PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Roberto Congo (ranked 2755 p4p, 3463 weight class) and Toke Axelsen (ranked 321 p4p, 429 weight class). Axelsen has chosen Slipknot - The Virus of Life as his entrance music. Roberto Congo is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Congo
vs
Axelsen

188 cm
34
197
32 - 10 - 1

181 cm
28
178
19 - 10 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Roberto Congo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Toke Axelsen!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsen blocks a jab.
Congo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Axelsen is able to avoid easily.
Axelsen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Congo throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Congo misses the body punch
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Congo wants to slow Axelsen down by chopping away at his legs.
Congo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Axelsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Congo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Axelsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Congo.
A little jabbing left from Axelsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Congo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Congo connects with a solid leg kick.

Congo moves into the clinch.
Congo tries to land knees in the clinch but Axelsen avoids the damage to the body.
Congo is pushing Axelsen up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsen lands a good knee to the midsection. Congo won't want to take too many of those.
Axelsen crunches a lovely knee into Congo's ribcage.
Axelsen trying to land knees to the body.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Congo managing to block the knees to the body from Axelsen.
Congo struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Congo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Congo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Congo landing knees to the head.
Congo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Congo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Axelsen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch on the inside from Congo fails to land.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Congo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Axelsen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Congo is defending well for now.
Congo tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Congo back against the ropes.
Axelsen working Congo over with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Congo lands a nice knee to the body.
Congo tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.
Congo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axelsen avoids it.
Congo missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Congo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axelsen avoids it.
Congo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Congo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsen is defending well for now.
Congo tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Congo back against the ropes.
Axelsen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Congo.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Axelsen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Congo can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Congo avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Congo misses with some punches.
Congo tries to work over Axelsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Congo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Congo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Congo.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Axelsen prevents a body shot from Congo.
Congo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsen is defending well for now.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Congo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Congo throws an off balance right hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Congo throws a low kick, looking for Axelsen's leg but Axelsen calmly moves out of range.
Congo scores with a nice strike.
Congo misses with a body shot.
Congo throws a lazy body kick
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Congo throws a right hand that misses
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Congo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Congo throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
A lazy left from Congo finds it's target.
A jab from Congo misses.
Congo misses with a hook
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo throws a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Congo throws a right hand that misses
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo lands a nice hook to Axelsen's body. Axelsen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Congo misses with a left hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Congo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Axelsen's head backwards.
Congo thows a leg kick but Axelsen checks it
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Congo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Congo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Congo tries to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Axelsen staying out of range there.
It seemed like Axelsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Congo misses with an uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Congo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Axelsen circles away quickly and effectively.
Axelsen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Congo throws an off balance right hand
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo throws a combination that misses
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Congo lands a right hook to the body.
Congo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Congo swings widly with a right hand
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Congo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Toke Axelsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Congo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Congo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Axelsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Congo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Axelsen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Congo is looking to clinch but Axelsen is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Axelsen! But no joy.
Axelsen defending well as Congo loads up on a big left hand.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Axelsen! But no joy.
Roberto Congo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axelsen staying out of range there.
Congo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Congo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo throws a poor cross that misses
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Congo throws a combination that misses
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Congo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Congo misses with a right hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Congo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Axelsen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Axelsen avoids the head kick by Congo.
It seemed like Axelsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Axelsen moves out of range as Congo strikes.
Congo misses with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Congo wants to clinch but Axelsen slips to the side
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Congo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo throws a shot from downtown. Axelsen moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Axelsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Congo closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Congo throws an off balance right hand
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Congo scores with a kick to the body.
Congo misses with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A bone on bone clash there as Axelsen blocks the leg kick.
It seemed like Axelsen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A shot to the body from Congo misses
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Congo misses with a shot to the body
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo throws an off balance right hand
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Congo with a nice calf kick.
Congo misses with an uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Congo throws a body kick that misses
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Congo misses with a left hand
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Congo misses with a body shot.
Axelsen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Congo feints and then cracks Axelsen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Axelsen down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toke Axelsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Congo takes the fight into the clinch.
Axelsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Congo trying to land knees to the body.
Congo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Congo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axelsen avoids it.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Congo avoids the damage to the body.
Congo missing with knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Congo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Congo lands a nice knee to the body.
Congo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Axelsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Congo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right handed body shot lands from Congo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Axelsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Congo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Congo looking to slow down the pace here.
Congo managing to block the knees to the body from Axelsen.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Congo trying to land knees to the body.
Congo landing knees to the body.
Congo is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo missing with knees to the body.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Axelsen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Congo is defending well for now.
A head punch on the inside from Congo fails to land.
Axelsen missing with knees to the body.
Axelsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Congo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Congo scores a nice knee to the body.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Congo looking to slow down the pace here.
Roberto Congo has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Axelsen up against the ropes.
Congo missing with knees to the body.
Axelsen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Congo.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
A right hook to the body lands for Congo.
Congo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Axelsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Congo tries to land knees in the clinch but Axelsen avoids the damage to the body.
Congo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Congo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen trying to land knees to the body.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Axelsen blocks the elbow strike.
Axelsen working Congo over with knees to the body.
Congo avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Congo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Congo avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Axelsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Congo tries to work over Axelsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Axelsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Congo clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Congo misses with a hook to the body
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Congo.
Congo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Congo tries to clinch up
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Congo misses with a left hand
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Congo scoring well with a low kick there.
Congo tries to clinch but Axelsen moves away
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Congo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Congo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Congo misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo swinging wildly here.
A little jabbing left from Axelsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo misses with an uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Congo throws a leg kick
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Congo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Congo throws a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Congo throws a leg kick
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Congo wants to slow Axelsen down by chopping away at his legs.
A little jabbing left from Axelsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Congo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Congo misses with a left hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A low kick from Congo misses
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axelsen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Toke Axelsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Congo - that will leave a mark!
Congo misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Congo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Axelsen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Congo thows a leg kick but Axelsen checks it
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Congo throws a right hand that misses
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Axelsen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Congo swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A left and a right from Congo both land. Nice combination.
Congo swings widly with a right hand
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Congo clinches with his opponent.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Axelsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Congo avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Axelsen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Congo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Congo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Congo avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo trying to control the position but instead, Axelsen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Congo into the ropes.
Congo with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Congo avoiding damage as Axelsen throws knees to the body.
Congo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Axelsen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Congo throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsen.
Axelsen missing with knees to the body.
Congo tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Congo back against the ropes.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toke Axelsen dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Congo throws a leg kick
and Congo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Congo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Congo darts in trying to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Congo has Axelsen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Congo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Congo avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Congo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsen is defending well for now.
Congo lands a left hand.
Axelsen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Congo.
Congo misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo misses with a body punch.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Congo struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Axelsen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Congo misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Axelsen obliges.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Congo.
Congo trying to land knees to the body.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Axelsen missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Congo avoids the damage to the body.
Axelsen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Congo.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Congo.
A nice left hand lands by Congo.
A short right from Congo.
Congo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelsen takes a knee to the side of the body.
A body shot lands from Congo.
Axelsen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Congo.
Congo misses with a punch on the inside.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Congo.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Congo.
Congo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good body shot from Congo.
Congo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axelsen avoids it.
Congo scores with a shot to the side of Axelsen's head.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Congo looking to stall.
Axelsen missing with knees to the body.
Congo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Congo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsen is defending well for now.
Congo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Axelsen avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Congo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Congo trying to land knees to the body.
Congo misses with the head strike.
Congo misses with a knee strike.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Congo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.
Axelsen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Congo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Congo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Congo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 48:47
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 48:47
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Congo!
Roberto Congo retains his middleweight title!
Roberto Congo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.