PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edule Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alves
vs
Edwards

175 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Edule Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Edwards.
Edwards digs a good hook to Alves's body.
Edwards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alves circles away quickly and effectively.
Alves tried to counter with a leg kick but Edwards avoided it.
Edwards connects with a crisp jab.
Edwards throws a body shot but no joy.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Edwards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Edwards misses with a left hand
and Alves counters with a good low kick that Edwards was not able to check.
Edwards scores with a leg kick.
Edwards looks to land a body kick but Alves moved away.
A punch lands to the side of Alves 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Edule Edwards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edwards misses with a hook.
A lazy left from Edwards finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Edwards closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Alves to the mat! Alves manages to get full guard.
Alves is trying to hold Edwards in close to prevent damage but Edwards has managed to pass into half guard.
Alves is trying to maintain the position but Edwards is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards controlling the pace.
Edwards thows a huge punch but Alves dodges it nicely.
Edwards trying to control from half guard but Alves is working away.
Alves is trying to get back to full guard.
Edwards wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
Alves regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alves pulls Edwards in close to prevent any damage.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Edwards stands up over Alves, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Edwards throwing strikes but missing.
Alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Edwards on the ground.
Edwards distracts Alves with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alves working a defensive guard but Edwards manages to pass into side control anyway.

Edwards thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Edwards throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alves trying to remain calm as Edwards controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Edwards thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Edwards advances nicely into full mount.
Edwards dominating with strikes here.
Edwards is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Edwards working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Alves is working to get back to half guard.
Edwards lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alves in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Alves defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Edwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edule Edwards dominated that round.
That's time! Alves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Edwards thuds his shin into the meat of Alves's side.
Alves tries a low kick but Edwards avoids it.
Alves swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Edwards throws out a counter right but Alves avoids it with no problem.
Alves chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Edwards can pounce on him.
That kick from Edwards tenderised Alves's leg. Alves is trying to keep his angry face on.
Alves tries to clinch but Edwards is having none of it.
Edwards will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alves wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.
Alves on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards clobbers Alves with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Edwards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Edwards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Edwards throws a sloppy body shot
and Alves counters with a slapping leg kick.
Alves wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.
Edwards misses with a hook. Alves ducked under it nicely.
Edwards plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Alves dodges the punch combination from Edwards.
Edwards with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Edwards misses with a low kick.
Alves tries to clinch up but Edwards circles away and keeps his distance.
Edwards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Edwards.
Alves tries to clinch but Edwards is having none of it.
Edwards goes for a double leg but Alves avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Alves continues to drive forward.
Alves went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throws a leg kick that misses.
Edwards works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Edwards scores with a leg kick.
Alves closes the distance but Edwards moves to the side
and Edwards counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Edwards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Edwards tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alves defends well and Edwards ends up having to push Alves into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thiago Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edule Edwards.
Alves checks a leg kick.
Alves throws a big counter combination but Edwards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Edwards tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alves throws a big counter combination but Edwards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Alves tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alves but Alves pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alves tries to clinch but Edwards moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Edwards shoots in and drives through. Alves sprawls well.
Alves slips a jab and a cross from Edwards.
As Edwards looks to move away, Alves throws a big counter combo bu Edwards just gets out of the way.
Alves tries to land a body kick

and Edwards holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Edwards.
Alves throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Edwards tries for a takedown. No joy.
Edwards blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Edwards blocks an uppercut.
Alves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alves working aggressively here.
Alves is looking to control Edwards's arms but Edwards gets an underhook and turns him. Now Alves has his back to the cage.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Alves controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Alves.
Edwards dodges an elbow strike from Alves.
Edwards tries a body shot but Alves blocks it.
Alves blocks a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alves fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alves is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A head kick from Edwards lands but Alves takes it in his stride.

Alves instigates a clinch.
Edwards blocks an uppercut.

Edwards turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alves keeps working.
Edwards fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edule Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Edwards walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alves checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Edwards misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Edwards.
Nice defenses there by Alves.
Alves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Edwards smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from Edwards. Edwards gets slowly back to his feet.
Alves doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.
Edwards avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Edwards.
Alves tries to clinch up.
Edwards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards checks a low kick from Alves.
A jab from Edwards finds it's way through Alves's defenses.
Edule Edwards seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Edwards darts in looking for a takedown but Alves gets double underhooks and turns Edwards into the cage.
Edwards misses with a straight left.
Edwards scores with a shot to the body.
Edwards pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Edwards tries to bum rush Alves with a series of wild strikes but Alves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alves is looking to clinch but Edwards is avoiding it.
Edwards wants to counter the offense by Alves and move into the clinch position.
Thiago Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alves wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.

Edwards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alves looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Edwards scoring with punches and elbows.
Edwards in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Edwards landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Edwards trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.
Thiago Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to bench press Edwards off him but Edwards keeps the position.
Alves prevents Edwards from improving position.

Edwards looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Edwards lands an elbow.
Edwards in side control, throwing shots but Alves defends.

Edwards is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Alves has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves struggling a bit here.
Edwards misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Edwards crashes against the mat.

Edwards has hold of Alves's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Alves tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Edwards cranks the arm and Alves screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Alves, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Edule Edwards!
A victorious Edule Edwards thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.