PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raleigh Colston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Edwards
vs
Colston

176 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shaun Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Raleigh Colston!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Colston.
Colston misses with a wild combination.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Colston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Colston, as that shot connected.
Colston lands a jab to the nose.
Colston misses with a two punch combination.
Edwards looks to clinch
and Colston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Edwards tries to clinch there but Colston circles away.
Colston misses with a double jab.
Edwards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Colston.
Colston looks to land a combination but Edwards avoids it well.
Raleigh Colston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Colston.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Colston.
Edwards might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Edwards is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Colston asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Colston cracks Edwards with a big right hand but Edwards just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Colston throws a strike aimed at the side of Edwards's head but Edwards avoids it well.
Edwards throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Edwards wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Colston working the body and head with strikes.
Edwards throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Colston tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Edwards misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Colston in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Colston works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Colston has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Edwards misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Edwards taking a bit of punishment here - Colston scoring with strikes.
Edwards avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Colston.
Edwards wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Colston working the head with strikes.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Edwards is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Edwards takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Edwards throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Colston scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Edwards to see if he's OK.
Colston lands a few punches from side control.
Colston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edwards keeps working.
Colston cracks Edwards with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Colston prevents Edwards from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards taking punishment in the form of punches.
Edwards is looking to regain half guard here but Colston keeps moving and retains side control.
Edwards manages to get back to half guard.
Edwards is breathing heavily.
Colston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Colston missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Colston passes to side control.
Colston creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Edwards sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Colston connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Edwards some visible discomfort.
Edwards striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Edwards regains half guard.
Edwards pushes Colston off looking to stand but Colston dives back in and keeps control.
Colston working Edwards over with strikes.
Edwards misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Colston thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Edwards is looking for a sweep. Colston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colston uses his free foot to push down on Edwards's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Edwards.
Edwards wants to try and get back to his feet.
Colston in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Edwards that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Edwards throwing hammer fists to the chest of Colston. What's that going to do exactly?
Colston breaks from Edwards's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Edwards flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Colston with a couple of short strikes.
Colston breaks from Edwards's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Colston unloading with bombs!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Colston is landing with some decent strikes but Edwards is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Colston landing strikes, looking to finish!
Edwards regains half guard.
Edwards gets full guard.

Edwards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Colston can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Edwards thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Colston scoring with some ground and pound.

Colston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Edwards has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Colston has managed to get both his arms back between Edwards's legs - danger averted.
Colston must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Edwards throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Colston keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Edwards's head.
Colston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Colston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Edwards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Colston throws a series of punches but Edwards avoids them all with ease.
Colston thows a body shot but no joy.
Edwards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Colston misses with a wild combination.
Colston throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Colston darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Colston moves into range and clinches up with Edwards.
Edwards tries for a takedown but Colston manages to get underhooks.
Colston misses with a knee to the head.
Colston manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short right from Colston.
Colston lands an uppercut.
Edwards has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Colston is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Colston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Colston's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Colston duly obliges.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Edwards takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Shaun Edwards has been cut.

Colston closes the distance and clinches.

Colston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Colston, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circle momentarily. Colston darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Colston misses the target.
Edwards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Colston rushes Edwards and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Edwards wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Colston is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Edwards pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Edwards wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Colston breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Colston misses.

Colston moves into range and clinches up with Edwards.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Colston smiles and moves away.

Colston clinches with his opponent.
Edwards prevents a takedown attempt there.
Edwards tries to circle away but Colston has him pinned against the ropes.
Edwards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Colston breaks the clinch.
Edwards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Colston.
A punch combination from Edwards misses.
Colston lands a glancing blow to the side of Edwards's head.
Edwards throws a wild body kick that Colston sees coming a mile off.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Colston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Edwards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Colston shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Colston sizes up Edwards with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Colston swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Colston swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Colston has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Colston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Edwards looks to clinch
and Colston finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Colston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Edwards closes the distance looking to clinch
and Colston counters with a left and a right that stings Edwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raleigh Colston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shaun Edwards's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Colston misses with a wild combination.
Colston swinging wildly here.
Colston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Colston connects with the punch.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch but Colston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Colston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Edwards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Edwards tries to clinch there but Colston circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colston wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Colston is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Edwards tries a head kick but it misses.
Edwards dodges the punch combination from Colston.
Colston connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colston misses with a combination
and Edwards counters with a left and a right that stings Colston.
Colston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Colston is breathing heavily.
Edwards closes the distance looking to clinch

and Colston counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Colston.

Colston gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Edwards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Edwards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Colston is in close to Edwards's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards is looking for a triangle but Colston pushes his legs off easily.
Colston stands up over Edwards, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Colston trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Edwards looking for a guillotine here but Colston defends easily.

Edwards working for a triangle but Colston defends it easily.
Colston postures up and lands a big shot to Edwards's brow.
Edwards throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Colston working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Edwards's head.
Colston trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards has momentary wrist control but Colston slips an elbow through the middle.
Colston cracks Edwards with a solid left hand.
Colston trying to control but Edwards is working from the bottom.

Edwards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Colston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Colston landing with the ground and pound.
Colston scoring with some ground and pound.
Colston stands up over Edwards, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Colston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Edwards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Edwards is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colston is staying active underneath Edwards, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Colston keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Edwards wants to take a breather but Colston is having none of it.
Edwards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Edwards tries to stand and escape but Colston is controlling the position.
Colston is trying to stand back up but Edwards is controlling him

Colston pushes Edwards off and gets back to his feet.

Colston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Edwards to the mat! Edwards manages to get full guard.
Edwards will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Colston makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Colston postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Colston throws a big right hand that misses.

Colston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Edwards has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Colston has managed to get both his arms back between Edwards's legs - danger averted.
Colston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Edwards trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Colston postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Colston working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Edwards's head.
Colston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Colston stops Edwards from standing up.

Edwards is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Colston trying to control but Edwards is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Colston misses the target.
Edwards thows a body shot but no joy.
Edwards misses with a wild body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Colston. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Colston.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Colston clinches.
Still in the clinch, Colston scores with a nice short uppercut.
Edwards is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Colston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A short right from Colston on the inside.

Colston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Colston scores with a four punch combination!
Shaun Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy body kick from Colston

and Edwards counters by clinching up.
A hook to the body from Colston.
Edwards with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Edwards is trying to force a seperation but Colston has the dominant position.
Edwards drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Colston gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Colston manages to break the clinch.
Edwards throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Colston misses with the combination.
Colston misses with a series of wild punches.

Edwards has Colston up against the ropes in a clinch.

Colston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Colston fails to land with a series of punches.
Colston looks to land a left hand but Edwards moved out of range nicely.
Some wild striking there from Colston.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edwards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Colston tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Edwards counters with a head kick. That will keep Colston thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Colston takes a swing at Edwards's ribcage but misses.
Colston tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Edwards counters with a big head kick but Colston shrugs it off.
Colston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Colston throws a hook to the side of Edwards's head but Edwards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Colston lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Edwards at a distance.
Edwards tries to clinch
and Colston counters with a left to the body.
Colston closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Edwards misses the body punch
and Colston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Colston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Edwards counters with a thumping low kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Colston misses its intended target.
Edwards staying out of range there.
Colston throws a hook to the side of Edwards's head but Edwards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Colston digs a good hook to Edwards's body.
Raleigh Colston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Colston circles away from the clinch attempt

and Colston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Colston misses with some punches.
Edwards drops down looking for an ankle pick but Colston pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Colston moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raleigh Colston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Colston has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Andi Peters scores the fight for Raleigh Colston!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Raleigh Colston!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Raleigh Colston!

Raleigh Colston wins by unanimous decision!