PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between toms tom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edwards has chosen Welcome To The Jungle as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

tom
vs
Edwards

190 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, toms tom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
tom dodges the punch combination from Edwards.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Edwards avoids a wild elbow strike from tom.
Edwards wants a takedown but no success here.
tom tries to land a knee to the head but Edwards blocks with his arms.
tom throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
tom is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Edwards is defending well for now.
Edwards managing to block the knees to the body from tom.
tom looking to throw knees to the head but Edwards is blocking nicely.
tom throws a knee to the head but misses.
tom throws a knee to the head but misses.

Edwards has picked tom up - he's going for a ride! Edwards dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Edwards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Edwards is working for a kimura but tom is defending it quite comfortably.
Edwards winds up and cracks tom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
tom wants to control but Edwards is keeping busy.

Edwards wants to work for an arm triangle but tom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
tom keeping control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edwards landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
tom keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Edwards is looking for a kimura but tom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Edwards to get the leverage.
tom wants to control but Edwards is keeping busy.

Edwards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, tom has managed to free his arm - good work.
tom is not content to let Edwards control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards wants to work for an arm triangle but tom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Edwards seems to be looking for submissions.

Edwards is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so tom is just riding it out for now. Edwards eventually gives up the hold.
tom knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Edwards on the ground.
Edwards looks gassed!

Edwards stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
tom bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Edwards's head backwards.
Edwards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around tom's waist but tom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Edwards off to one side.
toms tom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Edwards is defended easily by tom.
toms tom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Edwards.
Edwards shoots in looking for a takedown. tom tries to sprawl out of it but Edwards keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. tom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A lazy left from tom finds it's target.
Edwards takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
tom smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
tom lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
tom moves away from the strike by Edwards.
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 toms tom will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

tom fails with an attempt to clinch.
tom is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
tom is looking to slow Edwards down with leg kicks.
tom displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Edwards.
tom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Edwards.
tom is looking to slow Edwards down with leg kicks.
tom tries to clinch but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards is trying hard to land a takedown here. tom sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
toms tom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Edwards.
tom throws a quick inside leg kick.
Juan Edwards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
tom lands a nice hook to Edwards's body. Edwards takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Edwards takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
tom explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Edwards is breathing heavily.
tom feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Edwards's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.

tom moves into the clinch.
tom lands an elbow just above Edwards 's eye.

It looks like Juan Edwards has been cut.
Edwards managing to block the knees to the body from tom.
Edwards takes a knee right on the jaw!
tom working Edwards over with knees to the body.
tom tries to land a knee to the head but Edwards blocks with his arms.
tom tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
tom dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
tom working Edwards over with knees to the body.
tom controlling the action here for a moment.
tom lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
tom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
tom with a knee to the head.
tom's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with tom for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
tom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Edwards lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Edwards jumps guard but tom stands there with Edwards around his waist. Edwards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
tom tries a knee to the head but Edwards blocks it.
Edwards tries for a takedown. No joy.
tom lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
tom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Edwards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
tom lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
tom slows down the pace here.
tom is pressed up against the cage. Edwards has hold of a leg and is looking to drag tom down to the mat. tom avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
tom throws a nice outside leg kick.
tom thumps Edwards with a low kick.
tom works Edwards's body with a nice hook.
tom lands with a thumping leg kick.
tom throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
tom thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Edwards if he has to take too many more of those.
tom lands a nice leg kick that just misses Edwards's sensitive parts.
Juan Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
tom thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Edwards if he has to take too many more of those.
tom is looking to clinch but Edwards is avoiding it.
Edwards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
tom lands a nice looking kick to the body. Edwards takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

tom gets in close and instigates a clinch.
tom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Edwards lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
tom misses with a knee strike.
Edwards managing to block the knees to the body from tom.
tom crunches a lovely knee into Edwards's ribcage.
tom lands an elbow inside.
tom throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Edwards blocks it with crossed arms.
Edwards has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from tom.
tom missing with knees to the body.
tom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Edwards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Edwards tries for a takedown. No joy.
tom scores with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
tom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Edwards dodges an elbow strike from tom.
Edwards tries to pull guard but tom holds him up against the cage and eventually Edwards drops back down to his feet.
tom looking to throw knees to the head but Edwards is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

toms tom dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Juan Edwards's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Edwards tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling tom to counter with a crisp jab.
A good leg kick by tom.
toms tom is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edwards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Edwards's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice cross by tom.
tom misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
tom throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Edwards.
Edwards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch but tom swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
tom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
toms tom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Edwards.

tom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
tom throws a knee to the head but misses.
Edwards avoids the elbow strike from tom, against the cage.
Nice elbow from tom.
Edwards tries for a takedown. No joy.
tom tries to land knees in the clinch but Edwards avoids the damage to the body.
tom tries to land a knee to the head but Edwards blocks with his arms.
Edwards on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
tom lands a knee to the head.
tom lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
tom tries a knee to the head but Edwards blocks it.
tom misses with a knee strike.
tom tries a knee to the head but Edwards blocks it.

Edwards ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Edwards no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Edwards working for a triangle but tom defends it easily.

Edwards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. tom defends it easily.
tom will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Edwards is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and tom defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards working a defensive guard here.

Edwards working for submissions but it's allowed tom to get to half guard.
tom wants to stand but Edwards has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
tom not doing much here.

Edwards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Edwards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Juan Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
toms tom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for tom, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... toms tom!