PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Alexander Vij (ranked 4287 p4p, 4610 weight class) and Toke Axelsen (ranked 403 p4p, 427 weight class). Axelsen has chosen Slipknot - The Virus of Life as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Vij
vs
Axelsen

187 cm
26
201
14 - 5 - 1

181 cm
29
178
22 - 12 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Granite chin

Hawaii Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Vij!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Toke Axelsen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsen tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Vij on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Axelsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vij looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Vij throws the left hand but Axelsen avoids the punch easily.
Axelsen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Axelsen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Vij on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Axelsen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vij, pushing him back against the ropes.
Axelsen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Vij.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.
Vij lands a shoulder strike.
Vij misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Vij scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vij tries to work over Axelsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Axelsen tries to work over Vij's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Vij.
Vij lands a body punch.
Vij lands a shot to the body.
Axelsen looks winded!
Vij misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vij landing knees to the body.
Vij lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Vij tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.
Axelsen blocking some punches.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Vij.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Vij.
Vij blocks the elbow strike.
Vij lands a hook to the side of the head.
Axelsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vij goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vij misses with a body punch.
Vij on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Axelsen manages to break the clinch.
Axelsen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vij.
Vij swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Vij misses with a low kick.
A left lands for Vij.
A left and a right from Axelsen both land. Nice combination.
A jab lands there for Vij.
Axelsen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vij.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Vij counters with a low kick, right behind Axelsen 's knee.
Axelsen lands a jab to the nose.
Axelsen checks a leg kick.

Axelsen clinches with his opponent.
Vij misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vij tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.
Axelsen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vij 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.
Vij goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Axelsen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vij misses with an uppercut. Axelsen saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Axelsen misses.
Vij appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Axelsen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.
Vij keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axelsen's efforts to push away.
Vij misses with a knee strike.
Nice body punch from Vij.
Vij blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vij can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
Vij misses with a body punch.
Vij lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelsen throws an elbow that misses.
Vij tries to land knees in the clinch but Axelsen avoids the damage to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Axelsen swinging wildly here.
Vij bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Vij takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vij throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vij keeps Axelsen at a distance using the push kick.
Axelsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vij manages to avoid it.
As Axelsen tries to get set, Vij tries to push him back and clinch up but Axelsen manages to avoid the attempt.
Vij connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Axelsen momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vij darts in and clinches Axelsen up against the ropes.
Axelsen is breathing heavily.
Vij lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vij.
Vij keeps control of Axelsen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vij unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Axelsen tries to circle away but Vij has him pinned against the ropes.
Vij lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Vij.
Vij lands a left hand that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Vij using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Axelsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vij lands a knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Vij.
Vij throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vij.
Vij misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good body shot from Vij.
Vij doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.
Vij misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Vij fails to land.
Vij lands with a short shot to the head.
Vij tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vij throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch on the inside from Vij fails to land.
A short body shot lands from Vij as the two fighters clinch.
Vij lands a right hand that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Vij lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Vij with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Vij keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axelsen's efforts to push away.

Axelsen breaks from the clinch.

Vij gets a clinch.
Vij goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Vij unloads a knee to the mid-section. Axelsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Axelsen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vij missing with knees to the body.
Vij tries to work over Axelsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen prevents a body shot from Vij.
Vij misses with a body punch.
Vij landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Vij.
Vij lands a nice shot to the body.
Vij misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vij lands with a right to the head.
Vij lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Axelsen is trying to break the clinch but Vij has him pressed against the ropes.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.
Vij doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Axelsen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vij cracks Axelsen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Axelsen misses with a double jab
and Axelsen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Axelsen instigates a clinch.
Axelsen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vij.
Vij 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Vij scores with a nice short uppercut.

Axelsen breaks the clinch.

Vij tries to keep at a distance but Axelsen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Vij.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Axelsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Vij.
Vij tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.
Vij doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Axelsen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right handed body shot lands from Vij.
Vij lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Vij scores with a shoulder strike.
Vij unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vij is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Axelsen can do to turn this around?
Good body shot from Vij.
Vij can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
Vij scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vij goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vij tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vij lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Axelsen prevents a body shot from Vij.
Vij scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vij unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Axelsen prevents a body shot from Vij.
Knees to the body from Vij.

Vij breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Axelsen throws a low kick but Vij moves out of range easily.
Vij fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Axelsen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Axelsen throws a series of punches but Vij avoids them all with ease.
Axelsen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Toke Axelsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axelsen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vij lands a body shot.
Axelsen is trying to break the clinch but Vij is controlling him.
Vij can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
Vij utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short uppercut from Vij.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.
Vij tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axelsen avoids it.
Vij lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vij gets through Axelsen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vij lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen working aggressively here.
Vij misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
Vij lands a nice shot to the body.
Vij can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
Vij misses with a knee to the head.
Vij landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good body shot from Vij.
Vij softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Vij throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Axelsens head.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Vij creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vij tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alexander Vij has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vij lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Axelsen is trying to force a seperation but Vij has the dominant position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Vij clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Vij throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Axelsen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Axelsen looking to stall.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vij looking to throw knees to the head but Axelsen is blocking nicely.
A body shot lands from Vij.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Vij.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vij misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.

Axelsen manages to break the clinch.
Vij throws a jab when Axelsen was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vij drives through and clinches with Axelsen against the ropes.
Axelsen is trying to break the clinch but Vij has him pressed against the ropes.
Axelsen blocks a body shot from Vij.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hand to the body from Vij.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vij.
Vij scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vij blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Axelsen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vij misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vij struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Vij tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vij misses with a punch on the inside.
Vij doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vij misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.

Axelsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vij thows a left - swing and a miss!
Axelsen throws a counter combo.
Vij connects with a crisp jab.
Vij takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelsen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vij misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vij gets tackled into the ropes by Axelsen. Axelsen maintains the clinch.
Vij misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsen is trying to break the clinch but Vij is controlling him.
Vij tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vij throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Axelsens head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vij.
Vij misses with some punches.
Vij softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Vij is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vij using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Axelsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Axelsen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vij throws a head kick that misses.
Alexander Vij is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen misses with a few strikes there.

Axelsen darts in and clinches Vij up against the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Vij.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vij's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsen looks to throw the jab but Vij is out of range.
Axelsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vij.
Vij tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Axelsen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Axelsen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Vij had his way with Toke Axelsen in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vij changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Alexander Vij is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vij feints and then cracks Axelsen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Axelsen down.
Axelsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vij feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Vij misses the target.
Vij throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Axelsen has managed to clinch.
Vij missing with knees to the body.
Vij keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axelsen's efforts to push away.
Vij misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vij swings wildly with an uppercut but Axelsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Axelsen can't break the clinch.
Vij throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.
Axelsen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vij's elbow.
Vij misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vij misses with a punch on the inside.
Vij tries to land a knee to the head but Axelsen blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vij misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsen.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vij.
Vij struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Vij misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vij has a couple of punches blocked by Axelsen.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.

Vij breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Axelsen has Vij up against the ropes in a clinch.
Vij with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Vij.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vij keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Axelsen's efforts to push away.
Vij lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vij tries a body shot but Axelsen blocks it.
Axelsen can't break the clinch.
Vij misses with a body punch.
Vij lands a right hand that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Axelsen is trying to force a seperation but Vij has the dominant position.
Axelsen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Axelsen managing to block the knees to the body from Vij.
Vij can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsen controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vij.
Toke Axelsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Axelsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vij tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Vij back against the ropes.
Axelsen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vij has him pressed against the ropes.
Axelsen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vij is keeping busy.
Vij tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsen's elbow.
Axelsen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vij lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Axelsen backwards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vij lands a left hand.
Vij lands a nice shot to the body.
Vij lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vij.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Vij showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vij has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 50:44
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 50:44
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 50:44

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