PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axelsson comes to the cage accompanied by Petter - Det går bra nu. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Axelsson
vs
Anderson

183 cm
26
209 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
214 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Karl Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, David Schapiro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson moves away from the strike by Axelsson.
We've been hearing reports that Axelsson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Axelsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Anderson.
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Axelsson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Anderson on the side of the head.
Anderson sizes up Axelsson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Anderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Axelsson lands with an uppercut that bounces Anderson off the cage and back into range.
Anderson looks to throw the jab but Axelsson is out of range.
Anderson connects with a nice looking jab.
Axelsson works Anderson's body with a nice hook.
Anderson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Axelsson has time to react.
Anderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson misses with a hook
and Axelsson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Axelsson ducks under a wild hook from Anderson.
Karl Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Axelsson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Axelsson moves away from the strike by Anderson.
Axelsson moves out of range as Anderson strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Axelsson moves out of range easily.
Anderson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Anderson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Axelsson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anderson sprawls well. Anderson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Axelsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Anderson lands with a hook. Axelsson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Axelsson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anderson's waist but Anderson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Axelsson off to one side.
Anderson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Karl Anderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anderson lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelsson throws an off balance right hand
and Anderson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anderson. Axelsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anderson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Axelsson checks a leg kick.
Anderson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Axelsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Anderson.
Anderson ducks under a wild hook from Axelsson.
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Anderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice straight punches there by Axelsson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Axelsson.
Axelsson takes one to the side of the head.
Anderson takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.
Anderson misses with a wild body shot.
Axelsson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Anderson looks to land a left hand but Axelsson moved out of range nicely.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsson moves away.
Anderson looks to land a right hand but Axelsson moved out of range.
Axelsson blocks a head kick by Anderson.
Axelsson connects with a body shot.
Anderson defending well as Axelsson loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Anderson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Anderson throws a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Axelsson.
Some wild striking there from Axelsson.
Axelsson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Axelsson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Axelsson winds up and cracks Anderson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Axelsson is taking a breather. Anderson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Anderson has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Axelsson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Axelsson!
Axelsson controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Anderson is trying to control Axelsson's posture but Axelsson avoids it.

Axelsson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Axelsson's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Anderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Axelsson misses with a wild body shot.
Axelsson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Axelsson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Axelsson blocks a jab.
Nice straight punches there by Anderson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Anderson.
Anderson throws the left hand but Axelsson avoids the punch easily.
Anderson tries to clinch but Axelsson moves away
and Axelsson counters with a nice body shot.
Axelsson lands an overhand right.
Axelsson lands with a good body shot.
Axelsson throws the left hand but Anderson avoids the punch easily.
Axelsson misses with a hook. Anderson ducked under it nicely.

Axelsson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Axelsson showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson trying to hold on to Axelsson's head to control him but Axelsson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Anderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Axelsson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Anderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Axelsson wants to advance to full mount but Anderson doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Anderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Axelsson won't allow Anderson to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Axelsson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Anderson is adopting a defensive guard.

Anderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Anderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Axelsson passes into half guard.
Axelsson not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control from the bottom.
Johan Axelsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Anderson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Axelsson trying to control from Anderson's half guard. Anderson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Axelsson from controlling successfully.
Axelsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Axelsson postures up.
Anderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Axelsson takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Axelsson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Axelsson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Axelsson postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axelsson trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Anderson wants to hit a switch here but Axelsson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Anderson there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Axelsson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Axelsson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anderson scores with a jab to the body.
Axelsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Anderson.
Axelsson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Axelsson misses with a looping right.

Anderson clinches up against the cage.
Axelsson working hard to break the clinch.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Anderson.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Axelsson.

Axelsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut.
Axelsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Donk. Axelsson catches Anderson right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Anderson scores with a nice head shot.
Axelsson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Anderson is looking to score with low kicks.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson thumps Axelsson with a low kick.
Anderson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Anderson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anderson tried to score with a low kick but Axelsson checks it.
A big right from Axelsson misses.
Axelsson slips a straight right by Anderson.
A shot to the liver by Axelsson. Beautiful body shot.
Anderson looks to land a right hand but Axelsson moved out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Anderson needs to keep his hands up - Axelsson had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anderson throws a looping overhand right but Axelsson ducks down to avoid it.
Axelsson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Anderson is looking to land body kicks.
Anderson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsson moves away.
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Axelsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Axelsson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Anderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Axelsson checks a low kick from Anderson.
Anderson missing with a left hand there. Axelsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Anderson throws a big shot that misses.
Axelsson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Anderson under the eye.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Anderson tried to score with a low kick but Axelsson checks it.
Axelsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anderson.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson tries to clinch there but Axelsson circles away.
Anderson takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.
Karl Anderson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Axelsson clinches.
Axelsson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Anderson.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Anderson.
Axelsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Anderson.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Axelsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Anderson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Axelsson tries to circle away but Anderson has him pinned against the cage.
Axelsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Axelsson.
Axelsson misses with an elbow strike.
Anderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Axelsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Axelsson tries for a takedown but Anderson manages to get underhooks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Axelsson taking a breather.
Anderson lands a shot to the body.
Anderson just leaning against Axelsson, taking a breather.
Axelsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Axelsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anderson working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axelsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anderson misses with some punches.
Anderson misses with a body punch.
Anderson cracks Axelsson with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Anderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Anderson 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Anderson!
A relieved looking Karl Anderson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.