PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Zaremba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zaremba
vs
Axe

186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Piotr Zaremba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Axe!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaremba moves into the clinch.

Zaremba gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Axe regains guard.
Axe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaremba.
Axe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaremba.
Zaremba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Axe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zaremba is looking to work some ground and pound but Axe has wrist control.
Zaremba tries to free his leg and advance position but Axe is retaining full guard.
Zaremba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Axe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaremba is looking to stand up but Axe won't let him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zaremba dives in and grabs Axe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Axe pushes down on Zaremba's head and hops out.
Axe closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zaremba moves into the clinch.
Zaremba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Axe.

Zaremba breaks from the clinch.

Zaremba clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Zaremba has double underhooks.

Zaremba ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zaremba no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaremba wants to get back to his feet but Axe passes into half guard.
Axe stops Zaremba from getting back to his feet.

Zaremba kicks Axe off and gets back to his feet.

Zaremba pushes Axe up against the cage in a clinch.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Zaremba with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zaremba is breathing heavily.
Axe fails to pull guard.

Zaremba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Axe tries to clinch but Zaremba moves away

and Zaremba counters by clinching up.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Zaremba manages to pull guard.
Axe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zaremba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaremba wants to stand and escape but Axe is having none of it.
Axe throwing strikes from guard but Zaremba blocks nicely.
Axe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Axe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zaremba on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zaremba tries to get out of the position.

Axe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Axe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zaremba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaremba circles away.

Zaremba has taken the fight to the clinch.

Zaremba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaremba tries to close the distance and clinch but Axe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Axe wants to clinch

and Zaremba counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zaremba.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Axe wants to break free but Zaremba has control.

Zaremba manages to break the clinch.
Axe tries to clinch but Zaremba moves away

and Zaremba counters by clinching up.
Zaremba is working for takedown but Axe is calmly controlling the position for now.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Axe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zaremba has him pressed against the cage.
Zaremba tries to land knees in the clinch but Axe avoids the damage to the body.
Axe tries to circle away but Zaremba has him pinned against the cage.
Axe tries to break free but Zaremba pushes him back against the cage.
Axe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Axe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Zaremba has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zaremba has him pressed against the cage.
Axe wants to break free but Zaremba has control.
Zaremba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Axe just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Piotr Zaremba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axe wants to break free but Zaremba has control.
Axe trying to control the position but instead, Zaremba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Axe into the cage.
Axe tries a body shot but Zaremba blocks it.
Zaremba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Axe is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zaremba pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Axe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaremba's elbow.

Zaremba pulls guard effortlessly.
Zaremba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Axe is one step ahead there.
Zaremba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Axe is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Zaremba dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Axe moves in looking to clinch but Zaremba pushes him off.

Zaremba darts in and clinches Axe up against the cage.
Zaremba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axe.
Axe tries to pull guard but Zaremba holds him up against the cage and eventually Axe drops back down to his feet.
Zaremba's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zaremba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Axe tries to pull guard but Zaremba holds him up against the cage and eventually Axe drops back down to his feet.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaremba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Axe's defenses.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba has him pressed against the cage.
Zaremba prevents a body shot from Axe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Axe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Axe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Axe tries to break free but Zaremba pushes him back against the cage.
Zaremba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Axe smiles and moves away.

Axe tries to keep at a distance but Zaremba has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Zaremba closes the distance and clinches.
Zaremba wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Piotr Zaremba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaremba tries to pull guard but Axe won't allow it.
Zaremba keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zaremba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Axe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zaremba prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Zaremba has had enough of the clinch but Axe keeps him there for the moment.
Zaremba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zaremba fails to pull guard.
Axe tries to break the clinch but Zaremba is controlling the position.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Axe jumps guard but Zaremba stands there with Axe around his waist. Axe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zaremba is trying to force a seperation but Axe has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zaremba working hard to break the clinch.
Zaremba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Axe smiles and moves away.
Axe clinches but Zaremba breaks the clinch

and Zaremba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Axe tries to break free but Zaremba pushes him back against the cage.
Axe can't break the clinch.
Zaremba trying to stall but Axe improves his position.
Axe is trying to break free.
Zaremba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Zaremba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaremba prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Zaremba missing with knees to the body.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Zaremba has double underhooks.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Zaremba has double underhooks.
Axe tries to break free but Zaremba pushes him back against the cage.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba is controlling him.
Zaremba has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zaremba prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zaremba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Axe tries to circle away but Zaremba has him pinned against the cage.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Zaremba has the dominant position.
Zaremba misses with a knee strike.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba is controlling him.
Axe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Zaremba has the dominant position.
Zaremba prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba is controlling him.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaremba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Zaremba has the dominant position.
Axe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zaremba walks away with a smile on his face. Axe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zaremba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

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.
Axe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Axe gets a clinch.
Axe wants to break free but Zaremba has control.
Axe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zaremba smiles and moves away.
Axe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaremba is looking to clinch.

Zaremba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Axe wants to stall.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head punch on the inside from Axe fails to land.

Zaremba breaks the clinch.
Axe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zaremba moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Zaremba dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaremba tries to clinch but Axe is having none of it.
Axe fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zaremba moves into range and clinches up with Axe.
Axe tries to circle away but Zaremba has him pinned against the cage.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Zaremba keeps him there for the moment.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Zaremba trying to land knees to the body.
Axe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Axe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Axe tries to pull guard but Zaremba won't allow it.
Axe wants to break free but Zaremba has control.

Zaremba breaks the clinch.

Zaremba gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees to the body from Zaremba.

Zaremba manages to pull guard.
Zaremba wants to stand but Axe is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zaremba trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaremba wants to get back to his feet but Axe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Axe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zaremba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Axe content to stall in guard here.
Zaremba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Axe is controlling him.

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.
Axe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zaremba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Axe is one step ahead there.
Zaremba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Axe controls the pace.
Axe postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axe stands up and waves to Zaremba to follow him.

Zaremba drives through and clinches with Axe against the cage.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Zaremba is controlling him.

Zaremba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Piotr Zaremba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Axe is looking to clinch but Zaremba is avoiding it.
Axe keeps the fight on the outside.
Axe tries to clinch there but Zaremba circles away.
Zaremba fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Axe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Axe shoots in looking for a takedown. Zaremba tries to sprawl out of it but Axe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zaremba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Axe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zaremba counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zaremba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Axe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaremba has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zaremba throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Zaremba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Axe walks away with a smile on his face. Zaremba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zaremba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zaremba has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Axe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zaremba attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Axe looks to clinch

and Zaremba counters by moving into the clinch.
Zaremba keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Axe wants to get back to striking at distance but Zaremba won't allow it.
Sam Axe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Axe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Axe trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piotr Zaremba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zaremba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piotr Zaremba!