PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Llorente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Axelsson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Llorente
vs
Axelsson

197 cm
31
220 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

183 cm
29
209 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugo Llorente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Llorente misses with a right hand

and Axelsson counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axelsson lands a nice forearm strike.
Axelsson prevents Llorente from escaping the position.
Llorente takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Axelsson trying to control the action but Llorente is working from the bottom.
Llorente is looking to get back to his feet here but Axelsson is keeping cool and he's managed to take Llorente's back.
Llorente trying to get back to his feet but Axelsson is in full control for now.

Axelsson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Llorente defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Llorente is trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Llorente is covering up but some of the strikes from Axelsson are getting through and doing damage.
Llorente trying to get back to his feet but Axelsson is in full control for now.

Axelsson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Llorente has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Llorente wants to get back to his feet.
Axelsson punishes Llorente with strikes from the back mount.
Llorente wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson scores with punches and elbows.

Llorente is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Axelsson gets his way!
Llorente is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Axelsson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Axelsson scores with strikes from the back.
Llorente is trying to stand back up.
Llorente grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Llorente is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Axelsson off. It looks like it's working - Axelsson slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Llorente displaying calm under pressure there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axelsson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Llorente tries to clinch up

and Axelsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Axelsson.
Llorente is looking to stand up but Axelsson isn't so interested in that idea.
Axelsson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Llorente wants to stand up but Axelsson is controlling him.
Llorente trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Llorente pushes Axelsson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Llorente tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Axelsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Llorente throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Axelsson feints the counter takedown.
Llorente pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Axelsson throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Axelsson tries to get set, Llorente tries to push him back and clinch up but Axelsson manages to avoid the attempt.
Llorente tries to clinch up
and Axelsson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Llorente misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsson scores with a hook to the body. Llorente takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Axelsson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Llorente has time to react.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Axelsson, as that shot connected.
Axelsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Llorente moves into the clinch.
Llorente controlling the action here for a moment.
Axelsson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick by Llorente misses

and Axelsson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Llorente won't be happy with that.
Axelsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axelsson cracks Llorente with a big right hand but Llorente just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Llorente wants to get back to his feet but Axelsson drags him back down.
Axelsson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Llorente tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axelsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Llorente squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Axelsson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Llorente in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Llorente trying desperately to get to his feet.
Axelsson controlling from mount.
Axelsson lands a big elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Llorente wants to get back to his feet.
Axelsson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Axelsson wants to control the pace but Llorente is squirming around nicely.
Axelsson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Llorente is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Axelsson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Llorente looks a forlorn figure.
Llorente tries to buck Axelsson off but he can't manage it.
Johan Axelsson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson dominating with strikes here.
Axelsson tries to control but Llorente wriggling away.

Axelsson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Llorente can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Axelsson scoring with strikes but Llorente is staying in there.
Llorente is bucking up trying to escape but Axelsson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Llorente is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axelsson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Llorente is rocked!
Llorente is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Axelsson lands a heavy elbow.
Oh Llorente is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Axelsson unloading with bombs!
Llorente takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Axelsson's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johan Axelsson!
During a confident post fight interview, Johan Axelsson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.