PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Chang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Excel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Excel has chosen Everything Zen- Bush as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Chang
vs
Excel

190 cm
24
225 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

205 cm
22
254 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Greg Chang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Axel Excel!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chang tries a head kick but it misses.
Chang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Excel tries a head kick but it misses.
Chang smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Chang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Excel.

Excel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee asks Excel politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Excel prefers to stall for the moment though.
Chang is looking to reverse the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Chang prevents Excel from moving into mount.
Chang tries to bench press Excel off him but Excel keeps the position.
Excel creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Chang sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Excel scoring with punches and elbows.
Sloppy strikes there by Excel.
Chang is looking for a sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Excel throws a head kick that misses.
Excel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Excel there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Chang is trying to control but can't.
Excel controlling the action here.
Chang tries to get to full guard but Excel has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chang is refusing to be controlled, as Excel sits in half guard.
Chang gets back to full guard.
Chang keeping full guard, as Excel tries to pass.
Excel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excel gets to his feet. Chang looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Excel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chang tries to close the distance and clinch but Excel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chang takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Good shot there by Chang.
Excel lands a head kick. Chang smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Excel dodges the punch combination from Chang.
A head kick misses from Chang.
Chang throws a lazy head kick
and Excel counters with a series of strikes. Chang will be more careful next time no doubt.
Greg Chang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Excel tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters circling - Chang throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chang throws a looping overhand right but Excel ducks down to avoid it.
Chang slow jab from Excel misses its intended target.
Chang throws a head kick that misses.
Excel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Excel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Excel looks gassed!
Chang bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Chang has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Excel is proving hard to escape from.
Chang tries to free his leg and advance position but Excel is retaining full guard.
Excel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chang is controlling him.
Excel working a defensive guard here.

Chang postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Excel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Chang, into his guard.

Chang throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Excel stopping the sweep attempt from Chang.
Excel wants to control from the top but Chang keeps moving.
Excel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Chang working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Excel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Excel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Excel decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Axel Excel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Excel slips under a jab from Chang.
Excel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Chang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Excel gets a clinch.
Chang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Excel.

Excel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chang tries to move into range but Excel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Excel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chang falls off balance throwing a combination
and Excel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chang misses the jab.
Chang tests Excel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chang throws a sloppy head kick

and Excel counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Excel wants to control but Chang is keeping him busy.
Excel just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Excel.
Chang is looking to regain half guard here but Excel keeps moving and retains side control.
Chang might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chang being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chang manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Chang trying to control from the bottom.
Chang is looking to improve his position.
Excel trying to mount his opponent but Chang defends it.
Excel is looking to take a break and control but Chang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chang is looking to improve his position.
Excel looks to land a strike but Chang avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Excel preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Chang misses with a double jab

and Excel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang wants to get back to full guard but Excel has mounted him!
Chang manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Excel not doing much here.
Chang trying to control but Excel postures up.
Chang tries to get to full guard but Excel has control of the leg.
Excel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Axel Excel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Excel trying to pass the guard but Chang defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Excel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chang keeps working.
Excel thows a huge punch but Chang dodges it nicely.
Excel tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chang is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Excel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chang throws a lazy head kick

so Excel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Chang looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Chang controls Excel momentarily but Excel frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chang keeping moving, preventing Excel from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Excel 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! And we move into the final round!

Excel looks to land a combination but Chang avoids it well.
Excel scores with a one two! Chang had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Chang wants to clinch
and Excel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Excel lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Chang backs up against the cage.
Chang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Excel.
A big left from Chang misses.
A jab from Chang misses.
Chang drops Excel with a beautiful combination! Excel stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Chang is looking for the KO!
Chang tries to clinch

so Excel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Excel controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chang is trying to control the position but Excel postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chang has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Excel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Excel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Excel stopping the sweep attempt from Chang.

Chang is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Excel sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Chang has an active guard here but Excel has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Excel is looking to advance position but Chang won't allow it.

Excel stands up and beckons Chang to join him on the feet.
Excel swats away the attempt to clinch by Chang.
Excel avoids the head kick by Chang.
Excel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chang.
Excel thuds his right hand into Chang's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Excel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Greg Chang is winning the standup battle so far.
Chang throws a big shot that misses.
Chang clobbers Excel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Chang darts in trying to clinch

and Excel counters with a shoot takedown. Chang fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chang escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Excel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Excel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Chang keeping moving, preventing Excel from controlling successfully.

Excel stands and steps away. Chang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Greg Chang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chang misses with a head kick.
Excel scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Chang throws a head kick that misses
and Excel counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Greg Chang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chang connects with a crisp jab.
Excel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chang.
Chang stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Chang throws a jab when Excel was well out of range.
Excel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chang falls off balance throwing a combination
and Excel counters with a straight right hand.
Chang tries a head kick but it misses.
Excel misses with the combination.
Chang tries a head kick but it misses.
Excel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Chang moves into range and clinches up with Excel.
Excel tries to break the clinch but Chang is controlling the position.
Excel tries to break the clinch but Chang is controlling the position.
Chang is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Chang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Chang.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chang connects with a nasty looking knee right to Excel's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Greg Chang.
I think Excel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Axel Excel!