|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Andersson (ranked 3466 p4p, 23424 weight class) and Axel Witsel (ranked 437 p4p, 660 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
22
216
6 - 8 - 0 |
|
178 cm
23
220
1 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stefan Andersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Axel Witsel!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andersson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Witsel manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Andersson. Those never looked like landing.
Andersson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Andersson scores with a body shot.
Witsel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Andersson's half guard.
Witsel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Andersson's head.
Witsel throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Andersson to regain full guard.
Andersson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Witsel looking to pass the guard.
Witsel wants to stand but Andersson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Witsel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Andersson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Andersson wants to sweep but no luck.
Andersson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Witsel preventing the sweep.
Witsel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Witsel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Witsel looking to sit in guard and control but Andersson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Andersson throws a big elbow that misses.
Andersson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Andersson is looking to work some ground and pound but Witsel has wrist control.
Andersson preventing the sweep.
Andersson wants to pass the guard but Witsel is keeping the position.
Witsel looking to control.
Witsel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Andersson throwing strikes from guard but Witsel blocks nicely.
Andersson trying to control but Witsel is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witsel controls Andersson momentarily but Andersson frees himself.
Witsel trying to control the position here.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Witsel's coach down at Simply The Best was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Witsel's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Witsel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Witsel dodges the punch combination from Andersson.
Andersson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Witsel.
Andersson looks to land a combination. Witsel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Andersson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Witsel napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Andersson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witsel manages to get back to half guard.
Andersson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Andersson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Andersson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Andersson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Andersson trying to control from half guard but Witsel is working away.
Andersson throwing shots but Witsel is blocking nicely.
Andersson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Witsel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Andersson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Witsel is pressing down on Andersson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Witsel working a defensive guard here.
Andersson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andersson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Andersson trying to control the position from guard on top but Witsel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witsel wants to sweep but no luck.
Andersson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Witsel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Andersson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Witsel fails with the takedown
and Andersson counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Stefan Andersson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Andersson leaves Witsel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Witsel shoots for a double leg takedown but Andersson sprawls well. He's pushed Witsel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Andersson lands an overhand right.
Andersson stuffs the takedown attempt from Witsel. Witsel gets slowly back to his feet.
Stefan Andersson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axel Witsel.
Witsel fails with a takedown attempt.
Andersson digs a good hook to Witsel's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witsel walks into a stiff left hand from Andersson.
Stefan Andersson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Witsel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Andersson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Andersson tries to bum rush Witsel with a series of wild strikes but Witsel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Witsel is breathing heavily.
Witsel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Andersson as he jumps to the side.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Witsel back to the cage. Andersson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Witsel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Andersson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Witsel is rocked!
Witsel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Andersson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Andersson lands a couple of elbows.
Andersson looking to pass the guard.
Witsel keeping moving, preventing Andersson from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Andersson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Andersson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Andersson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Andersson trying to control but Witsel is working from the bottom.
Andersson is looking to work some ground and pound but Witsel has wrist control.
Andersson throwing strikes from guard but Witsel blocks nicely.
Andersson wants to control from the top but Witsel keeps moving.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Witsel's guard.
Andersson is standing up over Witsel. Witsel looks to escape but Andersson dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Andersson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Andersson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Witsel works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Andersson wants to free his trapped foot but Witsel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Andersson is keen to just control but Witsel is a slippery customer.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witsel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Andersson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Witsel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Witsel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Andersson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witsel trying to control but Andersson postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Andersson wants to pass to mount but Witsel is defending the position.
Well, if Andersson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Stefan Andersson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Andersson digs a good hook to Witsel's body.
Andersson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Witsel!
Andersson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Witsel to see if he's OK.
Witsel takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Andersson working the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witsel is looking for a sweep.
Andersson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Witsel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Witsel defending against the ground and pound.
Witsel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson looks up at the clock and then as Witsel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Andersson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Andersson is looking to take a break and control but Witsel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Andersson has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Witsel is being controlled here.
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.
Witsel taking a bit of punishment here - Andersson scoring with strikes.
Andersson working away.
Witsel tries to bench press Andersson off him but Andersson keeps the position.
Andersson cracks Witsel with a big elbow.
Sloppy strikes there by Andersson.
Witsel is not content to let Andersson control the position.
Andersson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Andersson throws an elbow but Witsel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Stefan Andersson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Witsel some visible discomfort.
Witsel parries the strikes from Andersson easily there. Andersson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Witsel to escape.
Andersson is trying to ground and pound but Witsel uses the momentary lack of control by Andersson to regain half guard.
Andersson working over Witsel with some ground and pound. Witsel looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Axel Witsel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Witsel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Andersson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Andersson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Witsel taking some punishment here, with Andersson in his half guard.
Andersson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Andersson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witsel taking some punishment here, with Andersson in his half guard.
Witsel tries to roll over but Andersson keeps him under control.
Stefan Andersson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Witsel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Andersson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Andersson slows the pace down in half guard.
Andersson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Andersson working the head and body with strikes.
Andersson throwing shots but Witsel is blocking nicely.
Andersson is nestled in close to Witsel, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Andersson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Andersson 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Andersson!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Stefan Andersson waved his t-shirt featuring Urban Fighter's logo in front of the cameras.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
36% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
