PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ife Edwards (ranked 607 p4p, 344 weight class) and Wally Kruschev (ranked 97 p4p, 49 weight class). Edwards comes to the cage accompanied by Damian Marley - Road to Zion. Kruschev has chosen Pissed Off and Mad About it (Texas Hippie Coalition) as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Edwards
vs
Kruschev

189 cm
24
183
12 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
173
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Aspire Clothing

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ife Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wally Kruschev!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruschev lands a nice shot to the body.
Kruschev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kruschev lands a right hook to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kruschev - that will leave a mark!
Kruschev slips a straight right by Edwards.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Edwards lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kruschev has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kruschev and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kruschev misses with an uppercut.
Kruschev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Edwards on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kruschev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Edwards throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kruschev throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Edwards looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kruschev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Edwards was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Edwards lands a leg kick that knocks Kruschev off balance momentarily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kruschev.
Edwards thumps Kruschev with a low kick.
Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kruschev.
A head kick misses from Edwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruschev throws a jab but it's blocked by Edwards.
Edwards swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kruschev checks a low kick from Edwards.
Crunch! Edwards slams his shin into Kruschev's torso.
Edwards thuds his right hand into Kruschev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sloppy strikes from Kruschev. Those never looked like landing.
Kruschev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Edwards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Edwards with the inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kruschev checks a leg kick.
Edwards has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kruschev finds it's way round the side to connect with Edwards's head.
Kruschev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kruschev throws a solid leg kick but Edwards takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kruschev.
It looked like Edwards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kruschev misses with a looping right.
Edwards goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Edwards takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Edwards closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruschev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kruschev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruschev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kruschev thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Edwards if he has to take too many more of those.
The crowd cheers as Edwards lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kruschev doesn't seem phased though.
Kruschev checks the leg kick nicely there.
Edwards with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kruschev lands with a nice combination. Edwards backs away looking to recover.
Kruschev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Edwards with the inside leg kick.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Kruschev.
A head kick misses from Edwards.
Edwards takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kruschev throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Edwards misses with a hook. Kruschev ducked under it nicely.
Kruschev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Edwards misses.
Kruschev has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruschev misses with a body shot.
Kruschev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kruschev tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Edwards throws a front kick aimed at Kruschev's knee but Kruschev avoids it well.
Kruschev takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Kruschev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Edwards, pushing him back against the cage.
Edwards working aggressively here.
Edwards misses with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards blocking some punches.
Edwards keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kruschev's efforts to push away.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kruschev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Edwards tries a body shot but Kruschev blocks it.
Edwards tries to break the clinch but Kruschev is controlling the position.
Kruschev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruschev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruschev missing with knees to the body.
Kruschev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Edwards.
Edwards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Edwards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edwards stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards takes one to the chin there.
Kruschev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Edwards looks to land a right hand but Kruschev moved out of range.
Kruschev misses with a straight left.
Edwards does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edwards cracks Kruschev with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kruschev.
Edwards scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kruschev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wally Kruschev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Edwards avoids a kick to the body.
Edwards feints and then cracks Kruschev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kruschev down.
Kruschev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kruschev moves forwards but Edwards connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Edwards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Edwards listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kruschev misses with a kick to the body.
Edwards fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kruschev throws a leg kick but Edwards moved away.
A low kick lands for Kruschev.
Kruschev misses with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Edwards, right into the meat of the thigh.
Edwards throws a leg kick
and Kruschev counters with a nice uppercut.
Edwards avoids the body shot from Kruschev.
It looked like Edwards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kruschev checks a leg kick.
Kruschev throws an overhand right that lands on Edwards's shoulder, as Edwards tries to avoid the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruschev takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kruschev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Edwards shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Edwards takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Edwards defending well as Kruschev loads up on a big left hand.
Edwards avoids the body shot from Kruschev.
A good leg kick by Edwards.
Kruschev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Edwards throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kruschev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kruschev.
Kruschev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Kruschev.
Kruschev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kruschev throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kruschev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Kruschev.

Kruschev breaks the clinch.
Kruschev ducks under a wild hook from Edwards.
The fighters circling - Edwards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards throws a solid leg kick but Kruschev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Edwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruschev throws a wild body kick that Edwards sees coming a mile off.
Edwards displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruschev throws out the jab.
Kruschev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kruschev throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Edwards throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kruschev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Edwards loads up on a big right hand but Kruschev slips the punch.
Kruschev misses with a few strikes there.
Kruschev throws a poor cross that misses
and Edwards counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kruschev's knee momentarily.
Kruschev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kruschev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Edwards's hands.
Kruschev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Edwards finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Edwards blocks a leg kick.
Kruschev checks a low kick from Edwards.
Kruschev lands with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Edwards throws a chopping leg kick but Kruschev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kruschev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kruschev lands a body shot.
Kruschev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Edwards fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kruschev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Good work by Kruschev as he checks the leg kick.
Kruschev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Edwards lands a glancing blow to the side of Kruschev's head.
Wally Kruschev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body kick there by Edwards.
Edwards connects with an inside leg kick.
Kruschev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edwards swings for the body but Kruschev moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Kruschev misses.
Edwards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Edwards half committed to a counter leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards thows a leg kick but Kruschev checks it
and Kruschev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Edwards connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards connects with an inside leg kick.
Edwards attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Edwards checks a low kick from Kruschev.
Kruschev lands a body shot.
Kruschev takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kruschev tries to clinch but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards thinks about countering with a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kruschev misses the target.
Kruschev's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Edwards connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kruschev scrambles back to his feet.
A punch combination from Edwards misses.
Edwards looks for the body kick but Kruschev saw that one coming.
Kruschev throws a low kick but it's checked well by Edwards.
Kruschev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Edwards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Edwards appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edwards throws a body kick that misses.
Kruschev appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Edwards attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Edwards moves away from the strike by Kruschev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wally Kruschev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab by Edwards.
Kruschev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kruschev throws the kick towards the body but Edwards avoids it.
Edwards throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kruschev throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Kruschev.
Edwards throws a big counter combination but Kruschev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Edwards lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kruschev scores with a kick to the body.
Edwards throws a nice inside leg kick.
Edwards will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Kruschev throws a leg kick but Edwards moved away.
Edwards throwing a counter right hand but Kruschev manages to avoid it.
Kruschev cracks a nice hook into Edwards's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kruschev's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Edwards connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kruschev scrambles back to his feet.
Kruschev swinging wildly here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruschev moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards throws a lazy right hand but Kruschev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kruschev tries to counter with a clinch but Edwards shakes him off and moves away.
Kruschev moves out of range of the strikes.
Edwards lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Edwards.
Kruschev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kruschev lands with a nice body punch.
Kruschev lands a nice hook to Edwards's body. Edwards takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kruschev throws a wild body kick that Edwards sees coming a mile off.
Kruschev lands with an uppercut that bounces Edwards off the cage and back into range.
Kruschev avoids a kick to the body.
Kruschev throws out a counter right but Edwards avoids it with no problem.
Kruschev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A slapping leg kick lands for Edwards.
Nice straight punches there by Edwards. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Edwards.
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!
Nice shot lands for Kruschev.
Kruschev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Edwards manages to avoid it.
Edwards lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Kruschev.
Edwards scores with a jab.
Kruschev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Edwards finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Edwards cracks Kruschev with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick misses from Kruschev.
Edwards connects with a high kick.
Kruschev moves out of range of the leg kick from Edwards.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Kruschev.
Kruschev swings for the body but Edwards moves out of range.
Kruschev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Edwards lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kruschev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edwards throws the left hand but Kruschev avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Kruschev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Edwards rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kruschev counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throws a chopping leg kick but Kruschev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ife Edwards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Edwards checks a leg kick.
Edwards misses with a body kick.
Kruschev throws out a counter right but Edwards avoids it with no problem.
Kruschev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kruschev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kruschev misses with a hook to the body
and Edwards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Edwards throws a quick inside leg kick.
Edwards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ife Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kruschev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Edwards lands with a thumping leg kick.

Kruschev closes the distance and clinches.
Kruschev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Kruschev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kruschev looking for a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kruschev.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards throws a solid leg kick but Kruschev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Edwards.
Edwards takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kruschev avoids the head kick by Edwards.
Nice jab there from Kruschev.
Edwards stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kruschev.
That kick from Kruschev tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Edwards misses with a hook. Kruschev ducked under it nicely.
Good leg kick by Edwards.
Edwards misses with a leg kick

and Kruschev moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Edwards.
Kruschev misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Edwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right handed body shot lands from Edwards.
A short right from Kruschev.
Kruschev creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Edwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ife Edwards showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kruschev 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wally Kruschev!
After winning the bout, Wally Kruschev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.