PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daton Everlast (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daton Everlast had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Everlast
vs
Axe

194 cm
22
198 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
195 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite 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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Daton Everlast!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Axe!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Everlast avoids a punch combination nicely.
Axe jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Axe lands an overhand right.
Axe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Axe misses with a looping left.
Axe throws a right and a left that Everlast avoids nicely.
Axe displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Axe misses with a few strikes there.
Axe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Everlast counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Axe moves into range and connects with a jab.
Axe throws a right hand that misses
and Everlast counters with a straight right hand.
Axe throws a series of punches but Everlast moves out of range.
Everlast lands a jab to Axe's midsection.
Axe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axe misses with a few strikes there.

Everlast gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Everlast.

It looks like Sam Axe has been cut.
Everlast misses with a knee strike.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Everlast is breathing heavily.
Everlast lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Everlast with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Everlast has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Everlast throws a knee to the head but misses.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Everlast throws a knee to the head but misses.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Everlast has double underhooks.
Everlast has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Axe tries to circle away but Everlast has him pinned against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.

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 has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Everlast with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Everlast with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Everlast prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Everlast tries to land a knee to the head but Axe blocks with his arms.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Everlast with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Everlast tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Everlast keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling him.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Axe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axe can't break the clinch.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe tries to break free but Everlast pushes him back against the cage.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Everlast has double underhooks.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe is trying to stall.
Axe is trying to break free.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Axe wants to break free but Everlast has control.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Axe holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Axe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Everlast prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Axe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Axe's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Axe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Everlast.
Everlast tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Axe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Axe throws a lazy right hand but Everlast sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Axe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Everlast counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Axe misses with a looping right.
Axe misses with a looping right.
Axe falls off balance throwing a combination

and Everlast counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Everlast tries to land a knee to the head but Axe blocks with his arms.
Axe tries to break free but Everlast pushes him back against the cage.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling him.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Everlast has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Axe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling him.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Axe wants to get back to striking at distance but Everlast won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Everlast 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.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Axe looking to stall.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Everlast has double underhooks.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Axe stalling in the clinch but Everlast improves position.
Everlast throws a knee to the head but misses.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Axe wants to break free but Everlast has control.
Axe tries to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling the position.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Everlast tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Axe is looking to break free of the clinch but Everlast has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Axe stalling in the clinch but Everlast improves position.

Axe manages to break the clinch.
Axe misses with a right hand
and Everlast counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Axe throws a right hand that Everlast ducks under and follows up with a left that Everlast also avoids with ease.
Everlast tries to clinch up but Axe circles away and keeps his distance.
Everlast takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Everlast takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Everlast slips a jab and a cross from Axe.
Axe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Axe misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Everlast slips a jab and a cross from Axe.
Sam Axe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Axe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Everlast holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Axe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Everlast throws a knee to the head but misses.
Axe is trying to maintain a safe position but Everlast gets an underhook and turns Axe into the cage.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling him.
Axe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Everlast as Axe tries to tie him up.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Everlast has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Axe tries to circle away but Everlast has him pinned against the cage.
Everlast misses with a knee strike.
Axe taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Axe wants to get back to striking at distance but Everlast won't allow it.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Axe manages to break the clinch.
Axe scores with a jab to the head.
Axe throws the left hand but Everlast avoids the punch easily.
Axe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Axe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Axe thuds a left hand into Everlast's body.
Axe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Axe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Axe cracks Everlast with a right hand to the side of the head.
Axe throws a good cross that connects.
Everlast displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Axe throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Axe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Axe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Axe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Axe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Everlast on the side of the head.
Axe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Everlast was well out of range. Poor timing from Axe.
Axe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Everlast.
Sloppy strikes from Axe. Those never looked like landing.
Axe misses the shot to the body.
Axe misses with a two punch combination.
Axe throws a right and a left that Everlast avoids nicely.
Axe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Everlast counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Everlast takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Everlast uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Axe.
Axe with a jab.
Axe swings widly with a right hand
and Everlast counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Axe misses with a double jab
and Axe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe scores with a jab. Everlast acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Everlast dodges the punch combination from Axe.
Everlast keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Axe.
Jab, jab by Axe - just one landing.
Everlast dodges the punch combination from Axe.
No joy there for Axe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Everlast dodges the punch combination from Axe.

Everlast rushes Axe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Everlast keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axe's efforts to push away.
Everlast connects with a knee to the head.
Daton Everlast has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Everlast prevents Axe from breaking the clinch.
Everlast misses with a knee strike.
Everlast is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axe wants to get back to striking at distance but Everlast won't allow it.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Axe is trying to break free.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Everlast misses with a hook from the clinch.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Everlast has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Everlast looking to throw knees to the head but Axe is blocking nicely.
Axe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Axe is trying to stall.
Axe working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe taking a breather.
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Everlast tries to land a knee to the head but Axe blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Everlast using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Axe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast has him pressed against the cage.
Axe wants to get back to striking at distance but Everlast won't allow it.
Everlast throws a knee to the head but misses.
Axe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Axe is trying to force a seperation but Everlast has the dominant position.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Everlast misses with a knee to the head.
Everlast with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Everlast using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Axe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.

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 wants to stall.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but Axe blocks it.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Everlast has Axe pressed against the cage, preventing Axe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Everlast with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Axe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axe tries to stall but Everlast uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Axe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Axe is trying to break the clinch but Everlast is controlling him.
Everlast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axe blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Everlast keeps control of Axe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Axe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Axe has had enough of the clinch but Everlast keeps him there for the moment.
Everlast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Axe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sam Axe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Axe is trying to push Everlast away but Everlast has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Axe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Axe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Axe!