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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Toke Axelsen (ranked 3352 p4p, 4979 weight class) and Eron Saunders (ranked 396 p4p, 513 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Axelsen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Slipknot - The Virus of Life. 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.
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| 181 cm
28
178
18 - 10 - 2 |
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194 cm
41
181
29 - 23 - 0 |
World class boxer
Insanely flexible
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World class MT
Good gas tank
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Toke Axelsen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eron Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Saunders closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Saunders looks to clinch
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Saunders misses with a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saunders tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Saunders back against the ropes.
Saunders scores with a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsen dodges an elbow strike from Saunders.
Saunders misses with an elbow over the top.
Saunders throws an elbow that misses.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders misses with a leg kick
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders clinches.
Saunders is trying to break the clinch but Axelsen is controlling him.
Saunders taking a breather.
Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Eron Saunders is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saunders closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A shot to the body from Saunders misses
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Saunders.
Saunders closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders wants to clinch but Axelsen slips to the side
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saunders is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saunders misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Axelsen on the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Axelsen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Saunders has closed the distance and engaged Axelsen in a clinch.
Saunders misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Saunders.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A frustrated look appears on Saunders's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saunders lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Axelsen prevents a body shot from Saunders.
Saunders gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Toke Axelsen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.
Saunders misses with an uppercut
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders tries to clinch up
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders throws a combination that misses
enabling Axelsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Saunders closes the distance and pushes Axelsen back into the ropes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Axelsen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Saunders throws an elbow that misses.
Saunders looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Saunders struggles to land a body shot inside as Axelsen controls his hands.
Saunders creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Axelsen's defenses.
It looks like Toke Axelsen has been cut.
Saunders is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Axelsen is keeping busy.
Saunders misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saunders breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Saunders.
Saunders misses with a kick to the body
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Axelsen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Saunders lands a jab to Axelsen's midsection.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Eron Saunders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saunders gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Saunders moves to clinch but Axelsen breaks away
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders misses with a lunging right hand
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunders misses with a double jab
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Toke Axelsen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Toke Axelsen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Axelsen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders closes the distance and pushes Axelsen back into the ropes.
Eron Saunders seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders tries to work over Axelsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Saunders throws an elbow but misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders pushes off an throws an elbow but Axelsen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Axelsen landing knees to the body.
Axelsen avoids the elbow strike from Saunders, against the ropes.
Axelsen trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saunders misses with a left hand
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders throws a leg kick that is checked
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
Saunders wants to clinch but Axelsen slips to the side
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Axelsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saunders can do to turn this around?
Saunders swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws a lazy uppercut
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Saunders tries to clinch but Axelsen moves away
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Toke Axelsen is winning the standup battle so far.
Saunders pushes Axelsen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Axelsen tries to keep at a distance but Saunders has taken the fight into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saunders thows a leg kick but Axelsen checks it
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders connects with a single shot there.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunders scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Axelsen doesn't seem bothered though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Toke Axelsen clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Toke Axelsen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Saunders wants to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders darts in trying to clinch
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Saunders closes the distance but Axelsen moves to the side
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Saunders swings away with a body shot that misses
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders wants to clinch but Axelsen slips to the side
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders misses with a double jab
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen walks into a jab.
Saunders falls off balance throwing a combination
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders clinches.
Axelsen blocks an elbow strike.
Saunders manages to break the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Saunders misses with a hook
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders tries to clinch up
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws a combination that misses
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Saunders misses with a right hand
and Axelsen counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunders throws a predictable looking body shot
and Saunders takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saunders wants to clinch but Axelsen slips to the side
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Toke Axelsen had his way with Eron Saunders in that round.
The cut man is working on Toke Axelsen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Saunders tries to clinch but Axelsen moves away
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saunders tries to clinch but Axelsen moves away
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders misses with a combination
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders misses with a left hand
and Axelsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Axelsen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Saunders looks to clinch
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders clinches up with Axelsen and pushes him back against the ropes.
Saunders throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Saunders tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saunders avoids it.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Axelsen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saunders lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Axelsen tries to land knees in the clinch but Saunders avoids the damage to the body.
Saunders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Saunders misses with an elbow over the top.
Saunders misses with a body punch.
Saunders tries to throw a body punch but Axelsen avoids it by throwing Saunders back against the ropes.
Axelsen trying to land knees to the body.
Saunders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saunders breaks from the clinch.
Saunders looks to clinch
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Axelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saunders misses with a hook to the body
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Saunders tries to clinch
and Axelsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Toke Axelsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saunders tries to clinch
letting Axelsen counter with a right hand.
Saunders has managed to clinch.
Eron Saunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saunders tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Axelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saunders tries to clinch but Axelsen moves away
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saunders misses the body punch
and Axelsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A low kick from Saunders misses
and Axelsen counters with a stiff right hand.
And that's the end of the fight!
Toke Axelsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Axelsen, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:46
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toke Axelsen!
Toke Axelsen is the new heavyweight champion!
After the fight, Toke Axelsen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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