PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Christian Caliman (ranked 6435 p4p, 25376 weight class) and Rico Axelrod (ranked 599 p4p, 688 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Caliman
vs
Axelrod

178 cm
18
157
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
155
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christian Caliman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Axelrod!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Caliman misses.
Axelrod throws out a counter right but Caliman avoids it with no problem.
Axelrod looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Caliman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Caliman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Axelrod.
Caliman sizes up Axelrod with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Axelrod.
Caliman lands a jab to the nose.
Axelrod throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Caliman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Axelrod uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Caliman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelrod throws a body shot but no joy.
Caliman dips to his left and cracks Axelrod with an uppercut!

Axelrod gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Axelrod makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caliman wants to get back to striking at distance but Axelrod won't allow it.
Caliman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axelrod misses with some punches.

Axelrod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caliman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Axelrod.
Caliman is looking to counter punch.
Caliman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Axelrod swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Caliman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Caliman definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Axelrod ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Caliman moves away.
Axelrod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axelrod scores with a jab to the head.

Axelrod darts in and clinches Caliman up against the cage.
Axelrod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Axelrod lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caliman blocks an uppercut.
Axelrod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
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!
Axelrod has a couple of punches blocked by Caliman.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Caliman.
Caliman blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Axelrod.
Axelrod lands a shoulder strike.
Caliman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Axelrod - that landed with a thud.
Axelrod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Caliman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Axelrod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Axelrod gets through Caliman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Axelrod is leaning against Caliman and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caliman breaks from the clinch.
Caliman scores with the left hand. Axelrod knows he should have avoided that one.
Axelrod lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Caliman takes a swing at Axelrod's ribcage but misses.
Caliman slips a jab from Axelrod.
Caliman misses with an uppercut
and Axelrod counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab, jab by Axelrod - just one landing.
Caliman throws out a loose jab but Axelrod uses good head movement to avoid it.
It seemed like Axelrod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Caliman swings for the body but Axelrod moves out of range.
Caliman misses with an uppercut.
Axelrod lands with a shot to the body.
Caliman lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod throws an off balance right hand
and Axelrod takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donk. Caliman catches Axelrod right on the button with a cross.
Caliman misses with a body shot
and Axelrod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Caliman swings widly with a right hand
and Axelrod counters with a nice body shot.
Nice cross by Axelrod.
Caliman ducks under a wild hook from Axelrod.
Caliman lands a nice shot that snaps Axelrod's head back.
Caliman slips under a jab.
Caliman is looking to counter punch.
A big right from Caliman misses.
Axelrod keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Caliman.
It seemed like Axelrod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Axelrod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caliman.
Axelrod misses with a body punch
and Caliman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Axelrod dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jab by Axelrod.
Caliman throws an off balance right hand
and Axelrod counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Caliman looks to land a left hand but Axelrod moved out of range nicely.
Axelrod doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Axelrod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caliman.
Axelrod cracks Caliman with an open hand slap.

Axelrod clinches up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Axelrod.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Axelrod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Axelrod misses with an uppercut
and Axelrod takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Axelrod misses with a wild body shot.
Caliman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caliman swings widly with a right hand
letting Axelrod counter with a right hand.
Caliman throws an off balance right hand
and Axelrod counters with a nice uppercut.
Axelrod stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Axelrod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Caliman manages to avoid it.
Caliman misses with a straight left.
Axelrod's corner calls for a 1-2. Axelrod obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Caliman is rocked!
Axelrod fails to land with a series of punches.
Caliman throws a hook but Axelrod blocks it.
Axelrod lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Caliman at a distance.
Axelrod misses the jab.
Axelrod throws a lazy uppercut
and Caliman counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Axelrod misses its intended target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Caliman misses with a hook
and Axelrod counters with a right hand to the body.
Axelrod cracks Caliman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Axelrod lands a jab to the nose.
Axelrod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caliman.
A slow jab from Axelrod misses its intended target.
Caliman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Axelrod misses with an uppercut. Caliman saw that one coming.
A jab from Caliman finds it's way through Axelrod's defenses.
Caliman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelrod sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Axelrod moves out of range as Caliman strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Caliman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Caliman misses with an uppercut
and Axelrod counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Caliman lands with an overhand left.
Axelrod slips under a jab.
It seemed like Axelrod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Caliman misses the jab.
Caliman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Caliman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Axelrod doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Axelrod scores with a nice strike.
Caliman misses with a right hand
and Axelrod counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Axelrod scores with a jab. Caliman acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Axelrod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Caliman manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caliman loads up on a big right hand but Axelrod slips the punch.
Caliman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelrod was well out of range. Poor timing from Caliman.
Caliman looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelrod is just out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelrod connects with a good right hand that stumbles Caliman. Caliman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Axelrod throws a right hand that misses
and Caliman counters with a straight right hand.
Axelrod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Axelrod throws a body punch but Caliman moves out of range.
Axelrod swings for the body but Caliman moves out of range.
Caliman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Caliman keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Caliman misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelrod counters with a right hand to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Axelrod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Caliman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Axelrod scores with a jab. Caliman acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Caliman throws a right hand that misses
and Axelrod counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Caliman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelrod moves away.
Axelrod misses the jab.
Caliman moves out of range as Axelrod strikes.
Axelrod swings for the body but Caliman moves out of range.
Caliman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Axelrod takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Axelrod throws a body shot but no joy.
Axelrod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caliman throws a jab when Axelrod was well out of range.
Rico Axelrod seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Axelrod connects with the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Axelrod darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Christian Caliman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caliman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Axelrod to score with a decent uppercut.
Caliman misses the shot to the body.
Caliman throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelrod counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Caliman thinking.
Caliman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelrod makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A swing and a miss from Axelrod.
Axelrod throws a sloppy body shot
and Caliman counters with a stiff right hand.
Caliman walks into a left hand.
Axelrod swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Caliman misses with a left hand
and Axelrod counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab by Caliman.
Caliman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Caliman there as he acknowledges the shot.
Christian Caliman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelrod takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Axelrod has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nice uppercut lands for Caliman. That snapped Axelrod's head back.
Nice shot by Axelrod.
Caliman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Axelrod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Axelrod takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Oh Caliman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Caliman lands a head shot.
Caliman seems to have got his legs back now.
Caliman throws an overhand right that lands on Axelrod's shoulder, as Axelrod tries to avoid the shot.
A cross from Axelrod lands.
Axelrod throws a poor cross that misses
and Caliman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caliman with a jab.
Axelrod throws a lazy right hand but Caliman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Axelrod misses with an uppercut.
Axelrod misses with a looping right.
Axelrod scores with a nice right hand.
Axelrod with a jab.
Caliman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Axelrod. Axelrod circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Axelrod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Caliman misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelrod counters with a left to the body.
Axelrod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Caliman throwing a counter right hand but Axelrod manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod needs to keep his hands up - Caliman had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Axelrod cracks Caliman with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Caliman looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Axelrod finish him?
Caliman misses with a hook.
Axelrod misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Axelrod misses.
Caliman throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelrod counters with a left to the body.
Caliman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axelrod throws a right hand that misses
and Caliman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Axelrod feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Caliman sprawling to the canvas! Caliman rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Axelrod finish him?!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Axelrod scores with a nice strike.
Caliman looks to land a left hand but Axelrod moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Axelrod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Axelrod has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Axelrod!