PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hammer Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Axe
vs
James

180 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hammer Axe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses the shot to the body.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Axe is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Axe misses with a wild body shot.
James scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Hammer Axe has been cut.
Axe is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axe has a takedown stuffed.
James keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Axe.
Axe shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Axe misses with a hook.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Axe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. James sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Axe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from James.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Axe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
James lands with an overhand left.
James lands with a good body shot.
Axe tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Axe moves out of range as James strikes.

James lands a left and a right that send Axe crashing to the mat, dazed. James thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
James has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James misses with a two punch combination.
A swing and a miss from Axe.
Rick James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axe misses with a straight left.
James scores with a decent looking hook.
James misses with a straight left.
James cracks Axe with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Axe loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
James shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Axe eats them both and turns towards James to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Axe walks into a stiff left hand from James.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Axe is really struggling to find his range with his punches. James's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James blocks the body kick.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Axe drops his hands momentarily and James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Axe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by James.
Hammer Axe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Hammer Axe's cut is getting worse.
James is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Axe had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Axe looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
Axe tries to land a leg kick but James saw it coming and moves away.
Axe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Axe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Axe. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James connects with a jab.
Axe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Axe looks to clinch
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Axe needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe misses with a wild body shot.
Axe wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Axe throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Axe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
James digs a good body shot into Axe's ribs.
A big left from Axe misses.
Axe on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Axe takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
James looks gassed!
Axe loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
Axe tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Axe looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
James feints a jab promting Axe to slip. James then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Axe slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Axe looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hammer Axe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from James.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Axe.
Axe takes one to the side of the head.
Axe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Axe is looking to clinch.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
Axe misses with an uppercut.
James blocks a low kick nicely.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Axe. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Axe slips a straight right by James.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James misses with a body shot.
James clobbers Axe with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Axe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hammer Axe's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James slips under a jab from Axe.
Axe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
No joy there for Axe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Axe.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
James 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.
Axe shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James throws a right and a left that Axe avoids nicely.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
James scores with a shot to the body.
Axe fails with a takedown attempt.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from James in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
James sizes up Axe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James throws a hook to the side of Axe's head but Axe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Axe throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Axe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Axe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axe shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hammer Axe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axe fails with the takedown.
Rick James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Axe throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Axe ducks under a wild hook from James.
The crowd cheers as James lands an impressive looking overhand right. Axe doesn't seem phased though.
Axe misses with a hook.
Axe throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Axe throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James lands a glancing blow to the side of Axe's head.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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!
James lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Axe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axe was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James works Axe's body with a nice hook.
Axe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
James is breathing heavily.
James scores with a nice right hand.
Axe takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Axe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Axe. That snapped James's head back.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Axe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
James throws a looping overhand right but Axe ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James blocks a jab.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axe was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James throws a head kick but Axe moves out of range.
James looks to land a right hand but Axe moved out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Axe throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James ducks under a wild hook from Axe.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Axe.
Axe fails with an attempt to clinch.
James looks to land a left hand but Axe moved out of range nicely.
Axe throws a big shot that misses.
Axe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Axe.
Axe throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe just misses with a punch to the body.
Axe lands a lovely overhand right.
Axe throws a big shot that misses.
Axe takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A right-left combo lands from James.
Axe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axe misses with a body shot.
Axe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from James misses.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Axe. Axe gets slowly back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axe tries to clinch up.
Some bone on bone action there as James checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hammer Axe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Axe misses.
Axe tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Axe somewhat.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Axe's shoulder, as Axe tries to avoid the shot.
Axe misses with a lunging right hand
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James throws a hook but Axe avoids it easily.
Axe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Axe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Axe thows a left - swing and a miss!
James misses with an uppercut.
Axe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Axe.
James scores with a decent looking hook.
James avoids the body shot from Axe.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from James misses.
James misses with an uppercut.
Axe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick from Axe misses.
James ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Axe wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Axe throws a front kick aimed at James's knee but James avoids it well.
James bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Axe lands a jab.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A jab from Axe misses.
Axe throws a jab when James was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe misses the shot to the body.
James ducks under a wild hook from Axe.
James's corner calls for a 1-2. James obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
James staying out of range there.
James slips under a jab from Axe.
James throws a hook but Axe blocks it.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Axe takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James looks to land a left hand but Axe moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Axe misses.
Axe fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Axe.
Axe misses with a looping right.
Axe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
Axe closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
A slow jab from Axe misses its intended target.
Axe tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
A shot to the liver by James. Beautiful body shot.
James throws a hook but Axe blocks it.
James moves out of range as Axe strikes.
James scores with a nice head shot.
Axe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
Axe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James loads up on a big right hand but Axe slips the punch.
Axe throws a chopping leg kick but James manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
James is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Axe misses with a lunging right hand
and Axe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Axe avoids the head kick by James.
Axe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hammer Axe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James connects with a right hand. Axe shakes it off.
Axe fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hammer Axe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axe drops his hands momentarily and James takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
James throws a nice looking combination but Axe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Axe missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe misses with an uppercut.
Axe throws a jab when James was well out of range.
Axe missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Axe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rick James.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick James!