PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Rackham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rackham
vs
Axelsson

182 cm
32
193 lbs
30 - 14 - 0

183 cm
32
194 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Mohito Fightwear

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Rackham!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rackham tries a head kick but it misses.
Axelsson misses with a straight left.
Rackham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice side step and Axelsson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Axelsson misses the shot to the body.
Rackham moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Johan Axelsson has been cut.
Rackham swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rackham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Axelsson.
Rackham is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Axelsson catches Rackham right on the button with a cross.
Nice shot lands for Axelsson.
Rackham misses with a series of wild punches.
Rackham throws a body punch but Axelsson moves out of range.
Rackham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Axelsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Axelsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Axelsson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Axelsson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rackham counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rackham has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Montreal Fighter's Gym (4.5* Sparring) in the buildup to the fight.
Axelsson misses with a body shot.
No joy there for Rackham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rackham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rackham tries a head kick but it misses.
Axelsson thuds his right hand into Rackham's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Axelsson throws out a loose jab but Rackham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Axelsson lands a body shot.
Rackham steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Axelsson.
Rackham throws a body shot but no joy.
Rackham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson misses with a takedown attempt
and Rackham counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rackham swinging wildly here.
Rackham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Axelsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Axelsson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rackham looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Rackham lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rackham jabs Axelsson right on the nose. Axelsson blinks but takes it well.
Axelsson throws an overhand right that lands on Rackham's shoulder, as Rackham tries to avoid the shot.
Axelsson looks to land a left hand but Rackham moved out of range nicely.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut. Rackham saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham throws a front kick that sends Axelsson stumbling back into the cage.
Rackham fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
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!
A lazy body kick from Rackham
and Axelsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Rackham throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rackham gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Axelsson trying to control but Rackham is working from the bottom.
Axelsson passes into half guard.
Rackham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Axelsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rackham dominated that round.
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!

A head kick misses from Rackham.
Rackham is looking to wear down Axelsson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rackham throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Axelsson.
Rackham swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Axelsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rackham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Axelsson feints the counter takedown.
Rackham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Axelsson.
Jack Rackham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rackham looks to score with a jab to the body but Axelsson is just out of range.
Axelsson connects with a body shot that sends Rackham's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson throws a hook to the side of Rackham's head but Rackham sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rackham appears to be looking for a big counter.
Rackham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rackham misses with a combination
and Axelsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham lands a head kick. Axelsson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That has opened up Johan Axelsson's cut even more.
Axelsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rackham.
Rackham ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rackham misses with a few strikes there.
Rackham takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rackham throws a series of punches but Axelsson avoids them all with ease.
Jack Rackham is winning the standup battle so far.
Axelsson lands a body shot.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut. Rackham saw that one coming.
Rackham drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rackham misses with a left hand
and Axelsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Axelsson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Axelsson slips under a jab.
And Axelsson tries to counter it with a takedown but Rackham pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Axelsson dodges the punch combination from Rackham.
Rackham moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Axelsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rackham cracks Axelsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rackham.
Rackham lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Axelsson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

The cut above Johan Axelsson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rackham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rackham pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Axelsson tries to counter with a clinch but Rackham shakes him off and moves away.
Rackham tries to clinch but Axelsson moves away
and Axelsson counters with a straight right hand.
Rackham throws a sloppy body shot
and Axelsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rackham misses with the combination.
Rackham throws a head kick but Axelsson moves out of range.
And Axelsson tries to counter it with a takedown but Rackham pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Axelsson shoots in but Rackham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Axelsson fails with a takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Rackham misses.
Rackham swinging wildly here.
Rackham takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rackham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johan Axelsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Axelsson misses with a body kick.
As Axelsson looks to move away, Rackham throws a big counter combo bu Axelsson just gets out of the way.
Rackham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Axelsson's calf.
Rackham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Axelsson lands a slapping body shot.
Rackham scores with a decent looking hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rackham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Axelsson's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rackham lands a nice elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Axelsson fails to land.
Rackham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Axelsson can do to turn this around?

Rackham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab lands there for Axelsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Axelsson has time to react.
Rackham misses the body punch
and Axelsson counters with a left to the body.
Axelsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Axelsson misses with an uppercut.
Axelsson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rackham misses with a combination
and Axelsson counters with a one-two to the body.
Axelsson connects with a crisp jab.
Jack Rackham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Axelsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rackham is just out of range.
Rackham swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rackham clinches with his opponent.
Rackham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Johan Axelsson's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Johan Axelsson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jack Rackham!
Jack Rackham retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Jack Rackham thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.