PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nova Uniao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Axelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Uniao
vs
Axelsson

180 cm
40
198 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

183 cm
30
194 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nova Uniao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johan Axelsson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelsson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Axelsson lands with a shot to the body.

Uniao gets a takedown into half guard.
Uniao thows a huge punch but Axelsson dodges it nicely.
Axelsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Axelsson holds on and takes a little breather.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uniao is looking to work some ground and pound but Axelsson has wrist control.
Axelsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Uniao is stalling in the full guard.

Uniao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Axelsson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Uniao has managed to get both his arms back between Axelsson's legs - danger averted.
Axelsson working a defensive guard here.
Uniao tries to free his leg and advance position but Axelsson is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Axelsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Uniao trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Axelsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Uniao rushes Axelsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Uniao misses with a punch to the body.
Uniao lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Axelsson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Uniao clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Axelsson is hanging on to Uniao's back as he tries to escape.
Axelsson scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Uniao is looking for a way out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uniao turns into Axelsson and is now in his guard.
Axelsson trying to control the position here.
Axelsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Uniao looking for submissions off his back.
Uniao wants to get back to full guard but Axelsson has mounted him!
Axelsson cracks Uniao with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Axelsson prevents Uniao from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson tries to control but Uniao wriggling away.
Axelsson prevents Uniao from getting the reversal.
Uniao taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Axelsson looking to control but Uniao is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
BOOM! Axelsson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Axelsson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Uniao is rocked!
A nice elbow there by Axelsson.
Oh Uniao is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Uniao takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Axelsson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Axelsson moves out of range of the body kick.
Uniao seems to have got his legs back now.
Axelsson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Uniao tries to land a leg kick but Axelsson saw it coming and moves away.
Nova Uniao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uniao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Uniao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Axelsson lands a nice hook to Uniao's body. Uniao takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Axelsson throws a body punch but Uniao moves out of range.
Uniao uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Axelsson.
It appears Uniao was looking to counter with a kick there.
Uniao scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uniao tries to score with a low kick but Axelsson moves his leg out of the way.
Axelsson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Uniao.
Uniao explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A low kick from Uniao misses
and Axelsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Axelsson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uniao stuns Axelsson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Uniao shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Axelsson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Axelsson keeping moving, preventing Uniao from controlling successfully.
Axelsson can't keep his opponent in guard - Uniao advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Axelsson is looking for a sweep. Uniao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Axelsson gets full guard.
Axelsson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Uniao keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Axelsson's head.
Axelsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Uniao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson keeping full guard, as Uniao tries to pass.
Axelsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Uniao.
Uniao trying to control but Axelsson is working from the bottom.

Uniao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Axelsson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Uniao has managed to get both his arms back between Axelsson's legs - danger averted.
Axelsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Axelsson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Uniao uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Axelsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Axelsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Axelsson pulls Uniao in to control the position.
Axelsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Uniao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Uniao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Axelsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Axelsson lands strikes from half guard.
Uniao wants to sweep but Axelsson has passed to side control!
Uniao is looking for a sweep.
Axelsson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Uniao some visible discomfort.
Uniao is trying to improve his position.
Axelsson is looking to take a break and control but Uniao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Axelsson working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johan Axelsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice shot by Axelsson.
Uniao missing with a left hand there. Axelsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Axelsson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Uniao swings widly with a right hand
and Axelsson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Axelsson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Uniao manages to avoid it.
Axelsson checks a low kick from Uniao.
It seemed like Axelsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Axelsson moves out of range of the body kick from Uniao.
Axelsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Axelsson lands a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Axelsson throws a series of punches but Uniao moves out of range.
Uniao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Axelsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Uniao throws a solid leg kick but Axelsson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Uniao.
Axelsson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Uniao bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uniao trying to control the action but Axelsson is working from the bottom.
Axelsson wants to control but Uniao postures up.
Uniao is looking to take a break and control but Axelsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Axelsson is looking to reverse the position.
Axelsson parries the strikes from Uniao easily there. Uniao is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Axelsson to escape.
You can see the frustration on Axelsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nova Uniao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Axelsson is looking for a sweep.
Axelsson is trying to control Uniao's posture but Uniao avoids it.
Uniao working the head with strikes.
Uniao working the ground and pound but Axelsson is defending the strikes.
Axelsson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on Axelsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Uniao throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Axelsson parries the strikes from Uniao easily there. Uniao is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Axelsson to escape.
Uniao cracks Axelsson with a big right hand but Axelsson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is looking for a sweep.
Axelsson is trying to control Uniao's posture but Uniao avoids it.
Axelsson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Axelsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Axelsson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Uniao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Uniao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Axelsson can't keep his opponent in guard - Uniao advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axelsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Johan Axelsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Axelsson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Axelsson is on top in guard.

Johan Axelsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Uniao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Axelsson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Axelsson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Axelsson drops an elbow to the side of Uniao's head.

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 Nova Uniao.
I think Axelsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Axelsson!
Johan Axelsson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.