PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Aethelwulf (ranked 2381 p4p, 246 weight class) and Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 2229 p4p, 233 weight class). Aethelwulf comes into the arena with Me Siento Loco blaring out of the sound system. Branca has chosen Run the Jewels as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aethelwulf
vs
Cajo Branca

189 cm
22
245 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

194 cm
20
269 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dark Knight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Axel Aethelwulf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aethelwulf rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Branca counters with a nice leg kick.
Aethelwulf looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Aethelwulf lands a really nice looking cross but Branca seems unphased.

It looks like Joao Cajo Branca has been cut.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Branca uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aethelwulf.
Branca follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Aethelwulf throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Branca counters with an inside leg kick.
Aethelwulf takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Branca lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aethelwulf dodges the punch combination from Branca.
It looked like Aethelwulf wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Branca displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aethelwulf throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aethelwulf waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Branca.
Aethelwulf misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Branca throws out a counter right but Aethelwulf avoids it with no problem.
Branca scores with a jab to the jaw.
Branca lands with a hook. Aethelwulf tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Branca looks for the body kick but Aethelwulf saw that one coming.
Branca looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Aethelwulf throws a big shot that misses.
Branca staying out of range there.
A head kick misses from Branca.
An attempted straight right counter from Aethelwulf misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca scores with the left hand. Aethelwulf knows he should have avoided that one.
Aethelwulf throws an overhand right that lands on Branca's shoulder, as Branca tries to avoid the shot.
Aethelwulf throws a shot from downtown. Branca moves away and avoids it.
Aethelwulf throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Branca throws a combination that misses
and Aethelwulf counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aethelwulf takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Branca keeps Aethelwulf at a distance using the push kick.
Aethelwulf throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Branca counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aethelwulf swinging wildly here.
Aethelwulf cracks Branca with a good jab.
Branca misses with a straight right.
Aethelwulf uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Branca.
Aethelwulf throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Aethelwulf throws a looping overhand right but Branca ducks down to avoid it.
Branca tries a quick counter leg kick but Aethelwulf is wise to it.
Aethelwulf misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aethelwulf swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Branca counters with a low kick, right behind Aethelwulf 's knee.
Branca jabs at Aethelwulf's body.
Branca misses with a kick to the body.
Branca misses with a straight left.
Branca throws a wild body kick that Aethelwulf sees coming a mile off.
Aethelwulf takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aethelwulf throws an off balance right hand

and Branca counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Branca.
Branca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Aethelwulf backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Cajo Branca dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Cajo Branca's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aethelwulf swings widly with a right hand
and Branca cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab by Branca.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aethelwulf. Branca does a little dance to reset his feet.
Branca throws out a counter right but Aethelwulf avoids it with no problem.
Good exchange - Branca coming out on top.
Branca pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aethelwulf throwing a counter right hand but Branca manages to avoid it.
Branca looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca tries to land a front kick but Aethelwulf steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aethelwulf misses the jab.
Branca appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Branca fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aethelwulf, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca lands a left hand.
Branca scores with a nice hook to the head.
Branca misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Branca.
Branca works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aethelwulf blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Branca tries to throw a body punch but Aethelwulf avoids it by throwing Branca back against the cage.
Branca misses with a knee to the head.
Branca tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Branca.
Branca tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Branca scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aethelwulf prevents a body shot from Branca.

Branca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Branca has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Branca moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branca swings wildly with an uppercut but Aethelwulf uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branca has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Branca misses with a hook from the clinch.
Branca pushes Aethelwulf back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Branca misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Branca scores with a nice short uppercut.
Branca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Aethelwulf backwards.
Branca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Branca misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca presses Aethelwulf against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Branca pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aethelwulf misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Branca! But no joy.
Branca lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Branca scores with the left hand. Aethelwulf knows he should have avoided that one.
Branca misses with a low kick.
Aethelwulf throws a left and a right that both miss
and Branca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aethelwulf drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
An inside leg kick lands from Branca.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branca sends Aethelwulf crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Branca is motioning to the referee to let Aethelwulf up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Aethelwulf is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branca scores with a nice head shot.
Oh Aethelwulf is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aethelwulf lands a jab to the nose.
Aethelwulf seems to have got his legs back now.
Branca scores with a kick to the body.
Joao Cajo Branca seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Branca and Aethelwulf are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. Branca throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Aethelwulf into next week! Ooooh that was huge! Branca knows it - he's on the cage flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Joao Cajo Branca!
A very excited looking Joao Cajo Branca 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.