PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Edkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filip Hrgovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Edkins
vs
Hrgovic

190 cm
23
198 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
214 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Edkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Filip Hrgovic!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edkins misses with a two punch combination.
Edkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Paul Edkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hrgovic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Edkins was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hrgovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Edkins manages to avoid it.
Edkins checks a leg kick.
Hrgovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edkins uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hrgovic has time to react.
Hrgovic throws a low kick but Edkins moves out of range easily.
Edkins looks to land a combination but Hrgovic avoids it well.
Hrgovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hrgovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hrgovic moves forwards but Edkins connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hrgovic is looking to score with low kicks.
Some wild striking there from Edkins.
Hrgovic throws a head kick but Edkins moves out of range.
Edkins throws a right and a left that both miss.
Edkins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hrgovic takes one to the side of the head.
We've been hearing reports that Edkins has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrgovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edkins.
Hrgovic throws out a counter right but Edkins avoids it with no problem.
Hrgovic blocks a jab.
Edkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hrgovic lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hrgovic needs to keep his hands up - Edkins had a free shot at his head there.
Edkins goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hrgovic slips a jab and a cross from Edkins.
Hrgovic throws a wild body kick that Edkins sees coming a mile off.
Edkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Edkins moves out of range as Hrgovic strikes.
Edkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hrgovic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Edkins is out of range.
Edkins throws a big shot that misses.
Edkins throws a looping overhand right but Hrgovic ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Hrgovic.
Edkins swinging wildly here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edkins throws a nice looking combination but Hrgovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Edkins is breathing heavily.
Hrgovic is looking to land body kicks.
Hrgovic misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edkins getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Edkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hrgovic throws a leg kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Edkins. Those never looked like landing.
Hrgovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hrgovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hrgovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edkins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Edkins misses with a straight left.
No joy there for Hrgovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edkins misses with a wild combination.
Hrgovic misses with a low kick.
Edkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Hrgovic misses.
Hrgovic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hrgovic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Edkins looks to land a combination. Hrgovic sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hrgovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edkins throws a lazy right hand but Hrgovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Edkins with a jab.
Hrgovic misses with a head kick.
Hrgovic takes one on the button.
Edkins tests Hrgovic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
Edkins checks a leg kick.
Hrgovic throws a sloppy head kick and Edkins moves out of range easily.
Hrgovic moves out of range of the strikes.
As Edkins backs off Hrgovic throws a huge counter combo but Edkins manages to avoid it all.
Hrgovic misses with the combination.
Edkins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Edkins throws a right hand that Hrgovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Hrgovic also avoids with ease.
Edkins throws out a loose jab but Hrgovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Edkins moves out of range of the body kick from Hrgovic.
A slow jab from Hrgovic misses its intended target.
Hrgovic throws a push kick but Edkins slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edkins throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hrgovic throws a head kick but Edkins moves out of range.
A jab from Edkins misses.
Some wild striking there from Edkins.
Edkins moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hrgovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Edkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hrgovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Hrgovic.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hrgovic walks into a left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hrgovic lands a two punch combo.
Hrgovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Edkins misses with a two punch combination.
Edkins throws a series of punches but Hrgovic moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Edkins dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
Edkins is looking for a counter combo.
Edkins misses with a two punch combination.
Edkins throws a lazy right hand but Hrgovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Paul Edkins is winning the standup battle so far.
Hrgovic looks to land a body kick but Edkins moved away.
Hrgovic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Edkins is able to avoid easily.
Edkins throws a one two combo.
Edkins lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Edkins.
Hrgovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Edkins seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Edkins throws a hook to the side of Hrgovic's head but Hrgovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A combination from Edkins does no damage.
Hrgovic throws a body punch but Edkins moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Edkins.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Hrgovic might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Edkins has got the better of the exchanges.
Edkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hrgovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Edkins throws out the jab.
Hrgovic misses with a low kick as Edkins jumps back.
No joy there for Edkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Edkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hrgovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hrgovic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Edkins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hrgovic can do to turn this around?
Hrgovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hrgovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Edkins blocks a head kick by Hrgovic.
Hrgovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Edkins throws a right hand that Hrgovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Hrgovic also avoids with ease.
Edkins is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hrgovic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Edkins throws a right hand that Hrgovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Hrgovic also avoids with ease.
Hrgovic tries a low kick but Edkins avoids it.
A head kick misses from Hrgovic.
Good work by Edkins as he checks the leg kick.
Hrgovic ducks under a wild hook from Edkins.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A combination from Hrgovic does no damage.
Edkins throws a right hand that Hrgovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Hrgovic also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hrgovic moves forwards but Edkins connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hrgovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Edkins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sloppy strikes from Edkins. Those never looked like landing.
Edkins blocks a head kick by Hrgovic.
Hrgovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edkins.
Hrgovic throws a body kick that misses.
Edkins goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
An inside leg kick from Hrgovic misses.
Edkins seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Edkins throws an overhand right that lands on Hrgovic's shoulder, as Hrgovic tries to avoid the shot.
Hrgovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Edkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hrgovic in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Edkins blocks a head kick by Hrgovic.
Hrgovic has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Edkins stalks Hrgovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hrgovic's face. Hrgovic staggers backwards, shaken.
Hrgovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edkins was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hrgovic throws a sloppy head kick and Edkins moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Edkins blocks a head kick by Hrgovic.
Edkins lands with a right hand.
Edkins loads up on a big right hand but Hrgovic slips the punch.
Hrgovic misses the jab.
Hrgovic misses with a head kick.
Hrgovic dodges the punch combination from Edkins.
Edkins scores with a jab to the head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Edkins here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hrgovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Hrgovic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Edkins backs up against the cage.
Edkins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Edkins scores with a one two! Hrgovic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hrgovic throws a head kick but Edkins moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hrgovic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Edkins lands an overhand right.
Hrgovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hrgovic.
Edkins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hrgovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hrgovic is looking to chop away at Edkins's legs.
A head kick misses from Hrgovic.
Edkins throws a nice looking combination but Hrgovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hrgovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Edkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hrgovic lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Edkins moves out of range as Hrgovic throws a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edkins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Hrgovic.
Hrgovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Edkins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Edkins dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Edkins moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hrgovic wants to land a leg kick but Edkins is out of range.
Edkins connects with a single shot there.
Edkins lands with a hook. Hrgovic tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hrgovic throws a series of punches but Edkins avoids them all with ease.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
Edkins throws a nice looking combination but Hrgovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hrgovic closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
No joy there for Edkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edkins scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hrgovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hrgovic throws a right and a left that Edkins avoids nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hrgovic swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Edkins appears to be looking for a big counter.
Edkins moves out of range of the body kick from Hrgovic.
Edkins is looking for a counter combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Edkins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hrgovic.
Edkins looks to land a combination. Hrgovic sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hrgovic lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Edkins has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Edkins and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edkins moves out of range as Hrgovic throws a body kick.
Hrgovic throws a head kick but Edkins moves out of range.
Hrgovic misses with a few strikes there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hrgovic.
Edkins appears to be looking for a big counter.
Edkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hrgovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hrgovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hrgovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hrgovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Edkins throws a nice looking combination but Hrgovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Edkins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hrgovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Hrgovic misses with a low kick.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Edkins catches Hrgovic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hrgovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hrgovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hrgovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Edkins scores with the left hand. Hrgovic knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut lands for Edkins. That snapped Hrgovic's head back.
Hrgovic misses with a head kick.
Hrgovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hrgovic dodges the punch combination from Edkins.
A slow jab from Edkins misses its intended target.
Edkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hrgovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Edkins misses.
Nice body kick there by Hrgovic.
A swing and a miss from Edkins.
Hrgovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Edkins.
A little feinted left hand from Edkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hrgovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Paul Edkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edkins stalks Hrgovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hrgovic's face. Hrgovic staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edkins's corner calls for a 1-2. Edkins obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A head kick misses from Hrgovic.
Edkins throws a right and a left that Hrgovic avoids nicely.
Hrgovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hrgovic misses with a kick to the body.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses.
Edkins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Edkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hrgovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Edkins appears to be looking for a big counter.
Edkins connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hrgovic throws a sloppy head kick and Edkins moves out of range easily.
Edkins misses with a hook.
Hrgovic motions for Edkins to come forward. Hrgovic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Edkins lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hrgovic throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Edkins scores with a four punch combination!
Edkins takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Edkins misses with an uppercut.
A head kick misses from Hrgovic.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Edkins!
Edkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Edkins smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Edkins scores with a three punch combo!
Edkins throws a right hand that Hrgovic ducks under and follows up with a left that Hrgovic also avoids with ease.
Edkins misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Hrgovic misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hrgovic is looking to score with low kicks.
Edkins checks the leg kick.
Edkins throws a right and a left that Hrgovic avoids nicely.
Filip Hrgovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Edkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hrgovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Edkins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Edkins has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Edkins!