PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Rackham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Axelsson
vs
Rackham

183 cm
32
194 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

182 cm
32
193 lbs
29 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Mohito Fightwear
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Rackham!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson looks to throw the jab but Rackham is out of range.
Rackham scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rackham throws a head kick but Axelsson moves out of range.
Axelsson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rackham sprawls and moves away.

Rackham moves into the clinch.
Axelsson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Rackham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Axelsson looks to throw the jab but Rackham is out of range.
Axelsson lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rackham let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Axelsson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jab, jab by Rackham - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham with a jab.

Axelsson moves into the clinch.
Rackham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Axelsson tries for a takedown but Rackham manages to get underhooks.
Rackham has had enough of the clinch but Axelsson keeps him there for the moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rackham digs a right hand underneath Axelsson's ribcage. Axelsson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rackham lands a body shot.
Axelsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Rackham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rackham.
Rackham was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Axelsson throws a good cross that connects.
Axelsson tried to score with a low kick but Rackham checks it.
Jack Rackham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axelsson stuns Rackham with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Axelsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rackham.
Axelsson avoids a kick to the body.
Rackham slips a straight right by Axelsson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rackham lands with a nice combination. Axelsson backs away looking to recover.
Axelsson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rackham lands a jab to the head.
Axelsson misses the shot to the body.
Rackham blocks a jab.
Rackham throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Axelsson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham tries to roll over but Axelsson keeps him under control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rackham can do anything to dispel that myth.
Axelsson passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Rackham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Axelsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sloppy strikes there by Axelsson.
Axelsson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rackham sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rackham is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rackham is trying to control Axelsson's posture but Axelsson avoids it.
Axelsson looks up at the clock and then as Rackham takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Axelsson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Axelsson controls the position.
Axelsson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Axelsson grinds an elbow into Rackham's temple.
Axelsson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Axelsson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Axelsson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rackham in his tracks.
Good leg kick by Rackham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rackham scores with a three punch combo!
Rackham lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rackham lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut
and Rackham counters with a right hand to the body.
Rackham tries a head kick but it misses.
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 misses with a wild body shot.
Rackham throws a fast counter high kick but Axelsson manages to duck under it in time.
Rackham scores with a jab. Axelsson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Rackham pushes Axelsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Axelsson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Axelsson lands a shot to the body.
Axelsson working aggressively here.
Rackham prevents the takedown attempt.
Axelsson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rackham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rackham pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Axelsson back to the cage. Rackham follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Johan Axelsson's cut is getting worse.
Rackham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Axelsson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rackham has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Rackham fails to land with a series of punches.
Axelsson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rackham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rackham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rackham darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rackham steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Axelsson.
Rackham throws a counter combo.
Axelsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rackham sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rackham takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rackham has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rackham closes the distance and pushes Axelsson back into the cage.
Axelsson working aggressively here.

Rackham breaks the clinch.
Axelsson throws a hook but Rackham avoids it easily.
Axelsson throws an overhand right that lands on Rackham's shoulder, as Rackham tries to avoid the shot.
Axelsson moves away from the strike by Rackham.
An attempted straight right counter from Axelsson misses the target.
Rackham moves out of range as Axelsson strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Axelsson. Beautiful body shot.
Rackham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rackham wants it to stay on the feet.
Rackham throws the kick towards the body but Axelsson avoids it.
Rackham pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Axelsson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Axelsson slips under a jab from Rackham.
Axelsson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Rackham closes the distance and clinches.
Axelsson taking a breather.
Rackham has a couple of punches blocked by Axelsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rackham.

Johan Axelsson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Axelsson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rackham controls his hands.
Rackham tries a knee to the head but Axelsson blocks it.
Rackham scores with a shot to the side of Axelsson's head.
Rackham lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Rackham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rackham staying out of range there.

Rackham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Axelsson, pushing him back against the cage.
Axelsson avoiding damage as Rackham throws knees to the body.
Axelsson gets through Rackham's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Axelsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rackham smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axelsson moves out of range as Rackham strikes.
Rackham takes one to the side of the head.
Axelsson fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rackham 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.
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.

Rackham throws the kick towards the body but Axelsson avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Rackham.
Rackham connects with a body shot that sends Axelsson's belly button to the back.
Rackham lands a jab to Axelsson's midsection.
Axelsson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham tries to bum rush Axelsson with a series of wild strikes but Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rackham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Axelsson tries to keep at a distance but Rackham has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axelsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rackham.

Rackham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rackham connects with a high kick.
Rackham misses with a double jab.
Axelsson is looking to counter punch.
Rackham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Axelsson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rackham wants to clinch
and Axelsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Rackham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Axelsson dips to his left and cracks Rackham with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham throws a front kick aimed at Axelsson's knee but Axelsson avoids it well.
Rackham fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rackham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rackham slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axelsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It seemed like Rackham was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axelsson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson lands a nice shot that snaps Rackham's head back.
Axelsson moves out of range of the body kick.
Axelsson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rackham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Axelsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rackham throws a sloppy head kick
and Axelsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jack Rackham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rackham 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.

Jeez, Johan Axelsson's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Axelsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rackham misses with a head kick.
Rackham moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rackham tries to clinch but Axelsson moves away
and Axelsson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Rackham keeps it at a distance.
Rackham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rackham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Axelsson with a poor takedown
and Rackham counters with a series of strikes. Axelsson will be more careful next time no doubt.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Johan Axelsson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jack Rackham!
Jack Rackham is the new middleweight champion!
Our winner, Jack Rackham, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.