PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Axe's choice of entrance music: For Whom the Bell Tolls. On his way into the cage it seems that Jon Fitch has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jon Fitch seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Fitch
vs
Axe

175 cm
27
175 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

180 cm
30
177 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jon Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Blake Axe!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Axe instigates a clinch.
Fitch looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Axe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The referee calls for Axe to work.
Fitch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Axe pulls his leg out and moves away.

Fitch takes the fight into the clinch.
Fitch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Axe as Fitch tries to tie him up.
Axe utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Axe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Axe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fitch up against the cage.
Axe connects with a knee to the head.
Axe scores with a shoulder strike.
Axe landing knees to the body.
Axe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Axe lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Axe.
Axe crunches a lovely knee into Fitch's ribcage.
Axe is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Axe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Axe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Axe.
Axe lands with a left to the head.
A short body shot lands from Axe as the two fighters clinch.
A knee to the head by Axe.
Axe landing knees to the head.

It looks like Jon Fitch has been cut.
Axe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Axe lands a nice shot to the body.
Axe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Axe landing knees to the head.
Axe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Axe lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fitch.
Axe manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Axe's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Axe receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Axe scores with a hook to the body.
Axe throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Blake Axe.

Axe looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch is not content to let Axe control the position.
Axe wants to pass the guard but Fitch is defending well.
Axe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fitch's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Axe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Axe tries to pass to full mount but Fitch defends it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Axe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Axe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Fitch's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Axe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Axe shoots in for a takedown but Fitch shows good takedown defense.

Axe tries to keep at a distance but Fitch has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Axe.
Axe slowing the pace effectively.
Axe lands a body punch.
Axe lands a nice shot to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Axe.
Axe lands a nice shot to the body.
Axe is pushing Fitch up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Axe lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Blake Axe.
Axe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Axe shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fitch's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Axe pushing down on Fitch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Axe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitch defending well though.
Axe is trying to control. Fitch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fitch won't allow Axe to pass to mount.
Axe moves nicely into side control.
Axe is looking to take a break and control but Fitch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Axe working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch stops Axe from passing to mount.
Fitch tries to buck Axe off but Axe is having none of it.
Fitch is not content to let Axe control the position.

Axe is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fitch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Axe is looking to take a break and control but Fitch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe is working Fitch over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fitch struggling a bit here.

Axe thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Axe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Axe lands a nice forearm strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Axe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jon Fitch's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Axe fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Fitch 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Axe closes the distance and clinches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Axe obliges.
Axe scores with a shoulder strike.
Axe prevents Fitch from breaking the clinch.
Axe scores a nice knee to the body.
Axe slows down the pace 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 crunches a lovely knee into Fitch's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Axe - that landed with a thud.
Axe effectively controlling the action here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Axe.
Axe connects with a knee to the head.
Blake Axe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Come on Axe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Axe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Axe digs a right hand underneath Fitch's ribcage. Fitch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Axe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fitch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Axe.
Knees to the body from Axe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Axe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitch takes an elbow to the temple.
Fitch takes a knee to the side of the body.
Axe just leaning against Fitch, taking a breather.
Axe unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Axe lands a nice knee to the body.
Axe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Axe creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fitch's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good body shot from Axe.
Axe landing knees to the body.
Axe digs a right hand underneath Fitch's ribcage. Fitch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Axe lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Axe effectively controlling the action here.
Nice body punch from Axe.
Axe slows down the pace here.
Axe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe lands a left hand.
Axe scores with a knee to the head.
Axe leaning against his opponent.
Fitch takes a knee right on the jaw!
Axe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fitch backwards.
A short left from Axe.
Axe lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Axe works on Fitch's body with a couple of short punches.
Blake Axe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe stalling.
Axe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jon Fitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Axe lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Axe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Axe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 25:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 25:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Axe!
A relieved looking Blake Axe thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.