PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derick Sprole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sprole's entrance music is Youre Gonna Go Far, Kid. A fine choice. Axe has chosen Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Sprole
vs
Axe

165 cm
23
143 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
24
140 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

SP Ultimate Nutrition
Tokyo United Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derick Sprole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Axe!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sprole takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Axe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Axe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Axe lands a right hand.
Axe takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sprole is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Axe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sprole has Axe pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sprole pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Axe tumbling to the mat - Sprole dives into Axe's guard.
Sprole has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sprole works over Axe with some ground and pound from guard.
Sprole lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sprole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sprole throwing strikes from guard but Axe blocks nicely.
Sprole wants to control from the top but Axe keeps moving.
Axe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe is trying to control the position but Sprole postures up.
Sprole scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sprole throws a strike but Axe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Axe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Axe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Axe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Axe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe landing with the ground and pound.
Sprole controls Axe momentarily but Axe frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axe throws a big right hand that misses.
Axe wants to stand but Sprole has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Axe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Axe is looking to work some ground and pound but Sprole has wrist control.
Sprole working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Axe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Axe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Axe throws a big right hand that misses.
Sprole controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Derick Sprole.
Axe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Sprole tries to keep at a distance but Axe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Axe unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Axe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Axe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sprole's face.

Sprole is rocked!
Sprole takes an elbow to the forehead.
Oh Sprole is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Axe lands a damaging elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sprole managing to block the knees to the body from Axe.

Sprole has hold of one of Axe's legs. Axe is fighting the takedown attempt but Sprole gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Axe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sprole wants to control from the top but Axe keeps moving.
Sprole trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sprole seems to have got his legs back now.
Axe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Our spies down at at World Class Fitness and Grappling inform us that Axe has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sprole loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sprole connects with a couple of short punches.
Sprole loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sprole accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sprole throws a strike but Axe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Axe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Axe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sprole walks into a left hand.
Axe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Derick Sprole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Axe blocks a head kick by Sprole.

Sprole throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Axe was covering up waiting for the punch and Sprole finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sprole in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sprole scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Derick Sprole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Axe keeping moving, preventing Sprole from controlling successfully.

Sprole drops back, looking for a kneebar! Axe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Axe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Axe!

Axe decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sprole to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Axe misses.

Sprole rushes Axe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sprole is trying to drag Axe to the mat but Axe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Axe managing to block the knees to the body from Sprole.
Sprole can't get the takedown.
Axe tries to land knees in the clinch but Sprole avoids the damage to the body.
Axe trying to stall but Sprole improves his position.
Axe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sprole's face.
Axe lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sprole tries to stall but Axe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Axe controlling the action here for a moment.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sprole putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Axe in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sprole lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the fighters up against the cage, Axe throws an elbow but misses.
Axe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Axe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Axe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Axe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sprole trying to land knees to the body.
Axe swings wildly with an uppercut but Sprole uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sprole can't find room to land a body shot as Axe controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sprole with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short right from Axe.
Axe throws a punch but it's blocked by Sprole.
Sprole looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Axe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sprole.
Sprole drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derick Sprole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sprole just misses with a elbow thrown towards Axe's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sprole just leaning against Axe, taking a breather.
Sprole has Axe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Axe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sprole has Axe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Axe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Axe.
Axe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sprole blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Axe tries a knee to the head but Sprole blocks it.
Axe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Axe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sprole's face.
Sprole tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sprole tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Axe avoids it.
Axe avoiding damage as Sprole throws knees to the body.
Axe avoiding damage as Sprole throws knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short right from Axe.
Sprole is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axe is defending well for now.

Sprole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Axe circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Sprole to the canvas! Sprole doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Axe keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Billy Axe!
Billy Axe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.