PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Embree (ranked 4622 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Edwards (ranked 4380 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Embree
vs
Edwards

180 cm
26
155 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

175 cm
26
156 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Embree!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Edwards gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Edwards has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Edwards wants to take the fight to the mat but Embree manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Embree escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Embree fails to land the takedown.
Good work by Embree as he checks the leg kick.
Edwards fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Embree seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Embree avoids the head kick by Edwards.
Edwards finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Embree half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Embree tries to clinch but Edwards is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Edwards. No joy for Embree on that attempt.
Edwards shoots in but Embree avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matthew Embree has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Edwards.
Edwards lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embree misses with a takedown
and Edwards counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Edwards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Embree manages to avoid it.
Embree swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Embree is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Edwards's half guard.
Embree wants to free his trapped foot but Edwards is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Embree is trying to control. Edwards wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Edwards looks like he's trying to stand up.
Edwards controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tries to get to full guard but Embree has control of the leg.
Embree tries to stand and escape but Edwards is controlling the position.
Edwards works his way to full guard. Good work.
Edwards is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Embree avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Edwards working for a triangle but Embree defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Embree is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Embree looking to pass the guard.
Edwards has control of Embree's left arm, preventing Embree from doing any damage.
Embree wants to control from the top but Edwards keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Edwards is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Edwards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Edwards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Embree is looking to stand up but Edwards won't let him.
Edwards trying to keep a closed guard but Embree is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Embree tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily
and Edwards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Embree thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Edwards dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Edwards misses with a head kick.
Embree closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Edwards to counter with a crisp jab.
Edwards sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Edwards looks for a takedown but Embree sprawls well.
Horrible takedown attempt by Embree or perhaps it was just good defense by Edwards, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards shoots for a takedown but Embree saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Edwards shoots for a double leg takedown but Embree sprawls well. He's pushed Edwards's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matthew Embree has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Edwards.
Edwards leaves Embree with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Embree tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Edwards throws a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Embree shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Embree pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Edwards is keeping the position for now.
Edwards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Embree working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Embree knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Edwards on the ground.
Embree looking to sit in guard and control but Edwards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Embree is trying to control the position but Edwards postures up.
Embree looking for a sweep. Not yet Embree, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is looking to stand up but Embree won't let him.
Edwards stopping the sweep attempt from Embree.
Edwards pushing down on Embree's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Edwards trying to control the pace.
Embree trying to control here.
Edwards not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edwards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Edwards is going to stand back up.
Edwards prevents Embree from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Edwards instigates a clinch.
Edwards is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Embree is defending well.

Edwards works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Embree trying to keep a closed guard but Edwards is proving a slippery customer.
Embree looking for a sweep. Not yet Embree, not yet.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Edwards tries to free his leg and advance position but Embree is retaining full guard.
Edwards won't allow Embree to get back to his feet.
Embree controlling the position.
Edwards content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Edwards goes for a double leg but Embree avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Embree continues to drive forward.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Embree throws a sloppy head kick
and Edwards counters with a one-two to the body.

Edwards tries to keep at a distance but Embree has taken the fight into the clinch.
Edwards is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Embree's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Edwards is looking to land body kicks.
Embree tried to counter with a leg kick but Edwards avoided it.
Embree with a poor takedown
and Edwards counters with a nice uppercut.
Embree shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Edwards leaves Embree with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Embree. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Embree shoots in looking for a takedown. Edwards tries to sprawl out of it but Embree keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Edwards manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Edwards throws a combination. Embree tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Embree throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Embree tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily

so Edwards counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Embree has a closed guard, preventing Edwards from standing up.

Embree has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Edwards is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Embree.
Embree seems a little lost for a moment, as Edwards dominates the positioning.
Michael Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Embree is looking to reverse the position.
Embree is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Embree is looking to regain half guard here but Edwards keeps moving and retains side control.
Edwards controls the position.
Let's hope that Edwards has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Edwards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Embree keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Embree tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Edwards presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Edwards has control of Embree's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Embree regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Edwards scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Embree?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards unloading with bombs!
Edwards tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Embree tries to hold on but Edwards postures up.
Embree can't escape the position.
Embree is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Edwards tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Embree tries to hold on but Edwards postures up.
Matthew Embree has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Edwards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Edwards controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Edwards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Edwards 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

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