PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Billy Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haywood Badger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axe's entrance music is Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer. A fine choice. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Axe
vs
Badger

170 cm
27
140 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

161 cm
27
134 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

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 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Axe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Haywood Badger!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axe takes a swing at Badger's ribcage but misses.
Axe moves away from the strike by Badger.
Badger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axe moves away.
Badger lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Axe at a distance.
Badger walks into a stiff left hand from Axe.
Axe keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Badger takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Badger, right into the meat.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch but Badger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Axe cracks the inside of Badger's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axe tries to clinch there but Badger circles away.
Axe throws a hook but Badger blocks it.
Badger is trying to counter with his kicks.
Axe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Axe avoids a kick to the body.
Badger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Axe lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Axe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Axe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Badger smiles and moves away.
Axe tries to clinch up.
A slow jab from Axe misses its intended target.
Badger tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Axe misses with a straight right.
Axe throws a body punch but Badger moves out of range.
Axe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Axe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Axe throws a head kick that misses.
Badger throws an overhand right that lands on Axe's shoulder, as Axe tries to avoid the shot.
Axe swings for the body but Badger moves out of range.
Axe misses with a hook to the body
and Badger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Badger attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Axe lands with a nice body punch.

Axe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Badger 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 looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Axe has his foot on Badger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Badger works his way back into a safe position though.
Badger trying to control the position from guard on top but Axe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Badger preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe can't keep his opponent in guard - Badger advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Badger is trying to control the action in half guard but Axe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Axe wants to improve his position but Badger is controlling well.
Badger trying to mount his opponent but Axe defends it.
Badger stops Axe from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Badger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Axe moves in looking to clinch but Badger pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badger misses with a two punch combination.
Badger throws a nice inside leg kick.
A lazy left from Badger finds it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Badger misses the target.
It looked like Axe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Badger misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axe.

Badger gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Badger wants to control from the top but Axe keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Badger sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haywood Badger dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Axe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Badger.
A little jabbing left from Badger on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Haywood Badger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Badger scores with a hook.
Axe tries to clinch but Badger moves out of range.
Badger throws out a loose jab but Axe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Axe blocks a leg kick.
Badger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Badger tries to score with a low kick but Axe moves his leg out of the way.
Axe throws a shot from downtown. Badger moves away and avoids it.
Axe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Badger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Badger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Badger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Axe doesn't seem bothered though.
Axe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Axe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Badger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Axe misses
letting Badger counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe is looking to clinch.
Badger swings for the body but Axe moves out of range.

Badger gets the takedown into side control.
Badger cracks Axe with a big right hand but Axe just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Axe regains half guard.
Axe pushes Badger off but Badger dives into side control.
Badger wants to control but Axe is keeping him busy.
Badger takes a little break here. Axe wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badger advances nicely into full mount.
Axe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Haywood Badger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Axe in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Badger looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
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!

Axe somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Badger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axe walks forward, straight into a front kick from Badger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Badger slams his shin into Axe's torso.
Badger fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Badger scores with a hook to the body. Axe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Axe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Badger counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Badger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Axe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Axe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Badger working for a triangle but Axe defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe throws a big elbow that misses.
Axe tries to stand but Badger is controlling from the bottom.
Badger looking to control.
Badger is pulling down on Axe's head to control his posture.
Axe trying to stand up but can't free himself from Badger's guard.
Axe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Badger is controlling Axe's posture.
Axe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haywood Badger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice shot by Axe.
Badger takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Axe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Badger looks for a takedown but Axe sprawls well.
Axe misses with a straight left.
Axe takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Axe throws a one two combo.
Badger digs a good hook to Axe's body.
Axe throws a leg kick but Badger checks it.
Badger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Axe throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Badger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Axe manages to avoid it.
Badger fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Axe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badger looks for the body kick but Axe saw that one coming.
Axe half committed to a counter leg kick.
Badger moves out of range as Axe throws a body kick.
Badger throws a low kick, looking for Axe's leg but Axe calmly moves out of range.
Axe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Badger feints and then cracks Axe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Axe down.
Badger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Axe is out of range and Badger settles back down.
Axe is looking to counter the offense by Badger and move into the clinch.
Badger attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Badger ducks under a wild hook from Axe.
Badger lands with a right hand.
Axe tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A jab from Axe misses.
Axe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Badger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Axe throws a head kick but Badger moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badger bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Axe slips a jab and a cross from Badger.
Axe with a nice cross.
An inside leg kick from Badger misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Badger gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Axe.
Axe throws a jab but it's blocked by Badger.
Haywood Badger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Badger looks to land a right hand but Axe moved out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Axe. Those never looked like landing.
Axe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Badger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Badger works Axe's body with a nice hook.
Badger moves away from the strike by Axe.
Badger connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Badger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Badger was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Axe chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Badger can pounce on him.
Badger has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Axe misses with a wild combination.
Badger misses with a straight left.
Axe misses with a head kick.
Axe wants to clinch.
Billy Axe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Axe misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Badger.

Badger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Axe to the mat! Axe manages to get full guard.
Badger is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe wants to stand and escape but Badger is having none of it.
Badger trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Axe manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Axe wants to control from the top but Badger keeps moving.
Badger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Axe stands up over Badger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Badger pulls Axe in close to prevent any damage.
Badger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Haywood Badger.
I've got Badger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haywood Badger!
An out of breath Haywood Badger thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.