PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ad Szent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ad Szent has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Axelsson
vs
Szent

185 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gustav Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ad Szent!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson throws a body kick that misses.

Axelsson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Szent isn't going anywhere.
Axelsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szent keeps working.
Axelsson wants to stand but Szent has his arm trapped.
Szent is looking to regain half guard here but Axelsson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szent keeps working.
Axelsson working away.
Axelsson advances nicely into full mount.

Szent bucks Axelsson off and manages to get back to his feet!
Axelsson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Axelsson fakes the leg kick and cracks Szent in the body.
Szent avoids the head kick by Axelsson.
Axelsson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Szent.
Szent wants to clinch.
Axelsson is looking to clinch.
Axelsson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Szent.

Axelsson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szent lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Szent has Axelsson pulled in close to control his posture.
Szent looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson trying to move into half guard but instead Szent has managed to sweep!
Szent tries to free his leg and advance position but Axelsson is retaining full guard.
Szent's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Szent slips nicely into half guard.

Szent looking for a submission but Axelsson manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Szent looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szent stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Axelsson drives through and clinches with Szent against the cage.

Szent escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Axelsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Szent circles away.

Szent shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Axelsson is trying to defend but Szent finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelsson wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gustav Axelsson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Szent tries a head kick but it misses.
Axelsson misses with a kick to the body.
Szent is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Axelsson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Axelsson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Szent is trying to control Axelsson's posture but Axelsson avoids it.
Axelsson trying to control the action but Szent is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szent struggling a bit here.

Szent sneaks out the side door and pushes Axelsson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Szent will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Szent dives in and grabs Axelsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Axelsson pushes down on Szent's head and hops out.

Axelsson scores with a takedown into Szent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axelsson being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szent is working an open guard so Axelsson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Axelsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Szent did well to prevent Axelsson getting side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szent makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Szent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Szent wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Szent striking off his back but it's not causing Axelsson any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szent keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
Szent wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Axelsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Szent on the ground.
Szent working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ad Szent hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Axelsson looks for the body kick but Szent saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szent moves into the clinch.
Axelsson looking to slow down the pace here.

Szent manages to pull guard.
Szent trying to control the position.

Szent has his feet on Axelsson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szent tries to clinch but Axelsson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gustav Axelsson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Axelsson throws a head kick that misses.
Axelsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axelsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Szent fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Axelsson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Axelsson throws a combination that misses

and Szent counters with a shoot takedown. Axelsson fights it but they end up in guard.
Szent pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelsson is keeping the position for now.
Szent passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Axelsson is trying to control Szent's posture but Szent avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Szent stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Axelsson gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Szent slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Axelsson won't allow Szent to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szent looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Szent has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Axelsson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Szent looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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!
Axelsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Szent is retaining full guard.

Szent working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Axelsson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Szent is tightening it up a little... Axelsson has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Axelsson reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Axelsson taps out! Nice BJJ there by Szent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ad Szent!
An out of breath Ad Szent thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.