PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Branko Banik (ranked 3169 p4p, 2486 weight class) and Loke Axelsen (ranked 402 p4p, 334 weight class). Axelsen has chosen Cha Cha PT2- Freddie Dredd as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banik
vs
Axelsen

183 cm
20
179
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
26
178
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Branko Banik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Loke Axelsen!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Banik closes the distance and clinches.

Axelsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Branko Banik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banik misses with a right hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banik on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Axelsen swings widly with a right hand

and Banik counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Banik stays in close to Axelsen's body and controls the position.
Banik throwing strikes from guard but Axelsen blocks nicely.
Banik has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Axelsen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banik scoring with some ground and pound.
Banik passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsen tries to bench press Banik off him but Banik keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsen parries the strikes from Banik easily there. Banik is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Axelsen to escape.
Banik throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Banik in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Axelsen is trying to work for a sweep but Banik has mounted him!
Axelsen tries to lock up and control but Banik gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Axelsen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Banik breaks from Axelsen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Banik is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Banik landing punches.
Banik landing strikes, looking to finish!
Banik controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banik working the ground and pound effectively.
Banik with good strikes from the mount here!
We've been hearing good reports from Banik'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.
Axelsen is looking to get to half guard.
Banik avoids the attempt from Axelsen to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banik takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Banik is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Axelsen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Banik landing strikes, looking to finish!
Banik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Banik with a couple of short strikes.
Banik scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Banik is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Axelsen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Banik is landing with some decent strikes but Axelsen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Axelsen is looking to improve his position but Banik isn't that keen on the idea.
Banik scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Axelsen?
Banik controlling from the full mount.
Axelsen taking shots to the head.
Axelsen tries to hold on but Banik pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Banik lands a couple of good shots and Axelsen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Banik lands shots from the back.
Axelsen looking very determined here, making life difficult for Banik.
Banik throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Axelsen!
Axelsen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Banik is not going to allow Axelsen to sit and survive in this position.
Banik controlling from the back.
Banik loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Axelsen hold on?
Axelsen wants to escape the position.
Axelsen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Banik. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banik lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Banik trying to control.
Axelsen covers up after that shot from Banik.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banik has good solid back control here.
Axelsen wants to escape the position.
Banik cracks Axelsen with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Axelsen from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Banik is landing with strikes. Axelsen can't take much more of this.
Banik wants to control but Axelsen is keeping busy.
Banik is landing with strikes. Axelsen can't take much more of this.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banik lands punches and elbows.
Banik scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Banik keeps control of the position easily here as Axelsen tries to buck him off.
Axelsen just trying to survive but Banik is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Banik uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Axelsen.
Axelsen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Banik ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsen moves away.
Banik misses with an uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Banik is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Axelsen can do to turn this around?
Axelsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Banik with a poor takedown
and Banik takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banik. Axelsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Axelsen connects with a looping right hand.
Banik misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banik swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banik misses with a hook
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Banik misses with a takedown
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Banik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Banik.
Axelsen throws out a counter right but Banik avoids it with no problem.
Banik throws an off balance right hand
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Axelsen slips under a jab from Banik.
A nice side step and Axelsen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Banik misses with a looping right.
A nice side step and Axelsen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banik throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Banik takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Banik on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A jab from Axelsen finds it's way through Banik's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banik misses with a shot to the body
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Banik blocks a jab.
Banik staying out of range there.
Banik misses with a body punch
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen lands a nice shot to the body.
Banik misses with a hook. Axelsen ducked under it nicely.
Axelsen scores with a nice strike.
Loke Axelsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Axelsen slips under a jab.
A little jabbing left from Axelsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Banik slips a jab from Axelsen.
Banik feinted with a counter takedown.
Banik misses with a right hand
and Banik takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banik misses with a hook. Axelsen ducked under it nicely.
Banik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Axelsen.
Axelsen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Axelsen throws a right and a left that Banik avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banik connects with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Axelsen. Those never looked like landing.

Banik gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Banik scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banik lands with a punch from half guard.
Banik thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Axelsen's head.
Axelsen won't allow Banik to pass to mount.
Banik not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Banik working over Axelsen with some ground and pound. Axelsen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Loke Axelsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Axelsen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Banik moves away from the strike by Axelsen.
Axelsen moves away from the strike by Banik.
Banik throws a lazy uppercut
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banik lands a really nice looking cross but Axelsen seems unphased.
Banik takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banik.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Axelsen! But no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banik. Axelsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Axelsen is looking for the big counter here.
Axelsen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banik has a takedown stuffed.
Banik just misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Axelsen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Banik closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Banik lands in his opponent's guard.
Axelsen trying to keep a closed guard but Banik is proving a slippery customer.
Axelsen wants to sweep here but Banik controlling him for the moment.
Banik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Banik connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen is adopting a defensive guard.
Axelsen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Banik lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Axelsen keeping moving, preventing Banik from controlling successfully.
Banik is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Axelsen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Banik stays in close to Axelsen's body and controls the position.
Banik scoring with punches to the head and body.
Banik looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Axelsen can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Axelsen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Banik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Banik won't allow Axelsen to sweep him here.
Banik is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Banik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Axelsen keeping moving, preventing Banik from controlling successfully.
Banik lands a couple of elbows.
Banik working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Banik with a nice head shot there.
Banik advances position into side control!
Check out the look on Banik's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Banik creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Branko Banik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen trying his best to control but Banik has mounted him.
Axelsen is working to get back to half guard.
Banik landing strikes, looking to finish!
Axelsen working to try and regain half guard.
Banik lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Banik lands a couple of good shots and Axelsen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banik connects with a big shot to the side of Axelsen's head.
Axelsen trying to control the hands but Banik breaks the grip.
Banik is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Banik trying to control momentarily.
Banik keeps control of the position as Axelsen tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branko Banik showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banik 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branko Banik!
During a confident post fight interview, Branko Banik thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.