PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rio Yaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Axelsson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Axelsson
vs
Yaj

183 cm
38
194 lbs
35 - 19 - 0

192 cm
27
215 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 35 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rio Yaj!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Axelsson enables Yaj to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Axelsson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Axelsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yaj is one step ahead there.
Yaj scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yaj postures up.
Yaj trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Yaj from controlling successfully.

Axelsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yaj is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Yaj slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Yaj from controlling successfully.
Axelsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yaj content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yaj distracts Axelsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yaj makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Axelsson is looking to sweep but instead, Yaj has passed into half guard.
Yaj landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yaj working over Axelsson with some ground and pound. Axelsson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yaj scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Yaj is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Axelsson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yaj looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Axelsson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Yaj scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Axelsson gets full guard.
Yaj trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Yaj throws a big right hand that misses.
Yaj throws a big elbow that misses.
Axelsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yaj is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj working some strikes from top position.
Axelsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Axelsson, not yet.

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

Axelsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yaj pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelsson is keeping the position for now.
Yaj postures up and lands a big shot to Axelsson's brow.
Yaj is in close to Axelsson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yaj is in close to Axelsson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Axelsson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yaj passes into half guard.
Yaj wants to lay and pray for a moment but Axelsson keeps working.
Yaj with the ground and pound but Axelsson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Yaj stopping the sweep attempt from Axelsson.
Yaj trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Yaj scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yaj pushes down on Axelsson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Yaj lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Yaj dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
That's time! Axelsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Axelsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yaj moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yaj drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Axelsson defends it well.
Yaj misses with a double jab
and Axelsson counters with a left to the body.
Axelsson goes for a double leg but Yaj avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yaj continues to drive forward.
Axelsson moves away from the strike by Yaj.
Axelsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yaj.
Yaj keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Axelsson as he avoids it easily.
Yaj waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Axelsson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Axelsson tries to sprawl but Yaj drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Axelsson trying to control from the bottom.
Yaj wants to pass the guard but Axelsson is defending well.

Yaj is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Yaj is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Axelsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yaj is working away from the top position though.
Axelsson wants to get back to full guard.
Yaj is looking to advance position but Axelsson won't allow it.
Axelsson gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yaj is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yaj postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yaj loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Axelsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yaj wants to control from the top but Axelsson keeps moving.
Yaj scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Yaj trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Yaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yaj showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Axelsson is looking to cinch up a triangle. Yaj throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Axelsson's body to avoid the submission. Axelsson has instead reached around Yaj's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Axelsson arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Johan Axelsson!
Johan Axelsson thanked the fans post fight for their support.