PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Average Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Average Joe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Axelsson
vs
Joe

183 cm
34
194 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

185 cm
33
202 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Average Joe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Joe has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A lazy left from Joe finds it's target.
Joe connects with a body shot.
Joe throws a jab when Axelsson was well out of range.
Joe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Axelsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Joe throws a hook but Axelsson avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Axelsson misses its intended target.
Joe was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Joe connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Joe tries to bum rush Axelsson with a series of wild strikes but Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Joe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Joe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Axelsson dodges the punch combination from Joe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson looks to land a left hand but Joe moved out of range nicely.
Average Joe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axelsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.
Joe is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Joe shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Axelsson eats them both and turns towards Joe to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Joe throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joe loads up on a big right hand but Axelsson slips the punch.
It looked like Axelsson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Joe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Axelsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Joe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axelsson manages to avoid it.
Axelsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joe.
Joe throws out a leg kick but Axelsson moves out of range and Joe only half commits.
Axelsson throwing a counter right hand but Joe manages to avoid it.
Joe with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe just misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Joe was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Joe throws a lazy uppercut

and Axelsson counters with a shoot takedown. Joe fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joe is trying to keep Axelsson in close.
Axelsson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Axelsson wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
Axelsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joe wants to sweep but no luck.
Joe keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe wants to control the position but Axelsson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Axelsson prevents Joe from standing back up.
Axelsson thows a huge punch but Joe dodges it nicely.
Axelsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Axelsson thows a huge punch but Joe dodges it nicely.
Axelsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Joe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Axelsson controlling the action here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Joe tries to get to full guard but Axelsson has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Axelsson trying to mount his opponent but Joe defends it.
Joe is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Joe misses with a double jab
and Axelsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Joe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Axelsson.
Axelsson throws a jab when Joe was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johan Axelsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joe throws a low kick but Axelsson avoids it.

Axelsson clinches up against the ropes.
Axelsson stalling in the clinch.
Joe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Axelsson working aggressively here.
Axelsson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Axelsson lands a nice uppercut.
Axelsson misses with a body punch.
Axelsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Joe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joe has hold of one of Axelsson's legs. Axelsson is fighting the takedown attempt but Joe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joe is working Axelsson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Axelsson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Joe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Axelsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Joe is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Axelsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Axelsson is pulling down on Joe's head to control his posture.
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.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joe postures up.

Axelsson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Joe defends it easily.
Joe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Axelsson has his foot on Joe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joe works his way back into a safe position though.
Joe postures up in Axelsson's guard and throws a big left but Axelsson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Joe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Joe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Axelsson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Joe has managed to get both his arms back between Axelsson's legs - danger averted.
Joe throws an elbow that misses. Axelsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joe's guard. Nice move by Axelsson!

Axelsson stops Joe from standing up.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Axelsson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Joe is trying to control the position but Axelsson postures up.
Axelsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Axelsson stopping the sweep attempt from Joe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throwing strikes but missing.
Johan Axelsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joe is trying to control the position but Axelsson postures up.
Axelsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joe's head.
Joe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Axelsson is one step ahead there.
Joe keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
Axelsson working some strikes from top position.
Joe has his hands on Axelsson's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Axelsson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Axelsson throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Axelsson misses the jab.
A big right from Axelsson misses.
Axelsson misses with a body shot.
Joe fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe scoring well with a low kick there.
Joe looks to throw the jab but Axelsson is out of range.
It looked like Axelsson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Axelsson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Axelsson shoots and misses
and Joe counters with a two punch combo.
Axelsson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Joe throws out the jab.
Axelsson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Axelsson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Axelsson tries to move into range but Joe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Axelsson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Joe. Joe obviously looking to wear him down.
Joe misses with a body shot
and Axelsson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Axelsson looks for a takedown but Joe sprawls well.

Axelsson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Joe napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joe keeps working.
Joe struggling a bit here.
Joe is letting Axelsson control him for a moment.

Axelsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Axelsson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Joe works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Axelsson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe manages to get to full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Joe holds on and takes a little breather.
Axelsson wants to control from the top but Joe keeps moving.
Axelsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Axelsson throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Axelsson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Joe slips a straight right by Axelsson.
Axelsson misses with a body shot.
Joe misses the shot to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Axelsson misses its target.
Joe takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Joe catches Axelsson right on the button with a cross.
Joe takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.
Axelsson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joe lands a jab to the nose.
Joe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Axelsson to score with a decent uppercut.
Axelsson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Joe.
Axelsson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Joe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Axelsson connects with a looping right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Average Joe really 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 ring so we can get back down to business.

Axelsson lands with a hook. Joe tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Joe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axelsson is looking to counter the offense by Joe and move into the clinch.
Joe throws a quick inside leg kick.
Joe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Axelsson.
Joe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Joe looks to land a combination but Axelsson avoids it well.
Joe takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.
Axelsson is looking for a counter combo.
Average Joe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe misses with a few strikes there.
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Axelsson backs off Joe throws a huge counter combo but Axelsson manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Axelsson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Joe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Joe is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Axelsson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Joe is not content to let Axelsson control the position.
The strikes coming from Axelsson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Joe is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Joe stops Axelsson from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe tries to improve position but can't.

Joe explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Axelsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joe.
Axelsson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Joe.
A punch combination from Joe misses.
Axelsson scores with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joe takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Axelsson lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Joe. That snapped Axelsson's head back.
Axelsson slips under a jab from Joe.
Joe misses with a low kick.
Joe misses with a wild body shot.
Axelsson moves out of range of the strikes.
Axelsson misses with a looping right.
Joe misses with a low kick.
Average Joe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joe misses with a hook. Axelsson ducked under it nicely.
Axelsson tries to counter with a takedown but Joe is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Axelsson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
No luck for Axelsson with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Joe's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Axelsson throws a good cross that connects.
Joe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Axelsson.
A little jabbing left from Joe on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Joe scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Axelsson throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joe misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Axelsson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Joe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Average Joe dominated that fourth round.
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!

Joe throws a nice looking combination but Axelsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joe scores with a head kick. Axelsson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Joe throws a sloppy head kick and Axelsson moves out of range easily.
Axelsson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Axelsson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Joe throws a leg kick that misses.
Axelsson misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Axelsson's hands.
Good work by Axelsson as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Axelsson counter with a right hand.
Axelsson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Joe lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Axelsson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Axelsson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Joe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Axelsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joe misses with a shot to the body
and Axelsson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Axelsson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Axelsson misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Joe. Axelsson does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Axelsson doesn't seem bothered though.
Axelsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Joe misses with a head kick.
Joe catches Axelsson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Joe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Axelsson.
Axelsson lands a body shot.
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!
Joe swats away the attempt to clinch by Axelsson.
Axelsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throws a lazy right hand but Joe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Axelsson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Joe counters with a straight right hand.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut. Joe saw that one coming.
Joe's jab looks to have found its range, popping Axelsson under the eye.
A left and a right from Joe both land. Nice combination.
Axelsson throws a jab but it's blocked by Joe.
Axelsson dodges the punch combination from Joe.
Johan Axelsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good standup being displayed there by Joe as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson scores with a body shot.
Axelsson takes a swing at Joe's ribcage but misses.
Joe connects with an inside leg kick.
Joe thumps Axelsson with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Axelsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe connects with an inside leg kick.
Axelsson throws a good cross that connects.
Axelsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joe moves away.
Axelsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Average Joe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Average Joe!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Average Joe!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Average Joe!

Average Joe wins by unanimous decision!
Average Joe looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Legion of Doom. Yknow?'.