PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Leonitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edgar's entrance music is Salute to the Jugger. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Edgar
vs
Leonitis

168 cm
25
157 lbs
8 - 4 - 2

180 cm
27
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

ANABOLIC **160** LAUNDRY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frankie Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Roman Leonitis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonitis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Edgar counter with a right hand.
Leonitis doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Edgar counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leonitis!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Leonitis is looking to get to half guard.
Leonitis in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Edgar throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Leonitis is looking to get to half guard.
Leonitis manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Edgar prevents Leonitis from improving his position.
Edgar is pressing down on Leonitis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leonitis is holding on for now.
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!
Leonitis has hold of Edgar's hands but Edgar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Leonitis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Edgar slows the pace down in half guard.
Leonitis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Edgar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Edgar's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonitis lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Leonitis.
Edgar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Edgar covering up well and avoiding damage.
Edgar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Leonitis on the ground.

Edgar preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Leonitis.
Edgar wants to escape the position.
Well, with Leonitis on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Edgar is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Leonitis struggling to land strikes to the head as Edgar covers up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Leonitis tightening his grip on Edgar, looking for the choke.
Leonitis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Leonitis is working the ground and pound. Can Edgar escape?
You can see the frustration on Edgar's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Edgar is keeping busy.
Leonitis missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonitis looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Edgar is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Leonitis gets his hands free as Edgar looks to control.

Leonitis is persistently looking for the submission but Edgar is defending it well.

Leonitis looking for the choke but no joy.
Leonitis lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgar has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Leonitis.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Leonitis patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Edgar avoids the strikes from Leonitis.

Leonitis tightening his grip on Edgar, looking for the choke.
Leonitis misses with punches from the back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Edgar defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Leonitis throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Leonitis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leonitis has his takedown stuffed
and Edgar counters with a right hand to the body.
Leonitis doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Edgar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Leonitis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Edgar.
Leonitis wants to improve his position but Edgar is controlling well.
Leonitis trying to control from the bottom.
Leonitis tries to get to full guard but Edgar has control of the leg.
Edgar content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edgar trying to pass the guard but Leonitis defending well.
Leonitis gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leonitis is looking for a triangle but Edgar pushes his legs off easily.
Edgar trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonitis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edgar wants to pass the guard but Leonitis is keeping the position.
Edgar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Leonitis trying to keep a closed guard but Edgar is proving a slippery customer.
Roman Leonitis has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonitis keeping moving, preventing Edgar from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Frankie Edgar wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Edgar lands with a straight right. Leonitis didn't see that one coming.
Edgar works Leonitis's body with a nice hook.
Leonitis walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Edgar. Leonitis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Edgar throws a jab when Leonitis was well out of range.
Edgar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Leonitis fails with the takedown
and Edgar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Frankie Edgar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Leonitis.

Edgar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Leonitis's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leonitis is looking to control Edgar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leonitis avoid being mounted?
Edgar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Leonitis defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonitis tries to get to full guard but Edgar has control of the leg.
Edgar passes to full mount!
Leonitis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Leonitis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Edgar landing strikes, looking to finish!
Leonitis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Leonitis is trying to get back to full guard.
Edgar is trying to control the action in half guard but Leonitis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonitis wants to improve his position but Edgar is controlling well.
Edgar is pressing down on Leonitis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Leonitis is holding on for now.
Edgar tries to stand but can't do so whilst Leonitis controls his leg.
Edgar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Edgar seems content to control.
Leonitis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Edgar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Edgar's back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Edgar trying to get back to his feet but Leonitis is in full control for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leonitis is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Edgar is defending well though. Leonitis let's go of the attempt for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Edgar dominated that second round.
That's time! Edgar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Edgar misses the shot to the body.
Leonitis misses with a takedown
enabling Edgar to counter with a crisp jab.
Edgar looks to score with a jab to the body but Leonitis is just out of range.
Leonitis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Edgar connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Leonitis scrambles back to his feet.
Leonitis misses with a takedown attempt
and Edgar makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Leonitis has his takedown stuffed
and Edgar counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Frankie Edgar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Leonitis.

Edgar throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Leonitis was covering up waiting for the punch and Edgar finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Leonitis trying to keep a closed guard but Edgar is proving a slippery customer.
Edgar throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonitis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Leonitis is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Edgar has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Edgar!
Edgar cracks Leonitis with a solid left hand.
Leonitis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leonitis is on top in guard.
Leonitis throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonitis wants to pass the guard but Edgar is keeping the position.
Edgar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Edgar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Edgar wants to get back to his feet but Leonitis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Leonitis looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leonitis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Leonitis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Edgar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leonitis is one step ahead there.
Leonitis being controlled here momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Edgar is trying to control the position but Leonitis postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frankie Edgar wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Edgar smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgar lands a jab to the head.
Leonitis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Edgar.
Leonitis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edgar counters with a left to the body.
Edgar is looking to wear down Leonitis with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Leonitis misses with a takedown
and Edgar counters with a nice uppercut.
Edgar digs a good body shot into Leonitis's ribs.
Leonitis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edgar counters with a right hand to the body.
Leonitis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Edgar counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Leonitis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Leonitis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leonitis controls Edgar momentarily but Edgar frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Edgar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonitis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Edgar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edgar 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Edgar!
Frankie Edgar opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.