PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drago Maximov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Axelsson
vs
Maximov

183 cm
37
194 lbs
35 - 17 - 0

182 cm
32
211 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 35 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Drago Maximov!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maximov throws a sloppy head kick and Axelsson moves out of range easily.

Axelsson shoots in and gets a takedown into Maximov's guard.
Maximov wants to stand but Axelsson is controlling the position.
Maximov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Axelsson connects with a couple of short punches.
Axelsson trying to control but Maximov is working from the bottom.
Axelsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axelsson prevents Maximov from getting back to his feet.
Axelsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maximov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maximov wants to stand and escape but Axelsson is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axelsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maximov is keeping the position for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Axelsson is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Axelsson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Maximov.

Maximov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Axelsson lands a couple of elbows.
Maximov wants to stand and escape but Axelsson is having none of it.
Axelsson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Axelsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Maximov is retaining full guard.
Maximov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Axelsson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Axelsson wants to control from the top but Maximov keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Maximov tries a head kick but it misses.
Drago Maximov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Maximov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maximov is looking to stand back up but Axelsson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Maximov.

Maximov is trying to stand back up but Axelsson is controlling him
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Axelsson is trying to control. Maximov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maximov wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Axelsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maximov tries to kick Axelsson off but Axelsson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson not doing much here.
Axelsson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maximov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Axelsson prevents Maximov from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good leg kick by Maximov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Axelsson avoids the head kick by Maximov.
As Maximov tries to get set, Axelsson tries to push him back and clinch up but Maximov manages to avoid the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maximov looks to throw the jab but Axelsson is out of range.
Maximov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maximov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Axelsson feinted with a counter takedown.
Axelsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maximov.
Axelsson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Maximov tries to close the distance and clinch but Axelsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Axelsson attempts a counter takedown but Maximov avoids it well and moves away.
Maximov leaves Axelsson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Axelsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maximov as he avoids it easily.

Maximov clinches with his opponent.
Axelsson blocks an uppercut.

Axelsson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Axelsson is looking to take a break and control but Maximov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maximov wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johan Axelsson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maximov moves in looking to clinch but Axelsson pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maximov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maximov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Axelsson gets tackled into the cage by Maximov. Maximov maintains the clinch.
Axelsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maximov.
Axelsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maximov swings wildly with an uppercut but Axelsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Axelsson - that landed with a thud.

Axelsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maximov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Axelsson.
Maximov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsson blocks a leg kick.
Maximov tries to clinch there but Axelsson circles away.
Maximov tries to clinch but Axelsson is having none of it.

Maximov gets a clinch.
Maximov can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsson controls the action.
A short uppercut from Maximov.
Axelsson fails to pull guard.
Maximov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Axelsson is trying to pull guard but Maximov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maximov being controlled against the cage.
Axelsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Maximov gets an underhook and turns Axelsson into the cage.
Axelsson is trying to force a seperation but Maximov has the dominant position.

Axelsson pulls Maximov into guard.

Maximov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Axelsson, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maximov has managed to clinch.
Axelsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Maximov.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maximov.
Axelsson is trying to force a seperation but Maximov has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maximov as Axelsson tries to tie him up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Axelsson can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Maximov misses with some punches.
Maximov misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maximov throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsson.

Axelsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Axelsson drops his hands momentarily and Maximov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Maximov throws a head kick that misses.
Maximov misses with a head kick.
Maximov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axelsson throws a right and a left that Maximov avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axelsson tries to keep at a distance but Maximov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maximov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Drago Maximov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maximov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Axelsson or not.
Axelsson lands a left hand.
Maximov can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsson controls the action.
Axelsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Maximov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maximov tries to work over Axelsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Axelsson jumps guard but Maximov stands there with Axelsson around his waist. Axelsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Axelsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maximov smiles and moves away.
Maximov moves in looking to clinch but Axelsson pushes him off.
Drago Maximov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maximov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Maximov fails to land.
Maximov lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelsson.
Maximov is working Axelsson over against the cage.
Axelsson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Axelsson wants to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Axelsson.
Axelsson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maximov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maximov trying to land knees to the body.
Maximov throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsson.
Maximov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maximov working aggressively here.
Maximov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maximov tries to throw a body punch but Axelsson avoids it by throwing Maximov back against the cage.
Maximov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Axelsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drago Maximov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Maximov tries to bum rush Axelsson with a series of wild strikes but Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Axelsson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maximov misses with a head kick.
Maximov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Maximov darts in and clinches Axelsson up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelsson.
Maximov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsson's elbow.
Maximov misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Axelsson.
Maximov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsson's elbow.
Maximov misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maximov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson is trying to break the clinch but Maximov has him pressed against the cage.
Axelsson tries for a takedown but Maximov manages to get underhooks.
Maximov throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsson.
Axelsson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Axelsson managing to block the knees to the body from Maximov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maximov misses with a body punch.
Maximov swings wildly with an uppercut but Axelsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maximov lands a hook that snaps the head of Axelsson backwards.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Maximov.
Maximov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maximov taking a breather.
Maximov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Axelsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Maximov.
Axelsson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Axelsson trying to stall but Maximov improves his position.
Axelsson avoiding damage.
Maximov misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Axelsson.
Axelsson looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Axelsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Axelsson is trying to drag Maximov to the mat but Maximov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maximov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsson.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Maximov.
Axelsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Axelsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Maximov gets an underhook and turns Axelsson into the cage.
Maximov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelsson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Maximov is defending well.
Axelsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maximov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maximov throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Maximov is defending well.
Maximov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maximov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maximov misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Maximov fails to land.
A right handed body shot lands from Maximov.
A short left from Maximov.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Axelsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Axelsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maximov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maximov.
Maximov throws a punch but it's blocked by Axelsson.
Maximov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Axelsson.
Maximov misses with some punches.
Maximov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Axelsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is trying to drag Maximov to the mat but Maximov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maximov misses with some punches.
Maximov can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsson controls the action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Maximov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maximov tries to throw a body punch but Axelsson avoids it by throwing Maximov back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Maximov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Axelsson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Come on Maximov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Maximov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

And that's the end of the fight!
Drago Maximov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maximov 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drago Maximov!
A victorious Drago Maximov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.