PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Miami Vice Theme Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johnson
vs
Axelsson

186 cm
26
198 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

183 cm
34
194 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Axelsson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson punishes Axelsson's body with a nice straight punch.
Axelsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Axelsson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Axelsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Don Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Axelsson throws a looping overhand right but Johnson ducks down to avoid it.
Johnson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Axelsson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Axelsson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Axelsson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Axelsson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Axelsson slips a jab and a cross from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Axelsson.

Johnson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Axelsson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Axelsson is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Axelsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Johnson is looking to advance position but Axelsson won't allow it.
Johnson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Axelsson tries to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Axelsson can't escape the position.
Axelsson is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Johnson controlling his opponent.
Johnson tries to control but Axelsson wriggling away.
Axelsson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Axelsson is still trying to improve position.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Axelsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Axelsson is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Johnson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Axelsson is squirming around, avoiding Johnson's attempts to control the action.
Axelsson wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Axelsson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson tries to control but Axelsson wriggling away.
Johnson controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Axelsson is having none of it.
Axelsson wants to hold on but Johnson pushes him away.
Axelsson is working to get back to half guard.
Johnson is looking to work his way around to Axelsson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Johnson is trying to control here but Axelsson has managed to regain half guard.

Axelsson actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Axelsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Johnson slows the pace down in half guard.
Johnson passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson punishes Axelsson's body with a nice straight punch.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses

and Axelsson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson controlling the position.
Axelsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Axelsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Axelsson is proving a slippery customer.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Axelsson preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Axelsson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Axelsson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Axelsson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Axelsson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Johnson is trying to control. Axelsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Axelsson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson won't allow Axelsson to sweep him here.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Axelsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Axelsson keeps moving.

Axelsson working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson pushes down on Axelsson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Axelsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Axelsson keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Axelsson can do to turn this around?

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Axelsson defends the submission attempt.

Axelsson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.
Johnson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Don Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Axelsson trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Axelsson defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Axelsson is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Axelsson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Axelsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Axelsson is out of range.

Axelsson tries to sprawl but Johnson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Axelsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson throws a combination. Axelsson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Axelsson gets caught napping as Johnson dives in and scores a takedown. Axelsson manages to retain guard.

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Axelsson has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axelsson trying to control the position.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelsson is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Axelsson trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Axelsson keeps moving.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelsson is keeping the position for now.
Axelsson has Johnson pulled in close to control his posture.

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johan Axelsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Axelsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson wants to control but Axelsson passes easily into half guard.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Axelsson has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Axelsson trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Axelsson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Axelsson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Axelsson looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Don Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Axelsson is defending the position.
Johnson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Axelsson is defending well.
Axelsson is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson stalling.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Axelsson defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Johnson!
During a confident post fight interview, Don Johnson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.