PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Axelrod (ranked 1431 p4p, 2848 weight class) and Remi Johnson (ranked 187 p4p, 341 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Axelrod
vs
Johnson

178 cm
21
155
6 - 6 - 0

174 cm
21
165
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

PWNAGEâ„¢

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico Axelrod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Remi Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson stalks Axelrod and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Axelrod's face. Axelrod staggers backwards, shaken.
Axelrod darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Axelrod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Axelrod trying to control but Johnson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axelrod is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Axelrod is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Axelrod is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Axelrod wants to get back to full guard.
Axelrod is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.

Johnson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Axelrod is trying is best to control the position here.
Axelrod is trying to control but can't.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Axelrod dodges it nicely.
Axelrod taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Axelrod's temple.
Axelrod wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Axelrod is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Axelrod tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson throwing shots but Axelrod is blocking nicely.
Axelrod is trying to get back to full guard.
Axelrod trying to hold on to Johnson's head to control him but Johnson postures up.
Axelrod controlling the position well.
Johnson is thwarting Axelrod's attempts to control the position.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Axelrod tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Johnson passes into side control, despite Axelrod's attempt to control the position.
Axelrod is trying to escape the position but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Johnson wants to control but Axelrod is keeping him busy.
Axelrod tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson taking a breather here.
Axelrod tries to improve position but can't.
Axelrod sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Johnson working his ground and pound in the gym.
Axelrod tries to get to full guard but Johnson has control of the leg.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Axelrod doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Axelrod is defending well.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Axelrod is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Remi Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is nestled in close to Axelrod, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Axelrod is holding on to half guard well.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Axelrod tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson is pressing down on Axelrod's thigh, looking to free his foot. Axelrod is holding on for now.
Johnson prevents Axelrod from improving his position.
Remi Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Axelrod has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Axelrod's temple.
Johnson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Axelrod wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control from half guard but Axelrod is working away.
Axelrod regains full guard. Nicely done.
Axelrod on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Axelrod tries to get out of the position.
Axelrod is looking to sweep but instead, Johnson has passed into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Axelrod wants to control but Johnson is keeping busy.
Well, if Johnson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Axelrod trying to control from the bottom.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Axelrod with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Axelrod taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson is thwarting Axelrod's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson prevents Axelrod from improving his position.
Axelrod keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Axelrod wants to get back to full guard.
Axelrod is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Axelrod wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson is working Axelrod over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Axelrod is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Axelrod looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Axelrod is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Axelrod keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Axelrod's brow.
Axelrod is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Axelrod manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson has control of Axelrod's left arm, preventing Axelrod from doing any damage.
Axelrod preventing the sweep.
Johnson is pulling down on Axelrod's head to control his posture.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Axelrod tries to pass.
Axelrod trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Axelrod wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
We've been hearing good reports from Axelrod's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Axelrod trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Remi Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Axelrod getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Axelrod shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A left lands for Axelrod.
Axelrod bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson slips a jab from Axelrod.
Johnson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Axelrod throws a predictable looking body shot

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Axelrod!
Johnson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson lands some shots froms side control.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Axelrod keeps working.
Axelrod is trying to get back to half guard.
Axelrod manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Axelrod tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Johnson.
Johnson winds up and cracks Axelrod with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Axelrod trying to control from the bottom.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
Axelrod has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Johnson there.
Axelrod on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Axelrod is trying to control but can't.
Johnson winds up and cracks Axelrod with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Axelrod with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson not doing much here.
Axelrod is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod is trying is best to control the position here.
Johnson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Axelrod on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Axelrod manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Axelrod is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Axelrod wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Axelrod trying to control the position.
Johnson trying to control but Axelrod is working from the bottom.
Axelrod trying to control the position.
Johnson lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Axelrod works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Axelrod keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Johnson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Axelrod wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Johnson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Axelrod to the ground. Johnson is now in Axelrod's guard.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelrod looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Axelrod wants to control the position but Johnson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Johnson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Johnson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Johnson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Axelrod tries to roll over but Johnson keeps him under control.
Johnson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Axelrod regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rico Axelrod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Remi Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remi Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remi Johnson!
Remi Johnson 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.