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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thor Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward has chosen Tap Out as his entrance music. Rick Ward is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.
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| 180 cm
26
184 lbs
5 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
22
200 lbs
8 - 5 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick Ward!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsson moves away.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Axelsson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ward counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ward throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ward scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ward cracks a nice hook into Axelsson's ribs.
Axelsson with a poor takedown
and Axelsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Axelsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ward scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ward lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Axelsson at a distance.
Ward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Axelsson.
Ward throws a body punch but Axelsson moves out of range.
Ward connects with a body shot that sends Axelsson's belly button to the back.
Ward catches Axelsson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ward tests Axelsson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ward bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Axelsson's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ward swings for the body but Axelsson moves out of range.
Axelsson takes the fight into the clinch.
Axelsson blocks an uppercut.
Ward avoiding damage.
Axelsson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ward is defending well for now.
Axelsson is trying to stall.
Ward is trying to pull guard but Axelsson has him pressed against the ropes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson prevents a body shot from Ward.
Axelsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ward avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axelsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ward avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Axelsson prevents Ward from breaking the clinch.
The referee calls for Ward to work.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Axelsson as Ward tries to tie him up.
Axelsson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ward is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ward is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rick Ward.
Axelsson shoots and misses
and Axelsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ward cracks a nice hook into Axelsson's ribs.
Axelsson is breathing heavily.
Ward closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ward not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ward passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ward throws some wild stikes that Axelsson manages to avoid easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Ward works Axelsson's body with a nice hook.
Rick Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Axelsson tries to clinch up.
Ward takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.
Ward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsson moves away.
Ward scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ward throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ward closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ward wants to control but Axelsson is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rick Ward dominated that round.
That's time! Axelsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Axelsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ward lands a slapping body shot.
Ward scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jab by Ward.
Ward scores with the left hand. Axelsson knows he should have avoided that one.
Ward is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Axelsson rather than just go for the knockout.
Ward scores with a shot to the body.
Ward throws a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axelsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelsson shoots and misses
and Ward counters with a three punch combo that has Axelsson backing up. Axelsson nods at Ward to acknowledge the strikes.
Rick Ward seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ward throws a leg kick which misses Axelsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Axelsson tries to avoid it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Axelsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ward throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ward closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ward lands in his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is pushing down on Axelsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Axelsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Ward has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ward throwing shots but Axelsson is blocking nicely.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ward throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Axelsson because Ward loaded up on that one.
Ward working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ward misses with a head shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward looking to secure an arm triangle but Axelsson defends it well.
Axelsson is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.
Ward throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ward thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ward misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward unloading with bombs!
Axelsson wants to hold on but Ward pushes him away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ward is working for a guillotine from mount but Axelsson frees his head quite easily.
Ward has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axelsson is looking to improve his position but Ward isn't that keen on the idea.
Axelsson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rick Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward stalling away here and it's allowed Axelsson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ward's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ward is looking to advance position but Axelsson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ward sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axelsson is trying to work for a kimura but Ward is defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are battling for position here. Ward manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rick Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axelsson manages to avoid it.
Axelsson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ward as he jumps to the side.
Ward listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Axelsson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Axelsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ward.
Ward shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ward trying to pass the guard but Axelsson defending well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson wants to get back to full guard.
Ward passes to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward decides to stand back up.
Ward swings for the body but Axelsson moves out of range.
Ward misses the shot to the body.
Ward lands a body shot.
Ward misses with a body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Axelsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ward tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Ward.
Ward lands a jab to Axelsson's midsection.
Ward lands a really nice looking cross but Axelsson seems unphased.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ward thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Axelsson if he has to take too many more of those.
Ward is looking to slow Axelsson down with leg kicks.
Ward just misses with a punch to the body.
Ward scores with a body shot.
Ward lands an overhand right.
Ward lands a nice looking body shot.
Axelsson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Axelsson.
Axelsson fails with the takedown
and Ward counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ward swings for the body but Axelsson moves out of range.
Ward clobbers Axelsson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ward tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Axelsson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ward can pounce on him.
Ward lands a body shot.
Ward looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ward lands a body shot.
Ward misses with a body shot.
Ward lands a nice looking body shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Axelsson is trying to defend but Ward finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ward seems to be looking for submissions.
Ward is trying to work for a kimura but Axelsson is defending well.
Axelsson looking for submissions off his back.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ward 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Ward!
In his post fight interview, Rick Ward started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
85% |
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