PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Toke Axelsen (ranked 2630 p4p, 3320 weight class) and Jacques Durand Jr (ranked 152 p4p, 342 weight class). Axelsen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Slipknot - The Virus of Life. Durand Jr is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Birdman & Lil Wayne - Stuntin' Like My Daddy. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Axelsen
vs
Durand Jr

181 cm
27
178
16 - 9 - 2

201 cm
23
203
12 - 2 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store
Conviction

Tempo Athletics
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Toke Axelsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jacques Durand Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durand Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Durand Jr tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr misses with a hook to the body
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durand Jr is looking to land body kicks.
Axelsen throwing a counter right hand but Durand Jr manages to avoid it.
Durand Jr darts in trying to clinch
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice body punch from Durand Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Durand Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Durand Jr throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick by Durand Jr misses
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durand Jr swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr misses with a body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Axelsen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr thows a body kick. Axelsen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Durand Jr throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Durand Jr swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durand Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axelsen manages to avoid it.
Durand Jr misses with a body shot
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Durand Jr throws a predictable looking body shot
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durand Jr clinches.
Durand Jr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Durand Jr digs a right hand underneath Axelsen's ribcage. Axelsen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durand Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Durand Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Durand Jr throws knees to the body.
Durand Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section. Axelsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Durand Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Durand Jr tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Axelsen rather than just go for the knockout.
Durand Jr thows a leg kick but Axelsen checks it
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Axelsen walks into a left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Durand Jr lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Durand Jr misses with a jab to the body
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Durand Jr throws a shot to the body.
Durand Jr tries to clinch
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Durand Jr misses with a combination
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durand Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durand Jr moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Durand Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Axelsen misses the target.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Axelsen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durand Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durand Jr wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Good leg kick by Durand Jr.
Durand Jr lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Durand Jr misses with a kick to the body
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Durand Jr connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Axelsen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Durand Jr throws a sloppy body shot
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Durand Jr, right into the meat of the thigh.

Durand Jr closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Durand Jr avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Durand Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Axelsen.
Durand Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
Durand Jr has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Durand Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Durand Jr misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Durand Jr creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Axelsen landing knees to the body.
Durand Jr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Durand Jr is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsen is defending well for now.
Durand Jr has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Axelsen seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Durand Jr can turn it around.
Axelsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Axelsen missing with knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacques Durand Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Axelsen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A low kick from Durand Jr misses
and Durand Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Durand Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durand Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durand Jr misses the body punch
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Durand Jr scores with a kick to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Axelsen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Durand Jr - the referee stops the clock and Axelsen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Durand Jr. Axelsen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Durand Jr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durand Jr throws a sloppy body shot
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Axelsen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Durand Jr finds it's way round the side to connect with Axelsen's head.
Jacques Durand Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durand Jr pushes Axelsen away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Durand Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Axelsen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Durand Jr.
Durand Jr misses with a leg kick
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr throws a predictable looking body shot
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Axelsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Durand Jr can do to turn this around?
Durand Jr throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durand Jr misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durand Jr misses with a jab to the body
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durand Jr throws a head kick that misses
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr lands with a good body shot.
Durand Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr throws a sloppy head kick
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Durand Jr throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.

Durand Jr has managed to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toke Axelsen clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Durand Jr feints a jab promting Axelsen to slip. Durand Jr then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Axelsen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Durand Jr misses with a hook to the body
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Durand Jr throws a body kick that misses
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Durand Jr misses
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Durand Jr misses with a right hand
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durand Jr misses with a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr misses the body punch
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Durand Jr swings away with a body shot that misses
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durand Jr misses with a body punch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durand Jr lets loose with a powerful body kick. Axelsen will feel that in the morning.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Durand Jr misses with a right hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jacques Durand Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacques Durand Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick which misses Axelsen's front leg but catches the back leg as Axelsen tries to avoid it.
Durand Jr thumps Axelsen with a low kick.
Durand Jr throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durand Jr throws a combination that misses
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durand Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durand Jr has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durand Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durand Jr misses with a body shot
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Durand Jr misses with a hook
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Axelsen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Durand Jr throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Durand Jr misses with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.

Durand Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
Durand Jr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toke Axelsen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Axelsen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 40:36
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 40:37
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 39:37

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toke Axelsen!
Toke Axelsen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.