PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Edwards (ranked 6277 p4p, 189 weight class) and Charlie Villenueva (ranked 6278 p4p, 190 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Edwards
vs
Villenueva

200 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Fanatic Inc.
IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Villenueva!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villenueva has his takedown stuffed

and Edwards moves into the clinch.

Edwards manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Villenueva connects with a couple of short punches.
Villenueva postures up.
Villenueva postures up in Edwards's guard and throws a big left but Edwards blocks it.
Villenueva wants to control from the top but Edwards keeps moving.
Edwards working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villenueva wants to pass the guard but Edwards is keeping the position.
Villenueva wants to control from the top but Edwards keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edwards working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Villenueva has passed into half guard!
Edwards wants to get back to full guard.
Edwards tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Villenueva is working for a kimura but Edwards is defending it quite comfortably.
Villenueva thows a huge punch but Edwards dodges it nicely.
Edwards wants to get back to his feet.

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 is refusing to be controlled, as Villenueva sits in half guard.

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

Edwards shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Edwards was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Villenueva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Edwards's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Edwards is looking to take a break and control but Villenueva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Edwards wants to pass the guard but Villenueva is defending well.
Edwards works his way into side control.
Villenueva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villenueva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Villenueva trying to control but Edwards postures up.
Edwards trying to control the pace.
Edwards seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Villenueva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Edwards is thwarting Villenueva's attempts to control the position.
Edwards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Edwards wants to stand up but Villenueva is controlling the position.
Villenueva is not content to let Edwards control the position.
Villenueva trying to control here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Villenueva tries to get to full guard but Edwards has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Edwards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Villenueva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edwards scores with a head kick.

It looks like Charlie Villenueva has been cut.
Edwards has his takedown stuffed

and Villenueva counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anthony Edwards will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Charlie Villenueva's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Villenueva tries to keep at a distance but Edwards has taken the fight into the clinch.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Villenueva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Villenueva ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Villenueva no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Edwards trying to control but Villenueva is working from the bottom.
Edwards preventing the sweep.
Edwards has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Villenueva is proving hard to escape from.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards pushes down on Villenueva's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards wants to stand up but Villenueva has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Villenueva trying to control from the bottom.

Edwards is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Edwards trying to control the action but Villenueva is working from the bottom.
Villenueva wants to control but Edwards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Villenueva shoots in for a takedown but Edwards shows good takedown defense.
Anthony Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edwards cracks a nice hook into Villenueva's ribs.
Villenueva is breathing heavily.
Villenueva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Edwards is fending him off so far but Villenueva persists. Nope, Edwards circles away and we're back to standing.
Edwards wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Edwards throws a nice outside leg kick.
Edwards lands a nice looking body shot.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edwards could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Edwards closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Edwards has picked Villenueva up - he's going for a ride! Edwards dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Villenueva tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Edwards manages to move to mount!
Edwards trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villenueva has given up his back. Will we see Edwards going for some submissions?
Edwards lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Edwards keeps control of the position as Villenueva tries to break free.
Edwards avoiding Villenueva 's attempts to control his hands.
Edwards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Villenueva can do to turn this around?
Edwards keeps control of the position easily here as Villenueva tries to buck him off.

Edwards looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards struggling to keep hold of the position.
Edwards is hanging on to Villenueva's back as he tries to escape.

Edwards is looking for the choke from the back position but Villenueva is controlling his hands well.
Villenueva covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Even with his hooks in, Edwards manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Villenueva wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards gets his hands free as Villenueva looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Edwards dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Charlie Villenueva's cut.
That's time! Edwards's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Villenueva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Edwards defends well and Villenueva ends up having to push Edwards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Villenueva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Edwards's waist but Edwards gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Villenueva off to one side.
Edwards has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Villenueva.
Edwards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Villenueva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Edwards closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Villenueva tries to kick Edwards off in order to stand up. Edwards Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Villenueva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Edwards wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Edwards scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Villenueva to see if he's OK.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Edwards grinds an elbow into Villenueva's temple.
You can see the frustration on Villenueva's face as Edwards controls the position.
Edwards working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edwards stands up and beckons Villenueva to his feet.

Edwards clinches up against the cage.
Edwards drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Villenueva gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.
Edwards blocks a head kick by Villenueva.

Edwards shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Villenueva manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Villenueva can't keep his opponent in guard - Edwards advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Edwards postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Villenueva to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Villenueva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Villenueva wriggles free and stands up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards slaps away a takedown attempt from Villenueva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anthony Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Villenueva.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt - Villenueva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Villenueva instigates a clinch.
Villenueva tries to pull guard but Edwards holds him up against the cage and eventually Villenueva drops back down to his feet.
Villenueva is trying to push Edwards away but Edwards has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Villenueva tries to pull guard but Edwards forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Villenueva forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Edwards has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Villenueva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Edwards drops down looking for an ankle pick but Villenueva pulls his leg out and moves away.

Villenueva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Edwards's half guard.
Villenueva lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Edwards moves into full guard.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Villenueva from controlling successfully.
Edwards tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villenueva trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edwards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Villenueva manages to get himself to full guard.

Edwards wants to control from the top but Villenueva keeps moving.
Edwards throws a strike but Villenueva rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Edwards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Villenueva manages to get himself to full guard.

Charlie Villenueva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Edwards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Villenueva punching to the body, from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Edwards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Edwards 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Edwards!