PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bertrand Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Axe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Groves
vs
Axe

200 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bertrand Groves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Axe!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axe is looking to clinch but Groves is avoiding it.
Groves keeps the fight on the outside.
Groves keeps the fight on the outside.
Groves keeps the fight on the outside.
Axe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Groves tries to avoid it but Axe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Groves to the ground. Groves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Axe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axe moves nicely into side control.
The strikes coming from Axe are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Groves looking for a sweep but Axe has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Axe raining down shots from the mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Groves that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Axe looking to control but Groves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Groves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Axe get's back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Axe is defended easily by Groves.
Axe swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Groves.
Groves fails with the takedown.

Groves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe controlling the position well.
Axe regains full guard. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Groves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Axe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Groves wants to stand but Axe is controlling his posture from full guard.
Axe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe working a defensive guard here.
Axe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Groves's guard.
Axe trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Axe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Groves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Axe is aware though and is defending well.
Groves is breathing heavily.
Groves is trying to control the position but Axe postures up.
Axe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Axe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mark Axe has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Axe tries to clinch there but Groves circles away.
Axe tries to clinch up but Groves circles away and keeps his distance.
Groves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bertrand Groves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Axe.
Horrible takedown by Axe or perhaps it was just good defense by Groves which made him look bad.
Axe tries for a takedown but Groves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Axe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe shoots in for a takedown but Groves shows good takedown defense.
Groves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Groves misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Axe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Axe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Axe wants it to stay on the feet.
Axe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Groves as he avoids it easily.
Groves digs a good hook to Axe's body.
Groves tries a head kick but it misses.
Groves misses with a takedown

and Axe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Groves has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Axe uses from the top position.
Groves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Axe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Axe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Axe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Groves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Axe trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.

Axe gets to his feet. Groves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Axe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Groves tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Axe is in Groves's guard.
Axe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Axe slips nicely into half guard.
Axe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Axe stands up and beckons Groves to join him on the feet.
Axe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Axe scores with a takedown into Groves's guard.
Axe slips nicely into half guard.

Axe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Groves to stand up.
Axe tries to clinch up but Groves circles away and keeps his distance.
Axe pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe shoots in for a double leg but Groves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Axe throws a head kick that misses.

Axe manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Groves on his heels. He'll look to pass Groves's guard now, I'm sure.
Axe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Groves on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Groves tries to get out of the position.
Axe is looking to work some ground and pound but Groves has wrist control.
Groves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Axe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Groves's head.
Axe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Groves's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe slows the pace down in half guard.
Axe passes the guard and advances to mount!
Axe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Axe moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Groves has worked his arm free - good work by Groves!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Axe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Axe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Groves sprawls well. Groves wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Axe gets slowly back to his feet.
Groves tries to clinch up.
Axe shoots for a double leg takedown but Groves sprawls well. He's pushed Axe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Axe instigates a clinch.
Axe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Groves gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bertrand Groves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Axe.
Axe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Groves to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Groves misses with a knee to the head.
Axe wants a takedown.
Groves has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Axe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Axe has Groves pushed against the cage.
Groves fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Groves tries to circle away but Axe has him pinned against the cage.
Groves has Axe pressed against the cage.

Groves breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groves displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Axe.
Groves moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Groves looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Axe shoots in but no luck this time.
Axe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Groves's waist but Groves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Axe off to one side.
Axe throws a body kick that misses.

Groves clinches with his opponent.
Groves leaning his opponent against the cage.

Groves lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves trying to control the position from guard on top but Axe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axe being controlled here, momentarily.
Axe trying to control the position.

Axe has his foot on Groves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Groves works his way back into a safe position though.
Groves controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves wants to stand and escape but instead Axe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Axe from controlling successfully.
Axe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Groves managing to control the position.
Bertrand Groves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Axe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bertrand Groves wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Axe closes the distance and clinches up with Groves, looking for a takedown. Axe pushes Groves against the cage but Groves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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 Bertrand Groves.
I think Axe 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Axe!