not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cena would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A jab from Joskovic finds it's way through Cena's defenses.

It looks like John Cena has been cut.
Joskovic connects with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joskovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cena throws a series of punches but Joskovic moves out of range.
Joskovic lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cena will feel that in the morning.
Dean Joskovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cena is breathing heavily.
Joskovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Joskovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Joskovic breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joskovic clinches up with Cena and pushes him back against the cage.
Joskovic is pushing Cena up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Joskovic breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Cena. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A right hand to the body from Joskovic.
Cena wants to break free but Joskovic has control.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Joskovic instigates a clinch.
Joskovic leaning his opponent against the cage.

Joskovic manages to break the clinch.

Joskovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Joskovic breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joskovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cena paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Joskovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cena, pushing him back against the cage.

Joskovic manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Joskovic is looking to stand up but Cena isn't so interested in that idea.
Joskovic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joskovic's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Joskovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Cena's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joskovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cena swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joskovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cena.
Cena tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cena throws a sloppy head kick
and Joskovic counters with a head kick.
Cena avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joskovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cena holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Joskovic has Cena pressed against the cage.
Joskovic connects with a knee to the head.
Joskovic content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cena fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cena fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joskovic is looking to clinch but Cena is avoiding it.
No joy there for Joskovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cena doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Joskovic counters with a good low kick that Cena was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cena. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Joskovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cena, pushing him back against the cage.

Joskovic turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Joskovic manages to end up in side control.
Cena is letting Joskovic control him for a moment.

Joskovic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cena to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joskovic lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Joskovic.
Joskovic scores a nice knee to the body.
Joskovic stops a takedown attempt from Cena.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Joskovic rushes Cena and presses him up against the cage.

Joskovic manages to break the clinch.

Joskovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Joskovic landing knees to the body.
Cena has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Joskovic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cena misses with the body kick

and Joskovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Joskovic.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joskovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cena swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cena misses with a takedown attempt
and Joskovic counters with a slapping leg kick.
Joskovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Cena swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joskovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cena tries to clinch up but Joskovic circles away and keeps his distance.

Joskovic clinches with his opponent.
Cena fails to pull guard.
Joskovic is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right from Joskovic.
Joskovic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Joskovic avoiding damage as Cena throws knees to the body.
Joskovic leaning against his opponent.
Cena tries to pull guard but Joskovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Cena drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Joskovic scores with a nice hook to the head.

Joskovic breaks the clinch.
Cena with a lazy takedown attempt

and Joskovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Joskovic.

Joskovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joskovic thuds his shin into the meat of Cena's side.
Joskovic tries to clinch up
and Cena counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cena misses with a head kick.
Joskovic misses with a combination

and Cena counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joskovic is in trouble now - Cena has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Joskovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Cena's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Joskovic tries to clinch but Cena is having none of it.

Joskovic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cena tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Joskovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cena wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cena tries a knee to the head but Joskovic blocks it.

Joskovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cena tries to clinch there but Joskovic circles away.
Cena closes the distance and clinches up with Joskovic, looking for a takedown. Cena pushes Joskovic against the cage but Joskovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cena shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joskovic defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cena. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joskovic moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A knee to the head by Joskovic.
Joskovic slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joskovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joskovic lands a with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Joskovic.

Joskovic has Cena up against the cage in a clinch.

Joskovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cena.
Joskovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cena's head.
Joskovic throws a head kick but Cena moves out of range.
Dean Joskovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joskovic scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
An inside leg kick lands from Joskovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena fails with the takedown

and Joskovic moves into the clinch.
Joskovic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Joskovic utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Cena jumps into guard, dragging Joskovic to the mat.
Cena wants to sweep but no luck.
Joskovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Cena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cena not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cena wriggles free and stands up.

Cena shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joskovic wants to improve his position but Cena is controlling well.
Joskovic wants to sweep but Cena has passed to side control!
Joskovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cena wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cena is working Joskovic over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cena wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joskovic keeps working.
Cena taking a break here but Joskovic is having none of it and regains half guard.

Joskovic kicks Cena off and gets back to his feet.
Joskovic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Joskovic throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cena holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
John Cena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dean Joskovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cena jumps guard but Joskovic stands there with Cena around his waist. Cena gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Joskovic blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Joskovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Joskovic 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Joskovic!