PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Cena (ranked 24755 p4p, 24290 weight class) and Benson Thatch (ranked 572 p4p, 589 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cena
vs
Thatch

179 cm
19
155
1 - 8 - 0

180 cm
18
165
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, 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 Tokyo, Benson Thatch!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cena slaps away a takedown attempt from Thatch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thatch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cena drives through and clinches with Thatch against the cage.
Cena looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Thatch manages to pull guard.

Thatch is working an open guard so Cena takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cena attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thatch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cena's waist but Cena gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thatch off to one side.
John Cena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Thatch.
Cena shoots in and drives through. Thatch sprawls well.
Cena fails with a takedown attempt.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cena as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cena's waist but Cena gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thatch off to one side.
Cena throws a push kick but Thatch slaps the foot to one side.
Thatch fails with a takedown attempt.
Cena goes for a double leg but Thatch avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Thatch continues to drive forward.

Thatch decides to pull guard.
Thatch is trying to hold Cena in close to prevent damage but Cena has managed to pass into half guard.
Cena seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thatch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cena passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thatch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatch is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thatch is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cena can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thatch is looking to escape.
Thatch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cena trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatch keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cena takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cena avoids the attempt from Thatch to control.
Cena sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four 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 trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cena throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Thatch can't escape the position.
Cena tries to control but Thatch wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cena throwing strikes here but Thatch is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Cena dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cena wants to land a leg kick but Thatch is out of range.
Thatch feints the counter takedown.
Thatch swats away the attempt to clinch by Cena.
Cena tries to clinch but Thatch moves out of range.
Cena shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thatch defends it nicely.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown but Cena shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cena tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thatch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown but Cena shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cena looks for a takedown but Thatch sprawls well.
Thatch wants to counter with a clinch but Cena pushes him away.
Cena stuffs the takedown attempt from Thatch. Thatch gets slowly back to his feet.
John Cena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Thatch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thatch.
Cena throws a counter high kick but Thatch was just alert enough to avoid it.
John Cena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cena closes the distance and clinches up with Thatch, looking for a takedown. Cena pushes Thatch against the cage but Thatch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thatch takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cena misses with a takedown attempt - Thatch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thatch misses with a takedown attempt - Cena sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thatch is breathing heavily.
Thatch shoots and misses

and Cena moves into the clinch.
Thatch keeps control of Cena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thatch tries to pull guard but Cena won't allow it.
Cena tries to break free but Thatch pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatch tries to pull guard but Cena holds him up against the cage and eventually Thatch drops back down to his feet.

Cena jumps guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cena manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Thatch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cena tries to pull guard but Thatch won't allow it.
Cena goes for a takedown attempt but Thatch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cena clinches up with Thatch and pushes him back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thatch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cena's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thatch manages to break the clinch.
Thatch blocks a head kick by Cena.
Thatch throws a counter combo.
Cena fails with the takedown.
Thatch blocks a head kick by Cena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cena is defended easily by Thatch.
Thatch shoots for a double leg takedown but Cena sprawls well. He's pushed Thatch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cena defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thatch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cena throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Thatch tries to get set, Cena tries to push him back and clinch up but Thatch manages to avoid the attempt.
Thatch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cena sprawls well. Cena wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thatch gets slowly back to his feet.
Cena wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thatch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cena avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is 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! This is the final round!

Thatch darts in looking for a takedown but Cena gets double underhooks and turns Thatch into the cage.
John Cena is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thatch.
Nice sprawl there from Cena as Thatch shoots in.
John Cena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Thatch.
Cena fails with the takedown.
Cena tries to clinch up.
Cena shoots for a takedown but Thatch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thatch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cena counters with a left to the body.
Thatch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cena tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thatch swivels and escapes.
Cena darts in looking for a takedown but Thatch gets double underhooks and turns Cena into the cage.
Cena controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena jumps guard but Thatch stands there with Cena around his waist. Cena gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thatch lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cena or not.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Thatch decides to pull guard.
Thatch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
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.

That's two 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.
Cena's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Thatch is looking for a triangle but Cena pushes his legs off easily.
Cena advances to half guard.
Cena works his foot free and advances to mount.

Cena looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatch wants to control but Cena is having none of it.
Cena controlling from the full mount.
Cena lands a big elbow.

Cena goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thatch turns into him and now he's in Cena's guard.

Cena working for a triangle but Thatch defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cena not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cena keeping full guard, as Thatch tries to pass.
Thatch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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 John Cena.
Well Cena has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Cena!