PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Evans has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Craig Edwards's chin.

Edwards
vs
Evans

183 cm
20
193 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 Montreal, Craig Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Evans!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evans clinches with his opponent.
Edwards wants to break free but Evans has control.
Edwards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Edwards fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Evans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Evans moves into the clinch.
Edwards is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Evans using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Evans is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Evans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Evans has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Evans throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Edwards was covering up waiting for the punch and Evans finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Evans wants to stand but Edwards has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Edwards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Evans.
Evans postures up.

Evans stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Evans throws a right hand that Edwards ducks under and follows up with a left that Edwards also avoids with ease.

Edwards tries to keep at a distance but Evans has taken the fight into the clinch.

Evans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Evans changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Edwards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Evans working the ground and pound but Edwards is defending the strikes.
Evans misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Evans decides to stand back up. Evans steps back and let's Edwards get back to his feet.
Edwards seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Evans drives through with a takedown into Edwards's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Evans is looking to stand up but Edwards won't let him.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edwards is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Evans stopping the sweep attempt from Edwards.
Edwards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Evans preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Edwards is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evans closes the distance and clinches.

Evans manages to break the clinch.

Evans feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Evans from controlling successfully.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Evans's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Evans looking to sit in guard and control but Edwards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Edwards throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Edwards doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Edwards manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Evans is pulling down on Edwards's head to control his posture.
Edwards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Evans is looking to stand up but Edwards isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Evans dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Evans gets the takedown into side control.
Evans wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edwards keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans throws a strike aimed at the side of Edwards's head but Edwards avoids it well.
Evans in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Edwards avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Evans.

Evans working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans working the ground and pound but Edwards is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards can't do much from the bottom here.
Evans in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Edwards can't do much from the bottom here.
Edwards is looking to reverse the position.
Evans misses with the ground and pound.
Edwards sneaks back into half guard.

Evans stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Evans moves into the clinch.

Evans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Evans clinches up with Edwards and pushes him back against the cage.

Evans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Evans darts in and clinches Edwards up against the cage.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but Evans has him pressed against the cage.
Edwards jumps guard but Evans stands there with Edwards around his waist. Edwards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Evans creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Evans ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Evans no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Evans is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Edwards is controlling him.
Edwards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans is looking to stand up but Edwards isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards connects with a couple of short punches.
Edwards postures up in Evans's guard and throws a big left but Evans blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Edwards's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Evans controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Evans feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Evans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Edwards blocks nicely.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Edwards uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Edwards!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Edwards is controlling him.
Evans working a defensive guard here.
Edwards content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Edwards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Evans works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Evans manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Evans breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Evans.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Evans looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Edwards is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Evans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Evans misses with a series of wild punches.

Evans rushes Edwards and presses him up against the cage.
Edwards fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Edwards is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Edwards.

Evans manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards moves in looking to clinch but Evans pushes him off.

Evans closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Evans lands in his opponent's guard.
Edwards is pulling down on Evans's head. It's preventing any offense from Evans, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Edwards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Evans throws a strike but Edwards rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Evans is looking for a triangle but Edwards pushes his legs off easily.
Edwards throwing strikes from guard but Evans blocks nicely.
Edwards postures up and lands a big shot to Evans's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Edwards postures up in Evans's guard and throws a big left but Evans blocks it.

Evans is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Edwards is aware though and is defending well.
Edwards with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Edwards works over Evans with some ground and pound from guard.
Edwards is looking to work some ground and pound but Evans has wrist control.
Edwards throwing strikes but missing.
Edwards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Evans works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Evans rushes Edwards and presses him up against the cage.

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

Edwards tries to keep at a distance but Evans has taken the fight into the clinch.
Edwards drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edwards.
Evans landing knees to the head.

It looks like Craig Edwards has been cut.
Evans prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Evans won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Evans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Evans moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craig Edwards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Evans throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.

Evans fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Edwards to the ground. Evans is now in Edwards's guard.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.

Evans stands up and waves to Edwards to follow him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Edwards circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Evans looks for the body kick but Edwards saw that one coming.
Craig Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Evans is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Evans goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Evans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Evans 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Evans!