PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ranganathan Iyer (ranked 23734 p4p, 23650 weight class) and Justin Edwards (ranked 594 p4p, 590 weight class). Edwards has chosen "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr. as his entrance music. Justin Edwards struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Ranganathan Iyer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Iyer
vs
Edwards

195 cm
29
216
2 - 5 - 1

185 cm
23
225
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ranganathan Iyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Bruno Hogan and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iyer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Edwards as he jumps to the side.
Iyer wants to clinch
and Edwards counters with a series of strikes. Iyer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Edwards slips a jab and a cross from Iyer.

Edwards darts in and clinches Iyer up against the cage.
Edwards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Iyer blocks it with crossed arms.
Iyer lands an elbow just above Edwards 's eye.

It looks like Justin Edwards has been cut.
Iyer is pressed up against the cage. Edwards has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Iyer down to the mat. Iyer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Iyer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Edwards is trying to defend but Iyer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Edwards scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Iyer manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iyer looking to ground and pound but Edwards is blocking nicely.
Iyer thowing shots but they're missing.
Edwards sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Iyer is looking to take a break and control but Edwards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Iyer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Iyer keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Edwards is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards wants to get back to full guard.
Edwards is looking to control Iyer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Edwards avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Edwards manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Edwards pulls Iyer in close to prevent any damage.
Iyer tries to free his leg and advance position but Edwards is retaining full guard.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Iyer from controlling successfully.
Iyer looking to sit in guard and control but Edwards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iyer wants to sweep but no luck.
Edwards sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Iyer cracks Edwards with a right hand to the side of the head.

Iyer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Edwards's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iyer is working for a kimura but Edwards is defending it quite comfortably.
Edwards taking some punishment here, with Iyer in his half guard.
Edwards has his hands clasped together around Iyer's back. He's all about the action.

Edwards is defending against the submission attempts here by Iyer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Iyer prevents Edwards from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ranganathan Iyer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Justin Edwards's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Iyer 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 Edwards has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Edwards and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Iyer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Edwards pinned against the cage. Edwards gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Iyer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Edwards pinned against the cage. Edwards gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Edwards doesn't manage to clinch there - Iyer circles away.
Edwards just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromIyer.
Iyer walks into a stiff left hand from Edwards.
Edwards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Iyer swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards leaves Iyer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ranganathan Iyer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edwards shoots in looking for a takedown but Iyer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Edwards's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Edwards instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iyer manages to pull guard.
Iyer keeping full guard, as Edwards tries to pass.
Iyer wants to sweep here but Edwards controlling him for the moment.
Ranganathan Iyer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Edwards gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Edwards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Edwards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Edwards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Iyer's waist but Iyer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Edwards off to one side.
Iyer doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards stuffs the takedown attempt from Iyer. Iyer gets slowly back to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Edwards's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Iyer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Edwards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Iyer is looking to land body kicks.

Edwards has closed the distance and engaged Iyer in a clinch.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Iyer holds him up against the cage and eventually Edwards drops back down to his feet.

Iyer pulls Edwards into guard.
Edwards is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Edwards decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards dives in and grabs Iyer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Iyer pushes down on Edwards's head and hops out.
Edwards tries for a takedown but Iyer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Iyer or perhaps it was just good defense by Edwards, which made it look bad.
Iyer tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Iyer tries to bum rush Edwards with a series of wild strikes but Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iyer dives in and grabs Edwards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Edwards pushes down on Iyer's head and hops out.
Edwards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Iyer.
Iyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Iyer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Edwards's guard.

Edwards wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Edwards checks a leg kick nicely.
Edwards lands a body shot.
Edwards looks for a takedown but Iyer sprawls well.
Edwards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Iyer's waist but Iyer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Edwards off to one side.
Iyer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Edwards ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Iyer sprawls well. Iyer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Edwards gets slowly back to his feet.
Iyer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Edwards closes the distance and clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Justin Edwards's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Edwards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt - Iyer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Iyer throws a right and a left that Edwards avoids nicely.

Iyer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Edwards looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Edwards looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards gets full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iyer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Iyer stands up from Edwards's guard - Iyer perhaps looking for a knockout.

Edwards moves into the clinch.
Iyer letting Edwards take a breather here.
A short body shot lands from Iyer as the two fighters clinch.
Iyer stalling the fight.
Edwards pushes Iyer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Iyer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ranganathan Iyer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Edwards.
Edwards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Edwards dodges an elbow strike from Iyer.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Iyer won't allow it.
Iyer has Edwards pressed against the cage, preventing Edwards from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Edwards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Iyer wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.
Iyer shoots in for a takedown but Edwards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Edwards dives in for a single leg takedown but Iyer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ranganathan Iyer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iyer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iyer tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edwards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Edwards uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Iyer.
Edwards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Iyer is looking to land body kicks.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Iyer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Iyer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Edwards. No joy for Iyer on that attempt.
Edwards fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iyer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Edwards.
Edwards has a takedown stuffed.
Iyer fires out a quick counter leg kick but Edwards just manages to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Iyer.

Iyer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but Iyer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Iyer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Edwards's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ranganathan Iyer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Iyer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ranganathan Iyer!
Ranganathan Iyer decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.