PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Stackhouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horst Axelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stackhouse
vs
Axelson

179 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dave Stackhouse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Horst Axelson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axelson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Axelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stackhouse manages to avoid it.
Horst Axelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stackhouse shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stackhouse wants to control but Axelson is keeping him busy.

Stackhouse is working for a submission of some sort.
Stackhouse wants to take a breather but Axelson is having none of it.
Axelson wants to get back to his feet.
Stackhouse is looking to take a break and control but Axelson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Axelson pushes Stackhouse off looking to stand but Stackhouse dives back in and keeps control.

Stackhouse is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Axelson is just riding it out for now. Stackhouse eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stackhouse takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Dave Stackhouse has been cut.
A left and a right from Axelson both land. Nice combination.
Axelson scores with a one two! Stackhouse had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stackhouse counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Axelson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelson wants to get back to his feet.

Axelson is defending against the submission attempts here by Stackhouse.
Axelson wants to get back to his feet.
Axelson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Axelson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Stackhouse performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stackhouse seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Axelson for as long as he can get away with.
Axelson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stackhouse is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Axelson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stackhouse.
Stackhouse is keen to just control but Axelson is a slippery customer.
Axelson pushes Stackhouse off looking to stand but Stackhouse dives back in and keeps control.
Stackhouse is trying to control the action in half guard but Axelson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stackhouse content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Axelson is trying to stand back up but Stackhouse is controlling him
Stackhouse performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stackhouse wants to lay and pray for a moment but Axelson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Axelson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Axelson.

Stackhouse closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Axelson to the mat! Axelson manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stackhouse prevents Axelson from getting back to his feet.
Axelson keeping moving, preventing Stackhouse from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Axelson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dave Stackhouse will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dave Stackhouse's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Axelson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Horst Axelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stackhouse takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stackhouse looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Axelson wants to clinch

and Stackhouse counters with a takedown into side control.
Stackhouse trying to control the action but Axelson is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Axelson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stackhouse is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stackhouse taking a breather here.
Axelson is trying to get back to his feet.

Stackhouse is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Axelson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Stackhouse is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Axelson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
An elbow from Stackhouse crashes against the mat.
Stackhouse wants to control but Axelson is keeping him busy.

Stackhouse is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Axelson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axelson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Stackhouse looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stackhouse content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Stackhouse wants to control but Axelson is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Axelson tries to clinch but Stackhouse moves away

so Stackhouse counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stackhouse trying to control but Axelson is working from the bottom.
Stackhouse prevents Axelson from getting back to his feet.
Axelson can't keep his opponent in guard - Stackhouse advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Axelson pushes Stackhouse off looking to stand but Stackhouse dives back in and keeps control.

Axelson pushes Stackhouse off and gets back to his feet.
Stackhouse shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Axelson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Axelson misses with a takedown attempt

and Stackhouse counters with a nice double leg into side control. Axelson won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Axelson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Stackhouse wants to control but Axelson is keeping him busy.
Dave Stackhouse overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Stackhouse thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Axelson prevents Stackhouse from improving position.
Axelson is pushing Stackhouse's head away, looking to escape. Stackhouse manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Stackhouse dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dave Stackhouse's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Axelson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Stackhouse counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Axelson's guard now.
Stackhouse pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Axelson is keeping the position for now.

Stackhouse thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stackhouse won't allow Axelson to get back to his feet.
Stackhouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stackhouse prevents Axelson from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stackhouse trying to control but Axelson is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Axelson tries to clinch

and Stackhouse counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Axelson's guard now.
Axelson keeping moving, preventing Stackhouse from controlling successfully.
Stackhouse might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Axelson is looking to stand up but Stackhouse isn't so interested in that idea.
Stackhouse passes Axelson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stackhouse is trying to control the action in half guard but Axelson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Axelson is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Axelson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stackhouse.
Axelson works Stackhouse's body with a nice hook.
Axelson tries to clinch up

and Stackhouse counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stackhouse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stackhouse wants to control from the top but Axelson keeps moving.
Axelson wants to stand but Stackhouse is controlling the position.
Stackhouse wants to control from the top but Axelson keeps moving.
Axelson wants to stand up but Stackhouse is controlling him.
Stackhouse wants to control from the top but Axelson keeps moving.

Stackhouse 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stackhouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Axelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horst Axelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Stackhouse is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Axelson tries to clinch but Stackhouse moves away

and Stackhouse decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Axelson's guard.
Stackhouse trying to control but Axelson is working from the bottom.
Stackhouse stops Axelson from standing up.
Stackhouse pushing down on Axelson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stackhouse seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Axelson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stackhouse blocks the strikes from Axelson.
Stackhouse blocks the strikes from Axelson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Stackhouse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stackhouse, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Stackhouse!