PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tomoguchi (ranked 2865 p4p, 4243 weight class) and Rico Axelrod (ranked 356 p4p, 485 weight class). Rico Axelrod is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tomoguchi
vs
Axelrod

180 cm
19
155
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
155
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shinji Tomoguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Axelrod!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelrod slips a straight right by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axelrod connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tomoguchi. Tomoguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Axelrod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tomoguchi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tomoguchi connects with the punch.
A left and a right from Tomoguchi both land. Nice combination.
Tomoguchi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Axelrod moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shinji Tomoguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Axelrod misses with a wild body shot.
A swing and a miss from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Axelrod.
Tomoguchi misses with an uppercut.

Tomoguchi closes the distance and pushes Axelrod back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tomoguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tomoguchi lands a shoulder strike.
Axelrod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Axelrod misses with a punch on the inside.
Axelrod takes a shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Tomoguchi.
A short right from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi digs a right hand into Axelrod's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Axelrod's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelrod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Axelrod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Axelrod's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tomoguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelrod controls his hands.
Tomoguchi scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Axelrod.
Axelrod lands with a left to the head.
Tomoguchi misses with a body punch.
Axelrod misses with a short punch on the inside.
Axelrod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Axelrod lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Axelrod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tomoguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Axelrod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelrod swings wildly with an uppercut but Tomoguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Axelrod.
Tomoguchi lands a shot to the body.
Axelrod swings wildly with an uppercut but Tomoguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Axelrod working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelrod.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelrod lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tomoguchi scores with a shoulder strike.
Tomoguchi misses with some punches.
Axelrod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Tomoguchi fails to land.
Tomoguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tomoguchi lands a body punch.
Tomoguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Axelrod struggles to land a body shot inside as Tomoguchi controls his hands.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Tomoguchi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Axelrod.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tomoguchi lands a hook that snaps the head of Axelrod backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelrod.
Axelrod lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tomoguchi backwards.
Axelrod struggles to land a body shot inside as Tomoguchi controls his hands.
Axelrod throws a punch but it's blocked by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod tries a body shot but Tomoguchi blocks it.
Tomoguchi blocking some punches.
Axelrod blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi has Axelrod pressed against the cage, preventing Axelrod from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Axelrod's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking cross lands there for Axelrod.
Axelrod takes a swing at Tomoguchi's ribcage but misses.
Tomoguchi throws a shot from downtown. Axelrod moves away and avoids it.
Tomoguchi wants to clinch.
Tomoguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axelrod manages to avoid it.
Tomoguchi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tomoguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Axelrod.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Axelrod swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Axelrod swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot.
Axelrod looks to land a right hand but Tomoguchi moved out of range.
Axelrod throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tomoguchi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook. Axelrod ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like Axelrod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tomoguchi walks into a stiff left hand from Axelrod.
Axelrod moves forwards but Tomoguchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Axelrod. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
A left lands for Axelrod.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tomoguchi takes one to the side of the head.
Axelrod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Axelrod scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Axelrod paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tomoguchi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Axelrod throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tomoguchi throws a jab when Axelrod was well out of range.
Axelrod throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tomoguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter the offense by Axelrod and move into the clinch.
Tomoguchi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Axelrod throws a big shot that misses.
Tomoguchi defending well as Axelrod loads up on a big left hand.
Tomoguchi stuns Axelrod with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Axelrod connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Axelrod keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up.
Nice straight punches there by Axelrod. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Axelrod.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rico Axelrod will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tomoguchi jabs at Axelrod's body.
Rico Axelrod seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Axelrod looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tomoguchi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tomoguchi ducks under a wild hook from Axelrod.
Axelrod defending well as Tomoguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Axelrod just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Axelrod.
Axelrod misses with a hook. Tomoguchi ducked under it nicely.
Axelrod misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tomoguchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Axelrod stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Axelrod is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tomoguchi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Axelrod lands with a nice body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tomoguchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Axelrod's head.
Tomoguchi blocks a low kick nicely.
Tomoguchi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Axelrod misses with a leg kick.
Tomoguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axelrod feints a counter leg kick.
Tomoguchi takes a swing at Axelrod's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Tomoguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Axelrod.
A telegraphed right hand from Axelrod misses the target.
Axelrod moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelrod sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tomoguchi misses with a hook to the body
and Axelrod counters with a straight right hand.
Axelrod looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Axelrod scores with a hook to the body. Tomoguchi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Axelrod listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tomoguchi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Axelrod jabs at Tomoguchi's body.
Axelrod misses with a wild body shot.
Axelrod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tomoguchi lands a jab to the nose.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tomoguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Axelrod.
Axelrod digs a good hook to Tomoguchi's body.
Axelrod takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Axelrod takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Tomoguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelrod sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi looks to clinch
and Axelrod counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch but Axelrod is having none of it.

Axelrod gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Axelrod's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tomoguchi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Axelrod keeps the fight on the outside.
Axelrod finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelrod was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Axelrod throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shinji Tomoguchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tomoguchi connects with a body shot.
Tomoguchi misses with an uppercut.
Tomoguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tomoguchi moves out of range as Axelrod strikes.
Tomoguchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tomoguchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Axelrod keeps the fight on the outside.
Donk. Axelrod catches Tomoguchi right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Axelrod.
Axelrod loads up on a big right hand but Tomoguchi slips the punch.
Tomoguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Axelrod.
A slow jab from Tomoguchi misses its intended target.
Axelrod uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Axelrod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Axelrod throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Axelrod throws a hook to the side of Tomoguchi's head but Tomoguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Axelrod. Tomoguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Axelrod swings for the body but Tomoguchi moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Tomoguchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tomoguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelrod was well out of range. Poor timing from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi lands a glancing blow to the side of Axelrod's head.
Tomoguchi moves out of range as Axelrod strikes.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter the offense by Axelrod and move into the clinch.
Tomoguchi looks to throw the jab but Axelrod is out of range.
Axelrod lunges at Tomoguchi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tomoguchi's hand.
Tomoguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tomoguchi fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tomoguchi.
Axelrod connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tomoguchi's hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tomoguchi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Tomoguchi takes the fight into the clinch.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Axelrod misses with a punch on the inside.
Axelrod misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Tomoguchi.
Axelrod misses with the head strike.
Axelrod pushes Tomoguchi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Axelrod misses with a punch on the inside.
Axelrod working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Axelrod misses with a punch to the body.
Tomoguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tomoguchi prevents a body shot from Axelrod.
Axelrod misses with a body punch.
Tomoguchi scores with a shoulder strike.
Axelrod misses with a body punch.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch 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 the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tomoguchi avoids the body shot from Axelrod.
Axelrod ducks under a wild hook from Tomoguchi.
Axelrod misses with a looping right.
Axelrod swats away the attempt to clinch by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axelrod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi throws a looping overhand right but Axelrod ducks down to avoid it.
Tomoguchi looks to land a right hand but Axelrod moved out of range.
Axelrod swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Axelrod uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi checks a leg kick.
Axelrod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
A jab from Axelrod misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomoguchi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Axelrod throws a looping overhand right but Tomoguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Axelrod looks to score with a jab to the body but Tomoguchi is just out of range.
Tomoguchi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Axelrod finds it's way round the side to connect with Tomoguchi's head.
Tomoguchi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Axelrod connects with the punch.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up
and Axelrod counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod defending well as Tomoguchi loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Axelrod misses.
Tomoguchi connects with a jab.
Axelrod cracks a nice hook into Tomoguchi's ribs.
Tomoguchi thuds a left hand into Axelrod's body.
Axelrod is looking to chop away at Tomoguchi's legs.
The crowd cheers as Axelrod lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tomoguchi doesn't seem phased though.

Tomoguchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Axelrod misses with the head strike.
Tomoguchi blocks a body shot from Axelrod.
Shinji Tomoguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Axelrod tries to work over Tomoguchi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Axelrod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Axelrod lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Axelrod misses with a punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Tomoguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Tomoguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Axelrod backwards.
Tomoguchi blocking some punches.
Axelrod misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Axelrod.
Tomoguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tomoguchi pushes Axelrod back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Axelrod lands a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Axelrod misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Axelrod.
Tomoguchi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Axelrod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tomoguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Axelrod throws a punch but it's blocked by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Axelrod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Tomoguchi fails to land.
Axelrod tries a body shot but Tomoguchi blocks it.
Axelrod misses with a punch to the body.
Axelrod stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Axelrod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tomoguchi's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axelrod manages to break the clinch.
Axelrod lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tomoguchi at a distance.
Axelrod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tomoguchi misses with a straight left.
Tomoguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelrod counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi tries to clinch up but Axelrod circles away and keeps his distance.
A slow jab from Tomoguchi misses its intended target.
Axelrod bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Axelrod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tomoguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Axelrod.
Axelrod uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Axelrod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tomoguchi.
Axelrod jabs Tomoguchi right on the nose. Tomoguchi blinks but takes it well.
Tomoguchi misses with a double jab
and Axelrod counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelrod keeps the fight on the outside.
Axelrod buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tomoguchi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod lands a glancing blow to the side of Tomoguchi's head.
Axelrod with a hook.

Axelrod closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tomoguchi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Axelrod lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tomoguchi backwards.

Axelrod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomoguchi misses with an uppercut.
Axelrod jabs Tomoguchi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tomoguchi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tomoguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Axelrod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axelrod misses with a body shot.
Tomoguchi is looking to counter the offense by Axelrod and move into the clinch.
Axelrod connects with the punch.
Tomoguchi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Axelrod lands with a straight right. Tomoguchi didn't see that one coming.

Tomoguchi is rocked!
Tomoguchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tomoguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axelrod throws a hook to the side of Tomoguchi's head but Tomoguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

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