PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bolt Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axelsson comes to the cage accompanied by Petter - Det går bra nu. Morris is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: MMMBop. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Axelsson
vs
Morris

183 cm
26
209 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
220 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bolt Morris!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Axelsson misses its intended target.
Axelsson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Axelsson blocks the body kick.
Axelsson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Morris slips a jab from Axelsson.
Morris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morris gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Axelsson slips a jab and a cross from Morris.
Axelsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morris avoids it really well and circles away.
Axelsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A head kick lands from Morris that sends Axelsson to the canvas. Axelsson tries to scramble back to his feet but Morris brings him back down into side control.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Axelsson gets back to half guard.
Morris is trying to control. Axelsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Axelsson trying to hold on to Morris's head to control him but Morris postures up.
Morris stalling.
Morris looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Morris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Axelsson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Morris seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris trying to control from half guard but Axelsson is working away.
Axelsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Axelsson trying to control here.

Axelsson actively working from the bottom here.
Axelsson is looking to control Morris's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Axelsson avoid being mounted?
Morris seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Axelsson is trying to control but can't.
Axelsson is not content to let Morris control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morris is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Axelsson is looking for a triangle but Morris pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Axelsson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Morris is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Axelsson working a defensive guard here.

Axelsson has an active guard here but Morris has managed to pass into half guard.
Morris landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Axelsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Axelsson trying to control but Morris postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is refusing to be controlled, as Morris sits in half guard.
Ground and pound from Morris.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axelsson moves into full guard.

Axelsson is looking for a triangle but Morris pushes his legs off easily.
Axelsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morris's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axelsson wants to pass the guard but Morris is keeping the position.
Morris wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bolt Morris dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson'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.

Axelsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Axelsson goes for a double leg but Morris avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Morris continues to drive forward.
Axelsson wants to break free but Morris has control.
A short uppercut from Morris.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelsson.
Axelsson wants to stall.
Morris lands a shoulder strike.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Morris.
Morris stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Morris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morris lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Morris scores with a hook to the body. Axelsson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Axelsson slips a straight right by Morris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morris is fending him off so far but Axelsson persists. Nope, Morris circles away and we're back to standing.
Morris has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Axelsson blocks the body kick.
Axelsson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Axelsson looks to throw the jab but Morris is out of range.
Axelsson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Morris eats them both and turns towards Axelsson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Morris throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Axelsson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Morris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morris staying out of range there.
Bolt Morris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Axelsson avoids the head kick by Morris.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morris avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morris misses the shot to the body.
Morris is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Axelsson rather than just go for the knockout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Axelsson. Morris does a little dance to reset his feet.
Morris slaps away a takedown attempt from Axelsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Axelsson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Axelsson looks to throw the jab but Morris is out of range.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Axelsson. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Axelsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Morris throws a leg kick but Axelsson moved away.
Morris connects with a body shot that sends Axelsson's belly button to the back.
Morris scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Axelsson doesn't seem bothered though.
Morris misses with a body kick.
Axelsson shoots and misses
and Morris counters with a three punch combo that has Axelsson backing up. Axelsson nods at Morris to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelsson throws a body punch but Morris moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Morris.
Axelsson shoots in and drives through. Morris sprawls well.
Morris misses with a body kick.
Axelsson avoids the head kick by Morris.
Morris bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Axelsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morris is fending him off so far but Axelsson persists. Nope, Morris circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris misses with a low kick as Axelsson jumps back.
Axelsson throws the left hand but Morris avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Axelsson with that takedown attempt.

Morris throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Axelsson was covering up waiting for the punch and Morris finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Morris throws an elbow that misses. Axelsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morris's guard. Nice move by Axelsson!
Axelsson landing with the ground and pound.
Axelsson connects with a couple of short punches.
Morris keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
Morris trying to keep a closed guard but Axelsson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Morris wants to hit a switch here but Axelsson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Morris there!
Morris is desperately trying to improve his position but Axelsson has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Axelsson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Axelsson avoids the attempt from Morris to control.
Axelsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Morris defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Axelsson.
Axelsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johan Axelsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson controlling the pace for now.
Morris is looking to get to half guard.
Morris is still trying to improve position.
Morris is bucking up trying to escape but Axelsson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Axelsson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morris is looking to escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelsson breaks from Morris's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Morris looks a forlorn figure.
Morris bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Axelsson is looking for a triangle but Morris pushes his legs off easily.

Morris avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Morris trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Morris throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris postures up.
Morris working some strikes from top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axelsson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Morris avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Morris stands up over Axelsson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Morris passes Axelsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Axelsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Axelsson has his feet on Morris's thighs here. He's pushed Morris off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Morris screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Johan Axelsson!
Johan Axelsson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.