PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Pick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Axelsson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pick
vs
Axelsson

185 cm
35
210 lbs
18 - 16 - 4

183 cm
39
194 lbs
37 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 18 - 16 - 4, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Pick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pick is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Axelsson.
Pick lands with a shot to the body.
Axelsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Pick manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Axelsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It looked like Pick wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pick swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axelsson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pick scores with a crisp jab that stopped Axelsson in his tracks.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Pick jabs Axelsson right on the nose. Axelsson blinks but takes it well.
Pick throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Axelsson to counter with a crisp jab.
Pick uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Axelsson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson clobbers Pick with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pick lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pick loads up on a big right hand but Axelsson slips the punch.
Pick defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Axelsson.
Steve Pick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Axelsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Axelsson gets the takedown into side control.
Pick can't do much from the bottom here.
Pick is looking for a sweep.
Pick striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axelsson wants to control but Pick is keeping him busy.
Axelsson is putting a hurting on Pick here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pick can't do much from the bottom here.
Axelsson is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pick is trying to improve his position.
Axelsson is trying to ground and pound but Pick uses the momentary lack of control by Axelsson to regain half guard.
Axelsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pick keeps working.
Pick is positioning himself well to prevent Axelsson advancing to mount.
Axelsson works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pick regains half guard.
Pick trying to control here.
Axelsson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pick wants to control but Axelsson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Axelsson.
Pick regains full guard. Nicely done.
Axelsson pushes down on Pick's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Axelsson drops an elbow to the side of Pick's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pick is positioning himself well to prevent Axelsson advancing to mount.
Axelsson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Axelsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Axelsson wants to take a breather but Pick is having none of it.
Pick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pick is trying to stand up here but Axelsson is controlling him well.
Pick wants to improve his position but Axelsson is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pick regains full guard. Nicely done.
Axelsson throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johan Axelsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pick stuffs the takedown.
Axelsson cracks Pick with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Axelsson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pick.
Pick swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Axelsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pick lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Axelsson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pick.
Axelsson feints the counter takedown.
Axelsson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pick sprawls well. Pick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Axelsson gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson shoots for a takedown but Pick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Steve Pick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Axelsson.
A jab from Pick does it's job there.
Pick looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Axelsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pick.
A little jabbing left from Axelsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pick avoids it really well and circles away.
Pick throws a leg kick but Axelsson checks it.
Axelsson flicks out a counter leg kick but Pick steps away.
Pick wants to clinch but Axelsson slips to the side
and Pick takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Axelsson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Axelsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pick.
Axelsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pick connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Axelsson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Axelsson shoots in for a double leg but Pick sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Axelsson tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Pick to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pick's waist but Pick gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Axelsson off to one side.
Pick lands a head shot.

Pick clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pick cracks Axelsson with a nice body shot.
Pick makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Pick fails to land.

Pick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Axelsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pick.
And Axelsson tries to counter it with a takedown but Pick pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Axelsson can do to turn this around?
Pick lands with a hook. Axelsson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Steve Pick is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pick swings for the body but Axelsson moves out of range.
Pick is looking to clinch.
Axelsson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pick defends it well.
Pick lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson keeps the fight on the outside.
A slow jab from Pick misses its intended target.
Axelsson feints the counter takedown.
Pick misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsson counters with a nice body shot.
Pick waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Axelsson.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pick, right into the meat.
Pick throws an off balance right hand
and Axelsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Axelsson feints and as Pick raises his hands in defense, Axelsson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Axelsson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Pick working for a triangle but Axelsson defends it easily.

Pick uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson shoots in but no luck this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pick throws a poor cross that misses
letting Axelsson counter with a right hand.
Pick connects with a looping right hand.

That has opened up Johan Axelsson's cut even more.
Axelsson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Pick misses its intended target.
Pick is looking to clinch but Axelsson is avoiding it.
Steve Pick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pick misses with an uppercut. Axelsson saw that one coming.
Pick swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Pick drives through and clinches with Axelsson against the cage.
Pick throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pick closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pick swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Axelsson closes the distance and clinches up with Pick, looking for a takedown. Axelsson pushes Pick against the cage but Pick circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johan Axelsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Axelsson moves away from the strike by Pick.
Pick throws a body shot but no joy.
Pick misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Axelsson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pick's guard.

Pick throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pick controls Axelsson momentarily but Axelsson frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pick looking for a sweep. Not yet Pick, not yet.
Johan Axelsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Axelsson stands up over Pick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pick working a defensive guard here.
Axelsson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Axelsson forces his way into half guard.
Pick wants to improve his position but Axelsson is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pick is not content to let Axelsson control the position.
Pick wants to get back to his feet.
Axelsson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pick looks like he's trying to stand up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Axelsson fails with the takedown
and Pick cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Axelsson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pick tries to close the distance and clinch but Axelsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pick, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Axelsson is defended easily by Pick.
Steve Pick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Axelsson.
Axelsson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pick tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Pick.
Axelsson with the counter takedown but Pick avoids it easily.
Pick misses with a looping right.
Pick connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pick looks to land a left hand but Axelsson moved out of range nicely.
Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pick.
Axelsson goes for a double leg but Pick avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pick continues to drive forward.
Pick wants to clinch but Axelsson slips to the side
letting Axelsson counter with a right hand.
Steve Pick is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pick misses with a hook. Axelsson ducked under it nicely.
Pick cracks Axelsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Pick lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Axelsson at a distance.
Pick's jab looks to have found its range, popping Axelsson under the eye.
Pick loads up on a big right hand but Axelsson slips the punch.
Axelsson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pick stalks Axelsson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Axelsson's face. Axelsson staggers backwards, shaken.
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!
Axelsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Axelsson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pick.
Axelsson throws out a counter right but Pick avoids it with no problem.
Pick misses with an uppercut. Axelsson saw that one coming.
Pick missing with a left hand there. Axelsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Axelsson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pick's guard.

Pick wriggles free and stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Pick showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pick has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Pick!
A very excited looking Steve Pick made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.