PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apolinario Mabini (ranked 3585 p4p, 447 weight class) and John Cena (ranked 3764 p4p, 457 weight class). Mabini comes to the cage accompanied by Noypi by Bamboo. Cena has chosen My Time Is Now as his entrance music. Apolinario Mabini has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mabini
vs
Cena

185 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Apolinario Mabini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Cena!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mabini just misses with a punch to the body.
Cena will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mabini moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like John Cena has been cut.
Mabini seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Cena shoots in for a takedown but Mabini shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cena needs to keep his hands up - Mabini had a free shot at his head there.

Cena feints and as Mabini raises his hands in defense, Cena changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cena showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mabini pulls Cena in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cena is working Mabini over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mabini is adopting a defensive guard.
Mabini continues to stall.
Mabini will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena wants to control from the top but Mabini keeps moving.
Mabini is pulling down on Cena's head. It's preventing any offense from Cena, at least for the moment.
Mabini working a defensive guard but Cena manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ground and pound from Cena seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cena tries to score with some ground and pound. Mabini controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mabini on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mabini tries to get out of the position.
Mabini is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cena connects with a decent elbow.
Cena looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mabini is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Mabini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabini is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cena wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mabini keeps working.
Mabini struggling a bit here.
Mabini is looking to regain half guard here but Cena keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cena wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mabini keeps working.
Mabini holding on.
Mabini is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cena off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cena is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Mabini trying to control momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Cena's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mabini is not going to allow Cena to sit and survive in this position.
Mabini biding his time, controlling Cena.

That's four 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 tries to escape but Mabini has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mabini avoiding Cena 's attempts to control his hands.
Cena rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mabini sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mabini missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mabini has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mabini content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apolinario Mabini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Cena's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cena throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mabini.
Cena throws a hook but Mabini blocks it.
Mabini fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mabini stuns Cena with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mabini is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cena can do to turn this around?
Cena misses with a takedown attempt
and Mabini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cena tries for a takedown but Mabini sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mabini throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cena stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice shot by Mabini.
Cena shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mabini makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Apolinario Mabini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Cena.
Cena is breathing heavily.
Cena throws a poor cross that misses
and Mabini counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
Mabini misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena tries to clinch
and Mabini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mabini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cena avoids the body shot from Mabini.
Cena drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mabini defends it well.
Mabini is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mabini swings for the body but Cena moves out of range.
Cena throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mabini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Cena finds it's way through Mabini's defenses.

Mabini gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mabini pulls Cena in close to prevent any damage.
Cena sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabini lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cena is pulling down on Mabini's head to control his posture.
Mabini content to stall in guard here.
Cena is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cena keeping moving, preventing Mabini from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabini showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cena trying to keep a closed guard but Mabini is proving a slippery customer.
Cena tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cena looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cena is trying to control the position but Mabini postures up.
Mabini not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
More hug and hope from Mabini.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Cena throws out a loose jab but Mabini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cena throws a poor cross that misses
and Mabini counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cena thinking.
Cena with a poor takedown
and Mabini counters with a one-two to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cena is defended easily by Mabini.
A jab from Cena misses.
Mabini swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cena takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mabini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cena.
Mabini fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cena manages to avoid it.
Mabini goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Cena shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cena thows a huge punch but Mabini dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apolinario Mabini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Cena's cut.
That's time! Mabini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mabini connects with a jab.
Cena is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mabini.
Cena tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mabini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Mabini was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mabini throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
John Cena seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cena tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mabini counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That has opened up John Cena's cut even more.
Cena misses with a takedown
and Mabini makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mabini swings for the body but Cena moves out of range.
Cena throws the left hand but Mabini avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Mabini.
Mabini lands a nice looking body shot.
Mabini scores with a jab to the body.
Cena might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mabini fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cena on the side of the head.
Mabini is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cena throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mabini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cena looks to score with a jab to the body but Mabini is just out of range.
Mabini is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Cena tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mabini counters with a right hand to the body.
Cena takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cena misses with a takedown
and Mabini counters with a nice uppercut.
Mabini tests Cena's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mabini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Apolinario Mabini is winning the standup battle so far.
Mabini slips a jab from Cena.
Mabini misses with a series of wild punches.
Mabini defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cena.
Apolinario Mabini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Cena.
Mabini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cena.
It looked like Mabini was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cena swings for the body but Mabini moves out of range.
It looked like Mabini was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mabini moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mabini defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cena.
Cena is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Mabini lands with a cross.

Cena is rocked!

The cut above John Cena's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Apolinario Mabini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mabini fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Cena square on the jaw! Damn, Cena is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Apolinario Mabini!
After winning the bout, Apolinario Mabini thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
John Cena spoke after the fight, saying 'My time is not yet now.'.