PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ansgar Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Yakovlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Axelsson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to one bourbon one scotch one beer. The crowd seem to be enjoying Yakovlev's choice of entrance music: Maroon 5 - Sugar. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Axelsson
vs
Yakovlev

188 cm
42
214 lbs
39 - 19 - 1

189 cm
24
209 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

Voodoo Nutrition
Spartan Nutrition

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 39 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ansgar Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Yakovlev!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson staying out of range there.
Axelsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Axelsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yakovlev has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Axelsson is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Axelsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Yakovlev tries for a takedown. No joy.

Yakovlev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Axelsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Yakovlev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yakovlev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Axelsson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Axelsson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Grindhouse in the buildup to the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axelsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Axelsson pushes Yakovlev up against the ropes in a clinch.
Axelsson is pressed up against the ropes. Yakovlev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Axelsson down to the mat. Axelsson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakovlev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Axelsson's waist but Axelsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yakovlev off to one side.
Ansgar Axelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Yakovlev.

Axelsson drives through and clinches with Yakovlev against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Axelsson.

It looks like Alexander Yakovlev has been cut.
Yakovlev is trying to push Axelsson away but Axelsson has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Axelsson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Yakovlev has had enough of the clinch but Axelsson keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovlev tries to circle away but Axelsson has him pinned against the ropes.
Axelsson lands with a short shot to the head.

Yakovlev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ansgar Axelsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axelsson misses with a head kick.

Axelsson closes the distance and clinches.
Axelsson lands with a light punch inside.

Yakovlev pulls guard successfully.
Axelsson trying to control but Yakovlev is working from the bottom.
Yakovlev controls Axelsson momentarily but Axelsson frees himself.
Yakovlev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Axelsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yakovlev.
Axelsson has control of Yakovlev's left arm, preventing Yakovlev from doing any damage.
Yakovlev trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axelsson is looking to stand up but Yakovlev isn't so interested in that idea.
Yakovlev sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Yakovlev from controlling successfully.
Yakovlev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yakovlev wants to control from the top but Axelsson keeps moving.
Axelsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yakovlev is controlling him.
Yakovlev wants to control from the top but Axelsson keeps moving.
Axelsson wants to stand and escape but Yakovlev is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yakovlev misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Axelsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson lands a high kick!
Crunch! Axelsson slams his shin into Yakovlev's torso.

Axelsson has Yakovlev up against the ropes in a clinch.
Axelsson lands with a right to the head.

That has opened up Alexander Yakovlev's cut even more.
Axelsson blocks an uppercut.
Yakovlev can't break the clinch.
Yakovlev blocks an elbow strike from Axelsson.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yakovlev.
Yakovlev avoids the elbow strike from Axelsson, against the ropes.
Yakovlev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakovlev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelsson landing knees to the head.

Yakovlev has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Axelsson is trying to keep an underhook but Yakovlev manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
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!

Yakovlev is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Axelsson is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alexander Yakovlev!
In his post fight interview, Alexander Yakovlev started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.