PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gianpaolo Volpicelli (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
Volpicelli

183 cm
36
194 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

187 cm
34
197 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
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 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gianpaolo Volpicelli!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson scores with a sloppy right hand. Volpicelli should have avoided that one.
Volpicelli rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Axelsson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volpicelli throws the kick towards the body but Axelsson avoids it.
Volpicelli takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Volpicelli connects with a body shot.
Volpicelli misses with a two punch combination.
Axelsson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Volpicelli throws a jab but it's blocked by Axelsson.
Volpicelli moves away from the strike by Axelsson.
Volpicelli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Axelsson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Volpicelli misses with a body shot.

Axelsson drives through and clinches with Volpicelli against the cage.
Volpicelli blocking some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Volpicelli with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Volpicelli pushes off an throws an elbow but Axelsson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Volpicelli trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson managing to block the knees to the body from Volpicelli.
Volpicelli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Volpicelli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A hook to the body from Volpicelli.
Volpicelli tries a knee to the head but Axelsson blocks it.
Volpicelli digs a right hand underneath Axelsson's ribcage. Axelsson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Axelsson.
Volpicelli blocking some punches.
Axelsson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Volpicelli's elbow.
Axelsson lands a right hand.
A frustrated look appears on Volpicelli's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volpicelli tries a knee to the head but Axelsson blocks it.
Axelsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Volpicelli misses with an elbow over the top.
Volpicelli tries a body shot but Axelsson blocks it.
Volpicelli blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volpicelli swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelsson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Volpicelli or not.
Volpicelli missing with knees to the body.
Volpicelli prevents a body shot from Axelsson.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Axelsson.
Axelsson lands a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volpicelli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Volpicelli has Axelsson pushed against the cage.
Axelsson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Axelsson.
Axelsson tries to break the clinch but Volpicelli is controlling the position.
Nice body punch from Volpicelli - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Volpicelli.
Axelsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Axelsson blocks an elbow strike.
A short uppercut from Axelsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Volpicelli misses with a punch on the inside.
Volpicelli tries to throw a body punch but Axelsson avoids it by throwing Volpicelli back against the cage.

Axelsson breaks the clinch.
Volpicelli stuns Axelsson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Volpicelli throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Axelsson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volpicelli was well out of range. Poor timing from Axelsson.
A countering left hand to the body from Volpicelli misses.
Gianpaolo Volpicelli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volpicelli looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Axelsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Volpicelli connects with the punch.
Axelsson moves out of range as Volpicelli strikes.
Volpicelli throws a head kick that misses.
Axelsson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Volpicelli is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volpicelli misses with a few strikes there.
Volpicelli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Axelsson.
Volpicelli throws a low kick but Axelsson moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Axelsson misses the target.
Volpicelli throws a right and a left that Axelsson avoids nicely.
Volpicelli tries to clinch there but Axelsson circles away.
Axelsson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
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!
Volpicelli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Volpicelli fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Axelsson to the ground. Volpicelli is now in Axelsson's guard.
Axelsson looking to control.
Volpicelli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelsson is keeping the position for now.
Axelsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Axelsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Axelsson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Volpicelli stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Volpicelli lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Volpicelli misses with a body shot.
Axelsson tries to counter with a takedown but Volpicelli is quick to defend against it.
Axelsson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Volpicelli.
Volpicelli gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Decent striking displayed by Volpicelli there.
Volpicelli throws a leg kick that is checked

and Axelsson counters with a takedown into side control.
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!
Volpicelli can't do much from the bottom here.
Axelsson scores with punches from side control.
Volpicelli takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Volpicelli sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volpicelli is trying to get back to full guard.
Axelsson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Axelsson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Volpicelli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Axelsson is working away from the top position though.
Volpicelli is pressing down on Axelsson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Volpicelli wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Axelsson stopping the sweep attempt from Volpicelli.
Volpicelli is trying to keep Axelsson in close.
Johan Axelsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Axelsson lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Volpicelli is controlling Axelsson's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axelsson connects with a couple of short punches.
Volpicelli working a defensive guard here.
Volpicelli pulls Axelsson in close to his closed guard and prevents Axelsson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Axelsson wants to pass the guard but Volpicelli is keeping the position.

Axelsson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volpicelli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Axelsson has managed to get both his arms back between Volpicelli's legs - danger averted.

Volpicelli has his foot on Axelsson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Axelsson works his way back into a safe position though.
Volpicelli keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volpicelli is trying to control the position but Axelsson postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Volpicelli misses with a body shot
and Axelsson counters with a nice body shot.
Volpicelli throws out a loose jab but Axelsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Axelsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Volpicelli misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Volpicelli slips a jab from Axelsson.
Volpicelli with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Volpicelli misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Axelsson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Volpicelli is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Axelsson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Volpicelli throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Volpicelli.
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!
A swing and a miss from Volpicelli.
Axelsson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Volpicelli has time to react.
Axelsson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Axelsson misses with a low kick.
Volpicelli tries a quick counter leg kick but Axelsson is wise to it.
Axelsson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Volpicelli throws the left hand but Axelsson avoids the punch easily.
Axelsson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Volpicelli scores with a nice head shot.
Volpicelli pushes Axelsson away with a front kick.
Volpicelli scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Axelsson lands a slapping body shot.
Volpicelli misses with a looping left.
Axelsson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johan Axelsson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Volpicelli misses with a low kick.
Axelsson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Volpicelli on the side of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Volpicelli. That's going to slow Axelsson down.
Axelsson looks to throw the jab but Volpicelli is out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Volpicelli.
Axelsson slips a straight right by Volpicelli.
Volpicelli blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Volpicelli! But no joy.

Volpicelli drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Axelsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
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.
Axelsson gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson gets full guard.

Volpicelli has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Axelsson to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Volpicelli is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Axelsson pulls down on the head and he's put Volpicelli to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Johan Axelsson!
Johan Axelsson thanked the fans post fight for their support.