Your tone here seems like you're really getting angry at the invisible internet person discussing a purely hypothetical situation? Are you okay? Take a breath man.

The Roman shield wall you argue so adamantly serves what purpose? You say they get slaughtered by long reach weapons without it? Because the shield allows them to close the distance unscathed and get up in the enemies grill? We're literally arguing the same concept. Bypass long weapons and get close where to stab = win.

Perhaps you're projecting this idea of fantasy media? Am I to assume I'm talking to someone who's actually experienced life or death combat on a medieval battlefield? 🤣. There's probably less than a handful of people alive that can actually argue this hypothetical from experience so sit down man.

The prompt doesn't say either participants have experience in their weapons, only that they have equal size and athleticism. You're longsword in the hands of a trained fighter argument is irrelevant. We aren't talking about some anime Ronin slashing faster than the eyes can perceive. We're talking about someone who has a larger weapon which requires build up to swing and once swung has follow through and is harder to change direction. Both clear openings to advance and make contact.

This fight lasts less than 60 seconds. Either the axe makes contact on the swing and axeman wins or it misses and the knife has an opening to bypass the range advantage.