PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ansgar Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvo Laar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axelsson comes to the cage accompanied by one bourbon one scotch one beer. Laar comes into a darkened arena with his song building. some random 90's estonia dance song i found on youtube kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Axelsson
vs
Laar

188 cm
43
214 lbs
41 - 21 - 1

182 cm
38
213 lbs
31 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 41 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ansgar Axelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arvo Laar!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laar lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Axelsson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Axelsson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Axelsson misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Axelsson.
Laar can't find room to land a body shot as Axelsson controls the action.
A short right from Laar on the inside.
Laar takes a shot to the head.
Laar struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsson controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Axelsson can't find room to land a body shot as Laar controls the action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Laar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Axelsson scores with a jab to the head.
Laar shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Axelsson clinches up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Laar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laar jabs Axelsson to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Axelsson darts in and clinches Laar up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Axelsson.
Laar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Axelsson's elbow.
Laar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Laar is trying to force a seperation but Axelsson has the dominant position.
Axelsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Axelsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laar lands a shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Axelsson as the two fighters clinch.
Axelsson trying to land knees to the body.
Laar wants to get back to striking at distance but Axelsson won't allow it.
Laar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Axelsson.
Laar is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Axelsson 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.
Axelsson lands a nice uppercut.
Axelsson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Laar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Axelsson lands a nice uppercut.

Laar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Axelsson closes the distance and pushes Laar back into the cage.
Axelsson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laar missing with knees to the body.
Axelsson leaning against his opponent.
Axelsson keeps control of Laar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Axelsson breaks from the clinch.
Laar moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laar connects with a solid leg kick.
Laar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Laar takes a swing at Axelsson's ribcage but misses.

Axelsson takes the fight into the clinch.
Axelsson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laar.

Laar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laar thumps Axelsson with a low kick.
Laar is looking to slow Axelsson down with leg kicks.

Axelsson darts in and clinches Laar up against the cage.
Axelsson keeps control of Laar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Laar's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Axelsson.
Axelsson prevents Laar from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laar tries to score with a low kick but Axelsson moves his leg out of the way.
Laar throws a head kick but Axelsson moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Laar.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
Laar connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Axelsson has closed the distance and engaged Laar in a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Axelsson.
Axelsson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Axelsson stalls.
Laar misses with some punches.
Axelsson slowing the pace effectively.
Laar working hard to break the clinch.

Laar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laar throws out a leg kick but Axelsson moves out of range and Laar only half commits.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.

Axelsson moves into the clinch.
Laar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Axelsson has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Axelsson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laar pushes Axelsson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laar tries a knee to the head but Axelsson blocks it.
A bit of stalling here from Axelsson.
Axelsson lands a nice uppercut.
Laar tries to circle away but Axelsson has him pinned against the cage.
Laar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laar is trying to push Axelsson away but Axelsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axelsson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Laar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good body shot from Laar.
Axelsson blocks a body shot from Laar.

Axelsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Axelsson's calf.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Laar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Axelsson lands a nice shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ansgar Axelsson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Axelsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Axelsson has Laar up against the cage in a clinch.
Laar is trying to push Axelsson away but Axelsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axelsson slows down the pace here.

Laar breaks from the clinch.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
Axelsson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Axelsson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Axelsson gets a clinch.
Axelsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Axelsson breaks from the clinch.
Laar throws a quick inside leg kick.
Laar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Axelsson takes the fight into the clinch.
Ansgar Axelsson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Laar throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Axelsson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laar backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Laar swats away the attempt to clinch by Axelsson.
Axelsson lands a body shot.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
Arvo Laar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Axelsson blocks a head kick by Laar.
Axelsson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Laar.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Laar connects with an inside leg kick.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Laar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Laar misses.
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Axelsson tries to clinch but Laar moves out of range.
Laar has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.
Laar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Axelsson rather than just go for the knockout.
Axelsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.
Laar misses with a leg kick.

Axelsson clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson stalling.
Axelsson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Laar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laar circles away from the clinch attempt.
Axelsson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Axelsson tries to clinch but Laar moves out of range.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Axelsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Axelsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Laar circles away.

Axelsson darts in and clinches Laar up against the cage.
Axelsson prevents a body shot from Laar.
Axelsson misses with an elbow strike.
Laar wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Axelsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Laar is trying to force a seperation but Axelsson has the dominant position.
Axelsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Laar prevents a body shot from Axelsson.

Laar manages to break the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laar wants to break free but Axelsson has control.
Axelsson connects with a knee to the head.
Axelsson lands with a right to the head.
Laar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laar is trying to break free.
Axelsson lands a left hand.
Axelsson misses with a knee strike.
Axelsson working aggressively here.

Axelsson breaks from the clinch.
Laar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Axelsson tries to clinch but Laar is having none of it.
Laar throws a leg kick but Axelsson moved away.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.
Axelsson tries to clinch up but Laar circles away and keeps his distance.
Laar fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Axelsson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Laar throws a body punch but Axelsson moves out of range.
It looked like Axelsson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Laar is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laar. That's going to slow Axelsson down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laar swats away the attempt to clinch by Axelsson.
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Axelsson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Laar tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Axelsson is able to avoid easily.
Laar misses with a low kick.

Axelsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laar is trying to push Axelsson away but Axelsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axelsson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Laar backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Laar.
Axelsson digs a right hand into Laar's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Laar's gas tank.
Laar is breathing heavily.
Axelsson avoiding damage.
Laar is trying to break the clinch but Axelsson is controlling him.
Axelsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laar backwards.
Laar tries to break the clinch but Axelsson is controlling the position.
Axelsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ansgar Axelsson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Axelsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Axelsson is looking to clinch but Laar is avoiding it.
Laar is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Axelsson with a body shot.
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Axelsson checks the leg kick nicely there.
A telegraphed right hand from Laar misses the target.

Axelsson moves into range and clinches up with Laar.
A short uppercut from Axelsson.
Axelsson stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Axelsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Axelsson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Axelsson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Axelsson crunches a lovely knee into Laar's ribcage.
A shot in the inside from Axelsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Axelsson.
Laar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Axelsson is defending well for now.
Laar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Axelsson struggles to land a body shot inside as Laar controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Axelsson as Laar tries to tie him up.
Axelsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laar can do to turn this around?
Laar prevents a body shot from Axelsson.

Laar breaks from the clinch.
Laar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Axelsson moves away.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.
Axelsson tries to clinch but Laar is having none of it.
Axelsson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Axelsson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Laar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Axelsson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Axelsson wants to clinch up but Laar keeps it at a distance.
Laar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Axelsson checks a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Axelsson.
Axelsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Axelsson misses the target.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Laar! But no joy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laar. That's going to slow Axelsson down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Axelsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Axelsson.
Axelsson gets through Laar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Axelsson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Axelsson.
A nice left hand lands by Axelsson.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Axelsson slowing the pace effectively.

Laar breaks the clinch.
Laar attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Axelsson moves in looking to clinch but Laar pushes him off.
Laar motions for Axelsson to come forward. Laar throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laar misses the shot to the body.
Axelsson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Laar buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Laar keeps the fight on the outside.
Axelsson is looking to clinch.
Axelsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Laar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laar throws a leg kick which misses Axelsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Axelsson tries to avoid it.
Laar will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Axelsson pushes Laar up against the cage in a clinch.
Laar working hard to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Axelsson.
Laar tries a body shot but Axelsson blocks it.
Laar tries to break the clinch but Axelsson is controlling the position.
Axelsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Laar gets an underhook and turns Axelsson into the cage.

Axelsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Axelsson.
Axelsson wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laar misses with a low kick as Axelsson jumps back.
Axelsson tries to clinch there but Laar circles away.
Axelsson tries to bum rush Laar with a series of wild strikes but Laar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Laar fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Axelsson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Laar throws a sloppy head kick and Axelsson moves out of range easily.

Axelsson gets a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laar wants to break free but Axelsson has control.
Laar is trying to push Axelsson away but Axelsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Axelsson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Laar throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Laar letting Axelsson take a breather here.
A short left from Axelsson.
Axelsson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Laar.
Axelsson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Laars head.
Axelsson trying to control the position but instead, Laar has worked for underhooks and has pushed Axelsson into the cage.
Axelsson scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ansgar Axelsson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Axelsson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ansgar Axelsson!
Ansgar Axelsson managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250, into his post fight interview.