PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergio Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edwards has chosen Like a surgeon as his entrance music. 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?

Souza
vs
Edwards

196 cm
30
243 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

192 cm
34
237 lbs
29 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Cripplers Corner
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergio Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Edwards does no damage.
Edwards thows a body shot but no joy.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Souza.
Souza avoids a kick to the body.
Souza looks to land a combination but Edwards avoids it well.
Edwards digs a good body shot into Souza's ribs.
Edwards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edwards misses with a wild body shot.
Souza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Edwards.

Edwards moves into the clinch.
Edwards tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Souza.

It looks like Blake Edwards has been cut.
Edwards throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Edwards.
Edwards throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza blocks an uppercut.
Souza throws a head punch that misses.
Souza tries to throw a body punch but Edwards avoids it by throwing Souza back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Edwards.
Souza prevents a body shot from Edwards.
A short uppercut from Souza.
Souza lands a left hand that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Edwards - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Souza tries a body shot but Edwards blocks it.
Souza lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Souza works on Edwards's body with a couple of short punches.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Souza controls the action.
A knee to the head by Souza.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Souza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Souza.
Souza misses with a punch to the body.
Souza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Edwards stalling in the clinch but Souza improves position.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Souza's elbow.
Edwards trying to stall but Souza improves his position.
Edwards is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Souza is defending well for now.
Edwards has a couple of punches blocked by Souza.
Souza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Edwards's elbow.
Souza presses Edwards against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Edwards misses with a punch to the body.
Souza misses with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards looking to slow down the pace here.
Souza avoids a wild elbow strike from Edwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza swings wildly with an uppercut but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Souza lands a right hand that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
Souza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Edwards gets through Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Souza tries to work over Edwards's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Souza's elbow.

Edwards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Edwards tries to score with a low kick but Souza moves his leg out of the way.

Souza moves into the clinch successfully.
Edwards creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Souza's defenses.

It looks like Sergio Souza has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Souza is keeping busy.
Edwards landing knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards misses with a punch on the inside.
Edwards lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Souza lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza tries to throw a body punch but Edwards avoids it by throwing Souza back against the cage.
Souza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A right handed body shot lands from Souza.
Souza lands a shoulder strike.
Edwards working aggressively here.
Souza tries to work over Edwards's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Blake Edwards will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Souza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Edwards doesn't seem bothered though.
Souza jabs at Edwards's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Souza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Souza takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Edwards misses with a body kick.
Edwards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Souza jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Souza moves in looking to clinch but Edwards pushes him off.
Edwards avoids a punch combination nicely.
Edwards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Souza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Edwards.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards is trying to maintain a safe position but Souza gets an underhook and turns Edwards into the cage.
Edwards slows down the pace here.
Souza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Edwards taking a breather.
Souza being controlled against the cage.
Edwards missing with knees to the body.
Souza lands a shot to the body.
Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Souza lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Souza fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Souza fails to land.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Edwards lands a hook to the side of the head.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Souza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Souza tries to throw a body punch but Edwards avoids it by throwing Souza back against the cage.
Blake Edwards seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Souza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Souza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Edwards digs a right hand underneath Souza's ribcage. Souza let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Edwards looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Souza misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards misses with a punch to the body.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Edwards.
Souza scores with a shoulder strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Souza can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Edwards misses with a hook to the ribs.

Edwards is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Souza can't fight it off and eventually Edwards manages to take the fight to the floor. Souza looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Souza has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards prevents Souza from getting back to his feet.
Edwards trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza seems keen to control Edwards's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Blake Edwards.
Edwards tries to work over Souza's front leg with a kick but Souza checks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards tried to score with a low kick but Souza checks it.
A jab from Souza misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some bone on bone action there as Souza checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Edwards swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Edwards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Edwards misses the shot to the body.
Edwards throws a solid leg kick but Souza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Edwards.
Edwards drops his hands momentarily and Souza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Edwards throws a right and a left that both miss.
A jab from Souza finds it's way through Edwards's defenses.
Edwards throws a looping overhand right but Souza ducks down to avoid it.
Edwards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Edwards clinches.
Souza throws a punch but it's blocked by Edwards.
Edwards on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Souza throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Edwards tries a body shot but Souza blocks it.
Souza throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Edwardss head.
A right handed body shot lands from Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Edwards's face.
Souza with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Edwards just misses with a elbow thrown towards Souza's brow.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Souza controls the action.
Souza blocks an elbow strike.
Souza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Souza misses with a hook from the clinch.
Edwards scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Souza fails to land.
Edwards throws a head punch that misses.
Souza scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Souza misses with the head strike.
Edwards tries to work over Souza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a hook to the ribs.
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!
Edwards tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Souza.
Souza prevents a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards prevents a body shot from Souza.
Edwards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Edwards blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Souza.
Edwards wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.
Sergio Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edwards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Souza avoids it.
Edwards avoiding damage as Souza throws knees to the body.
Edwards misses with an elbow strike.
Edwards throws a head punch that misses.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Souza's elbow.
Blake Edwards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards working aggressively here.
Souza blocks a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards gets through Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Souza misses with a punch on the inside.
Souza misses with a punch on the inside.
Souza misses with the head strike.
A short right from Edwards on the inside.
Souza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Souza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Edwards's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Edwards.
Souza throws a head punch that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
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!
Souza throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Edwardss head.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Souza pushes Edwards back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Souza tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Souza lands with a short shot to the head.

That has opened up Blake Edwards's cut even more.
Edwards blocks an uppercut.
Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Edwards.
Souza softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Edwards blocks an uppercut.
Edwards wants to break the clinch but can't.
Souza with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Souza.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergio Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edwards 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Edwards!
An out of breath and clearly excited Blake Edwards thanked Perkele! for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).