PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Whisper Welker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whisper Welker is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Axelsson
vs
Welker

181 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 Helsinki, Magnus Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Whisper Welker!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Axelsson gets caught napping as Welker dives in and scores a takedown. Axelsson manages to retain guard.
Axelsson keeping full guard, as Welker tries to pass.
Axelsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Welker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Axelsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Welker from controlling successfully.
Welker stands and throws Axelsson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Welker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Welker postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Welker sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Axelsson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Axelsson is not content to let Welker control the position.
Welker throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Axelsson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welker wants to take a breather but Axelsson is having none of it.
Welker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Welker throws a strike but Axelsson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Welker passes Axelsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Welker trying to control the action but Axelsson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Axelsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Welker.
Axelsson gets full guard.
Welker trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axelsson keeping full guard, as Welker tries to pass.

Axelsson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Welker escapes and throws Axelsson's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Welker crashes against the mat.
Welker working the body and head with strikes.
Welker is looking to take a break and control but Axelsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Welker cracks Axelsson with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whisper Welker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Axelsson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Welker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Welker throws a strike but Axelsson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Axelsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Welker is keeping the position for now.
Welker pulls Axelsson in close to prevent any damage.
Axelsson is working Welker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Axelsson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Welker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axelsson preventing the sweep.
Axelsson throwing strikes but missing.
Axelsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Welker working a defensive guard here.
Welker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Axelsson postures up in Welker's guard and throws a big left but Welker blocks it.
Axelsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Welker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is pushing down on Welker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Welker is fighting to maintain full guard but Axelsson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Welker wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welker gets full guard.
Axelsson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Welker looking for a sweep. Not yet Welker, not yet.
Axelsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Axelsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Welker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsson trying to control but Welker is working from the bottom.
Welker trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Axelsson wants to pass the guard but Welker is keeping the position.
Axelsson distracts Welker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Axelsson slips nicely into half guard.

Axelsson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Welker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Welker is looking for a sweep. Axelsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Axelsson trying to advance position but Welker counters by regaining guard.
Welker is trying to control the position but Axelsson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Welker keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
Axelsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Axelsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whisper Welker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Axelsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Axelsson preventing the sweep.
Axelsson slips nicely into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Welker is looking to improve his position.
Axelsson is keen to just control but Welker is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Axelsson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Axelsson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Welker scores with a hook.
Welker lands the left hand.
Welker lands a jab.
Axelsson misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Axelsson.
Welker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Axelsson.
Axelsson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Welker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Axelsson sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Welker to the ground! Axelsson dives into full mount looking to finish!

It looks like Whisper Welker has been cut.
Axelsson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelsson working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Welker is rocked!
Axelsson with shots to the head and body - Welker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Welker is still in real trouble! Can Axelsson finish him?
Axelsson trying to control but Welker is having none of it.

Axelsson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Welker is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welker wants to pass the guard but Axelsson is keeping the position.
Welker seems to have recovered his senses.

Axelsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Welker defends well.
Welker wants to pass the guard but Axelsson is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welker throwing strikes from guard but Axelsson blocks nicely.
Welker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Welker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Welker stays in close to Axelsson's body and controls the position.
Welker won't allow Axelsson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is looking to sweep but instead, Welker has passed into half guard.
Welker throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Axelsson to regain full guard.
Welker trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Welker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Welker throwing strikes but missing.
Welker is working Axelsson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welker working some strikes from top position.
Welker throwing strikes from guard but Axelsson blocks nicely.
Axelsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Welker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Welker tries to free his leg and advance position but Axelsson is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Axelsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Axelsson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Axelsson!
After winning the bout, Magnus Axelsson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.