PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Ajax (ranked 95 p4p, 18 weight class) and Felix Sturm (ranked 173 p4p, 28 weight class). Ajax comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Felix Sturm will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ajax
vs
Sturm

160 cm
35
158 lbs
31 - 15 - 1

180 cm
30
158 lbs
26 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Bullet Proof System

IniTech Nutrition
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Ajax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Felix Sturm!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ajax slips under a jab.
Sturm digs a good hook to Ajax's body.
A big left from Ajax misses.
Sturm cracks Ajax with a good jab.
Sturm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sturm scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ajax lands a right hook to the body.
Ajax looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sturm throws a hook but Ajax avoids it easily.
Sturm keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ajax.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ajax is defended easily by Sturm.
Sturm scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sturm goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Marco Ajax seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Ajax misses its intended target.
Ajax looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sturm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ajax circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ajax takes one to the side of the head.
Sturm will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ajax throws out a loose jab but Sturm uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ajax dips to his left and cracks Sturm with an uppercut!
A nice inside leg kick there by Ajax. That's going to slow Sturm down.
Sturm moves out of range of the strikes.
Ajax misses the jab.
Decent striking displayed by Ajax there.
Felix Sturm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sturm keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ajax misses with a lunging right hand
letting Sturm counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sturm uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ajax.
Ajax shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sturm pinned against the cage. Sturm gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ajax scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturm on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ajax connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ajax throws a shot from downtown. Sturm moves away and avoids it.
Sturm tries to land a leg kick but Ajax saw it coming and moves away.
Sturm uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ajax.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sturm! But no joy.
Ajax lands the left hand.
Sturm has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ajax throws a push kick but Sturm slaps the foot to one side.
Sturm ducks under a wild hook from Ajax.
Sturm throws a hook but Ajax avoids it easily.
Sturm throws a hook but Ajax avoids it easily.
Ajax throws a leg kick that misses.
Ajax scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sturm in his tracks.

Sturm is rocked!
Sturm bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sturm is still on wobbly legs! Can Ajax finish him?

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sturm enables Ajax to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sturm manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ajax slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ajax throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Sturm works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm tries to get to full guard but Ajax has control of the leg.
Sturm seems to have recovered his senses.
Ajax drops an elbow to the side of Sturm's head.
Ajax throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ajax not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ajax thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ajax throws a strike but Sturm avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sturm keeping moving, preventing Ajax from controlling successfully.
Sturm looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajax throwing strikes but missing.
Ajax is in close to Sturm's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sturm is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ajax is aware though and is defending well.
Ajax postures up in Sturm's guard and throws a big left but Sturm blocks it.
Ajax with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ajax works over Sturm with some ground and pound from guard.
Ajax wants to control from the top but Sturm keeps moving.
Ajax landing some decent shots from guard.
Ajax throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ajax dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big left from Ajax misses.
Ajax thumps Sturm with a low kick.
Sturm throws a chopping leg kick but Ajax manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sturm steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ajax.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ajax.
Ajax loads up on a big right hand but Sturm slips the punch.
Sturm throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ajax stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ajax jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Sturm was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ajax scores with a leg kick.
Ajax misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ajax throws a low kick but Sturm avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturm cracks Ajax with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sturm listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sturm blocks a jab.
Ajax throws a hook but Sturm avoids it easily.
Sturm misses the jab.
A little feinted left hand from Ajax on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ajax throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ajax to score with a decent uppercut.
Sturm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ajax circles away quickly and effectively.
Ajax changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jab by Sturm.
Ajax throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sturm moves away from the strike by Ajax.
Ajax misses with a hook
and Sturm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A shot to the liver by Sturm. Beautiful body shot.
Sturm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ajax connects with a right hand. Sturm shakes it off.
Ajax throws a looping overhand right but Sturm ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Ajax.
Sturm looks to score with a jab to the body but Ajax is just out of range.
Ajax shoots for a double leg takedown but Sturm sprawls well. He's pushed Ajax's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sturm ducks right into an uppercut from Ajax.
Sturm keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ajax.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ajax.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Ajax. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax misses with a looping left.
Ajax swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ajax looks to score with a jab to the body but Sturm is just out of range.
Ajax misses with an uppercut. Sturm saw that one coming.
Sturm now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ajax feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sturm's calf.
Sturm scores with a nice strike.
Ajax throws a poor cross that misses
and Sturm counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Marco Ajax has been cut.
The fighters circling - Sturm throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sturm uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ajax.
A slow jab from Sturm misses its intended target.
Sturm moves out of range of the body kick from Ajax.
Sturm ducks under a wild hook from Ajax.
Ajax ducks under a wild hook from Sturm.
Ajax connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ajax lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good shot there by Sturm.
A big right from Ajax misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sturm on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ajax throws out a leg kick but Sturm moves out of range and Ajax only half commits.
Ajax misses with a low kick.
Ajax takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sturm on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sturm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ajax.
Ajax dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ajax slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ajax misses with an uppercut. Sturm saw that one coming.
Ajax swings widly with a right hand
and Sturm counters with a right hand to the body.
Ajax throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sturm.
Sturm scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ajax is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sturm.
Despite the aggression on Sturm's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sturm scores with a jab. Ajax acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ajax uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sturm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajax takes a swing at Sturm's ribcage but misses.
Ajax throws a jab when Sturm was well out of range.
Sturm now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sturm connects with a body shot.
Ajax throws a leg kick that misses.
Ajax tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sturm is able to avoid easily.
Sturm's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sturm misses with a looping right.
Ajax throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sturm counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ajax misses with a looping left.
Sturm cracks Ajax with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sturm moves out of range of the strikes.
Ajax keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good leg kick by Ajax there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ajax misses the shot to the body.
Ajax throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sturm connects with a single shot there.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ajax or perhaps it was just good defense by Sturm, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Felix Sturm will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Marco Ajax's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sturm listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ajax sizes up Sturm with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sturm throws a body shot but no joy.
Ajax swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ajax does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sturm is looking to slow Ajax down with leg kicks.
Ajax connects with an inside leg kick.
A jab from Ajax misses.
Ajax tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sturm sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ajax somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sturm. Ajax does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sturm just misses with a punch to the body.
Ajax missing with a left hand there. Sturm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sturm throws out a counter right but Ajax avoids it with no problem.
Ajax shoots in but Sturm avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajax moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sturm scores with a nice head shot.
Ajax throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sturm checks a leg kick.
Ajax looks to throw a body kick
and Sturm counters with a nice uppercut.
Felix Sturm seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ajax throws a hook but Sturm avoids it easily.
Ajax misses with an uppercut.
Ajax needs to keep his hands up - Sturm had a free shot at his head there.
Good work by Ajax as he checks the leg kick.
Ajax catches Sturm with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice defenses there by Sturm.
Ajax throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big right from Ajax misses.
Sturm throws a hook but Ajax blocks it.
Sturm is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ajax waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sturm.

Ajax feints and as Sturm raises his hands in defense, Ajax changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sturm is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Sturm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sturm preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sturm lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ajax has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sturm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ajax is trying to keep Sturm in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax wants to sweep here but Sturm controlling him for the moment.
Ajax manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sturm manages to get himself to full guard.

Ajax is fighting to break Sturm's control of his arms but Sturm is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ajax postures up and lands a big shot to Sturm's brow.
Ajax landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Sturm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ajax is in close to Sturm's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ajax postures up.
Sturm keeping moving, preventing Ajax from controlling successfully.
Ajax throwing strikes from guard but Sturm blocks nicely.
Ajax content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sturm 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 fight!
Marco Ajax showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ajax 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Ajax!
Marco Ajax decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.