PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Abbondanza Cellini (ranked 4350 p4p, 3007 weight class) and Justin Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cellini
vs
Tanner

170 cm
25
139
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
141
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abbondanza Cellini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanner moves into the clinch.
Tanner keeps control of Cellini as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tanner prevents the takedown attempt.
Tanner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Still in the clinch, Cellini scores with a nice short uppercut.

Cellini manages to break the clinch.
Tanner moves out of range of the body kick from Cellini.
Cellini misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
Tanner shoots for a double leg takedown but Cellini sprawls well. He's pushed Tanner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tanner throws a sloppy head kick

and Cellini counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner tries to score a body lock takedown but Cellini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Abbondanza Cellini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Tanner.
Tanner is trying to pull guard but Cellini has him pressed against the cage.
Tanner has Cellini pressed against the cage, preventing Cellini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cellini wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanner has him pressed against the cage.
Cellini can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Cellini clinches.
Cellini is trying to force a seperation but Tanner has the dominant position.
Cellini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tanner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cellini's efforts to push away.
Tanner fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cellini working hard to break the clinch.

Tanner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanner throws a lazy head kick
and Cellini counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cellini goes for a double leg but Tanner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tanner continues to drive forward.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tanner.
Cellini stops a takedown attempt from Tanner.
Cellini drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tanner stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

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

Cellini drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cellini in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Cellini seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cellini works to advance to full mount. Tanner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Tanner looks winded!
Tanner wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cellini.
BOOM! Cellini connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tanner is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Tanner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cellini tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cellini thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Cellini looking to finish with strikes here!
Cellini looking to finish with strikes here!
Tanner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cellini. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tanner takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner working to try and regain half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Cellini there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cellini thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Cellini.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cellini content just to control the position here.
Cellini seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tanner for as long as he can get away with.

Cellini looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Cellini is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tanner is surviving well by controlling Cellini's body position as best he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abbondanza Cellini dominated that round.
That's time! Cellini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cellini goes for a double leg but Tanner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tanner continues to drive forward.
Cellini has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cellini wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tanner has Cellini pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cellini manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tanner gets underhooks to prevent Cellini's takedown attempt.
Tanner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cellini's efforts to push away.
Cellini working hard to break the clinch.
Tanner is trying to pull guard but Cellini has him pressed against the cage.

Cellini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cellini tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tanner is able to avoid easily.
Tanner tries to clinch there but Cellini circles away.
As Tanner looks to move away, Cellini throws a big counter combo but Tanner just gets out of the way.
Tanner fails with the takedown
and Cellini counters with a left to the body.
Abbondanza Cellini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Tanner.

Cellini moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanner breaks from the clinch.
Abbondanza Cellini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tanner is breathing heavily.
Tanner tries for a takedown but Cellini sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cellini moves into the clinch.

Cellini jumps into guard, dragging Tanner to the mat.
Cellini managing to control the position.
Cellini is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cellini sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tanner defending well though.
Cellini perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Abbondanza Cellini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tanner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cellini.
Tanner is trying to stand back up but Cellini is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Cellini is looking for a kimura here.

Cellini is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tanner is staying active underneath Cellini, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cellini not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cellini missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cellini not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cellini missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cellini is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanner can do to turn this around?

Cellini is looking for a kimura here.
Cellini not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cellini looks to land a strike but Tanner avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cellini postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cellini is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cellini trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cellini fails with a takedown attempt.

Cellini moves into range and clinches up with Tanner.
Tanner is trying to break the clinch but Cellini has him pressed against the cage.

Cellini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cellini tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tanner is defended easily by Cellini.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abbondanza Cellini dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cellini looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cellini fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cellini fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanner is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Tanner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cellini is defended easily by Tanner.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abbondanza Cellini. 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.
Tanner shoots in and drives through. Cellini sprawls well.
Cellini shoots in looking for a takedown. Tanner tries to sprawl out of it but Cellini keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tanner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanner raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner moves in looking to clinch but Cellini pushes him off.
Tanner throws a shot from downtown. Cellini moves away and avoids it.
Tanner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tanner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cellini throws a head kick that misses.
Tanner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cellini.
Cellini tries for a takedown but Tanner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cellini fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cellini shoots in but no luck this time.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cellini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cellini wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Tanner throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cellini was covering up waiting for the punch and Tanner finishes the takedown easily into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cellini manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cellini gets control of Tanner's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cellini will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cellini is trying to control the position but Tanner postures up.
Tanner stands up over Cellini, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Cellini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cellini, up you get!
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cellini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cellini tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Nice sprawl there from Cellini as Tanner shoots in.
Cellini connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tanner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cellini forces Tanner back against the cage and clinches.
Tanner letting Cellini take a breather here.
Cellini tries to land knees in the clinch but Tanner avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cellini wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanner has him pressed against the cage.
Cellini displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tanner up against the cage.
Cellini wants to break free but Tanner has control.
Cellini wants a takedown but no success here.
Tanner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cellini is keeping busy.
Tanner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cellini to keep the fight standing.
Tanner looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanner has Cellini pressed against the cage, preventing Cellini from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Justin Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cellini has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cellini drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abbondanza Cellini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cellini 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abbondanza Cellini!