PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thor Axxe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuraimo Rassi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rassi has chosen Damian Marley - It Was Written as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Axxe
vs
Rassi

183 cm
25
183 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

183 cm
25
184 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thor Axxe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samuraimo Rassi!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rassi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Axxe avoids the head kick by Rassi.
Rassi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rassi throws a head kick that misses.
Axxe looks to land a right hand but Rassi moved out of range.
Axxe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rassi.
Rassi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Axxe's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Axxe duly obliges.

Rassi forces Axxe back against the cage and clinches.
A short right from Rassi.
Rassi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axxe wants to get back to striking at distance but Rassi won't allow it.
Rassi looking to throw knees to the head but Axxe is blocking nicely.
Rassi has Axxe pressed against the cage, preventing Axxe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rassi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rassi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Axxe backwards.

Rassi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rassi takes a swing at Axxe's ribcage but misses.
Samuraimo Rassi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rassi has Axxe up against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Rassi.
Rassi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axxe.
Rassi scores with a knee to the head.
Rassi working Axxe over with knees to the body.
Rassi tries a knee to the head but Axxe blocks it.

Rassi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rassi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rassi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Axxe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rassi manages to avoid it.
Rassi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Axxe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A leg kick checked by Rassi.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Axxe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rassi.
Axxe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Axxe throws an overhand right that lands on Rassi's shoulder, as Rassi tries to avoid the shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axxe throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rassi.
Axxe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Axxe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rassi scores with a kick to the body.
Axxe keeps the fight on the outside.
Rassi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Axxe swings widly with a right hand
and Rassi counters with a stiff right hand.
Rassi tries to clinch up but Axxe circles away and keeps his distance.
Rassi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rassi connects with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rassi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rassi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axxe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Axxe keeps the fight on the outside.
Axxe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rassi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Axxe misses with a jab to the body
and Rassi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Axxe really felt that one!
Rassi avoids the head kick by Axxe.
Axxe blocks a head kick by Rassi.
Axxe lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Rassi clinches up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rassi obliges.
Rassi leaning against his opponent.
Axxe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rassi lands a shoulder strike.
Rassi has Axxe pressed against the cage, preventing Axxe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axxe wants to break free but Rassi has control.

Rassi breaks from the clinch.
Rassi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rassi dodges the punch combination from Axxe.
Rassi connects with a single shot there.

Axxe tries to keep at a distance but Rassi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rassi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Axxe is trying to force a seperation but Rassi has the dominant position.
Rassi connects with a knee to the head.

Rassi manages to break the clinch.

Rassi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rassi leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rassi keeps control of Axxe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rassi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rassi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuraimo Rassi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rassi throws a head kick that misses.
Axxe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Axxe lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rassi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rassi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rassi wants to clinch.
Axxe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The fighters circling - Axxe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rassi misses with a few strikes there.
Nice defenses there by Rassi.
Axxe throws a hook to the side of Rassi's head but Rassi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rassi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Axxe connects with an inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Axxe misses.
Axxe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rassi checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axxe misses with a combination
and Rassi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rassi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Rassi. Those never looked like landing.
Axxe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Rassi clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Rassi.
Rassi lands with a right to the head.
Rassi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rassi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Axxe tries to break the clinch but Rassi is controlling the position.
Rassi tries a knee to the head but Axxe blocks it.

Rassi breaks the clinch.
Samuraimo Rassi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rassi looks to land a body kick but Axxe moved away.
Axxe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rassi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rassi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Axxe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Axxe scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rassi slips a jab and a cross from Axxe.
Rassi slips a straight right by Axxe.
Rassi lands the left hand.
A clash of legs there as Rassi blocks the low kick.
Rassi lands with a kick to the ribs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Axxe.
Axxe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rassi cracks the inside of Axxe's front leg.
Axxe tries to work over Rassi's front leg with a kick but Rassi checks it.
Rassi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rassi misses with a two punch combination.
Rassi scores with a nice right hand.
Samuraimo Rassi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rassi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rassi breaks from the clinch.
Axxe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rassi tries to avoid it but Axxe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rassi to the ground. Rassi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Axxe avoids the head kick by Rassi.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rassi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rassi. Axxe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Axxe fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Axxe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axxe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rassi wants to clinch up but Axxe keeps it at a distance.
Rassi tries to clinch but Axxe is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Rassi.
Axxe misses with a hook. Rassi ducked under it nicely.
Axxe throws a series of punches but Rassi avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rassi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rassi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rassi is looking to clinch but Axxe is avoiding it.

Rassi clinches up against the cage.
Rassi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axxe is looking for a takedown.
Rassi has Axxe pressed against the cage.
Rassi continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Rassi connects with a knee to the head.
Axxe tries to break free but Rassi pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rassi landing knees to the body.
Samuraimo Rassi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rassi lands a nice knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Rassi.
Axxe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rassi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuraimo Rassi 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! This is the final round!

Axxe takes one on the button.
Rassi lands with a slapping head kick.
A combination from Rassi does no damage.
Axxe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rassi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rassi misses the shot to the body.
Axxe throws a low kick but Rassi moves out of range easily.
Axxe blocks a head kick by Rassi.
Rassi throws a right hand that Axxe ducks under and follows up with a left that Axxe also avoids with ease.
Rassi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axxe manages to avoid it.
Axxe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Axxe avoids the head kick by Rassi.
Rassi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Rassi moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rassi scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rassi pushes Axxe back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rassi breaks from the clinch.
Thor Axxe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Axxe tries to bum rush Rassi with a series of wild strikes but Rassi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Axxe misses with a low kick.
Rassi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Axxe sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Axxe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rassi circles away quickly and effectively.
Rassi scores with a nice right hand.
Rassi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axxe moves away.
Rassi throws a one two combo.
Rassi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rassi lands with a kick to the temple. Axxe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Axxe throws the left hand but Rassi avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rassi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Axxe.
Rassi throws a head kick that misses.
Rassi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rassi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rassi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Axxe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rassi just misses with a punch to the body.
Axxe shoots in for a takedown but Rassi shows good takedown defense.
Rassi lands a jab to the head.
Axxe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rassi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Axxe really felt that one!
Rassi throws a nice looking combination but Axxe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rassi doesn't manage to clinch there - Axxe circles away.
Rassi scores with a jab.

Rassi closes the distance and clinches.
Axxe has had enough of the clinch but Rassi keeps him there for the moment.
Axxe is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rassi is defending well.

Rassi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Axxe misses.
Axxe swats away the attempt to clinch by Rassi.
Some wild striking there from Rassi.

Axxe gets tackled into the cage by Rassi. Rassi maintains the clinch.
Samuraimo Rassi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rassi obliges.
Rassi misses with a knee to the head.
Axxe will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rassi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rassi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Axxe is trying to break the clinch but Rassi is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rassi.
Axxe tries to circle away but Rassi has him pinned against the cage.
Rassi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Axxe blocks it with crossed arms.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rassi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Axxe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thor Axxe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice shot by Rassi.
Axxe throws a right and a left that Rassi avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rassi throws a sloppy head kick and Axxe moves out of range easily.
Rassi 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.
Axxe steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rassi. That one must have hurt.
Axxe throws a nice looking combination but Rassi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuraimo Rassi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rassi 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuraimo Rassi!
A very excited looking Samuraimo Rassi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.