PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Holmstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Watkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Axel Holmstrom could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Billy Watkins's chin.

Holmstrom
vs
Watkins

199 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Axel Holmstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Watkins!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watkins swats away the attempt to clinch by Holmstrom.
Watkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holmstrom sprawls well. Holmstrom wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Watkins gets slowly back to his feet.

Holmstrom has Watkins up against the cage in a clinch.
Watkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holmstrom pulls his leg out and moves away.

Holmstrom clinches with his opponent.

Holmstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Holmstrom lands with a nice body punch.
Watkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Axel Holmstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Watkins.
Watkins shoots in looking for a takedown but Holmstrom manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Watkins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holmstrom as he jumps to the side.
Holmstrom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Watkins.
Watkins looks gassed!

Holmstrom has managed to clinch.

Holmstrom pulls guard.

Watkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Holmstrom looking for a guillotine here but Watkins defends easily.
Holmstrom is pulling down on Watkins's head to control his posture.
Watkins should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmstrom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Watkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Watkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmstrom wants to stand and escape but Watkins is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holmstrom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Holmstrom has his foot on Watkins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Watkins works his way back into a safe position though.
Watkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Holmstrom keeping moving, preventing Watkins from controlling successfully.

Holmstrom looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holmstrom trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watkins wants to control from the top but Holmstrom keeps moving.
Watkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Watkins trying to stand up but can't free himself from Holmstrom's guard.

Holmstrom looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Holmstrom looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Holmstrom dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Watkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Holmstrom pinned against the cage. Holmstrom gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Watkins circles away from the clinch attempt
and Watkins counters with a one-two to the body.
Watkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Holmstrom tries to sprawl out of it but Watkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Holmstrom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Watkins shoots in looking for a takedown but Holmstrom manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Watkins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Axel Holmstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Watkins.

Holmstrom has managed to clinch.
Holmstrom landing knees to the body.
Watkins is breathing heavily.
Watkins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Holmstrom walks away with a smile on his face. Watkins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmstrom tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holmstrom throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holmstrom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Holmstrom moves into the clinch successfully.

Holmstrom successfully pulls guard.

Holmstrom working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watkins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Watkins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Holmstrom working for a triangle but Watkins defends it easily.

Holmstrom has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Watkins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmstrom wants to stand up but Watkins is controlling him.

Watkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Watkins trying to control but Holmstrom is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmstrom has a closed guard, preventing Watkins from standing up.
Watkins wants to control from the top but Holmstrom keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Watkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Watkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Watkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holmstrom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Holmstrom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Watkins trying to control but Holmstrom is working from the bottom.
Holmstrom looking to control.
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 Axel Holmstrom will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Holmstrom displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Watkins.
Watkins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Watkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holmstrom swivels and escapes.
Axel Holmstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Watkins.
Holmstrom lands a nice hook to Watkins's body. Watkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Holmstrom gets a clinch.
Holmstrom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Watkins is trying to drag Holmstrom to the mat but Holmstrom just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Holmstrom drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watkins is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Holmstrom wants a takedown but no success here.

Holmstrom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Watkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holmstrom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holmstrom breaks the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Holmstrom blocks the leg kick.

Watkins tries to keep at a distance but Holmstrom has taken the fight into the clinch.
Holmstrom goes for a takedown attempt but Watkins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Watkins misses with a takedown attempt - Holmstrom sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holmstrom moves into the clinch.
Holmstrom drops down looking for an ankle pick but Watkins pulls his leg out and moves away.

Watkins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Holmstrom did well to prevent Watkins getting side control.
Axel Holmstrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Watkins wants to take a breather but Holmstrom is having none of it.
Watkins is looking to advance position but Holmstrom won't allow it.
Holmstrom regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmstrom trying to control the position here.
Billy Watkins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Watkins slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Watkins goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Holmstrom rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Watkins's guard! Nice work there by Holmstrom!

Watkins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holmstrom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Axel Holmstrom.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holmstrom, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Axel Holmstrom!