PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Edson (ranked 6309 p4p, 521 weight class) and Criss Lebenanski (ranked 6180 p4p, 516 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Edson
vs
Lebenanski

186 cm
26
172 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Shade Tree Nutrition

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yoel Edson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Criss Lebenanski!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Edson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Edson feints and as Lebenanski raises his hands in defense, Edson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lebenanski kicks Edson off and gets to his feet.
Edson shoots for a takedown but Lebenanski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lebenanski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lebenanski tries to clinch but Edson moves out of range.
Edson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Edson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lebenanski is defended easily by Edson.
It looked like Edson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Edson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lebenanski circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Lebenanski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Edson tries to counter with a takedown but Lebenanski is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Edson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edson scores with a head kick. Lebenanski tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lebenanski.
A little feinted left hand from Edson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Edson throws a right hand that Lebenanski ducks under and follows up with a left that Lebenanski also avoids with ease.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lebenanski or perhaps it was just good defense by Edson, which made it look bad.
Yoel Edson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Criss Lebenanski.
Lebenanski walks into a stiff left hand from Edson.
Lebenanski moves in looking to clinch but Edson pushes him off.

Edson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Lebenanski bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!
Edson shoots in and drives through. Lebenanski sprawls well.
Lebenanski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edson misses with a takedown attempt
and Lebenanski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Edson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Edson misses with a two punch combination.
Edson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lebenanski.
Lebenanski shoots in but Edson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Edson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lebenanski.
Nice takedown defense from Edson. No joy for Lebenanski on that attempt.
Lebenanski looks winded!
Edson thuds his shin into the meat of Lebenanski's side.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edson misses with a wild combination.
Lebenanski misses with a kick to the body
and Edson counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Edson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Edson lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Criss Lebenanski has been cut.
Edson keeps the fight on the outside.
Edson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lebenanski takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Edson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck for Lebenanski with that takedown attempt.
Lebenanski lands a body shot.
Yoel Edson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edson tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Edson rushes Lebenanski and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Edson.

Edson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Edson pushes Lebenanski up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edson gets control of Lebenanski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Edson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Edson pushes Lebenanski off and scrambles back to his feet.
Edson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lebenanski can do to turn this around?
Edson delivers a nice body kick.
Edson tests Lebenanski's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lebenanski wants to clinch.
Yoel Edson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lebenanski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yoel Edson is winning the standup battle so far.
Lebenanski takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lebenanski doesn't manage to clinch there - Edson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edson misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Edson.
Lebenanski steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Edson.
Lebenanski with a poor takedown

and Edson counters by clinching up.
Yoel Edson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Criss Lebenanski.
Lebenanski is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lebenanski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Edson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Edson breaks the clinch.
Edson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Edson.
Lebenanski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lebenanski avoids the body shot from Edson.
Lebenanski goes for a double leg but Edson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Edson continues to drive forward.
Edson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Edson throws a head kick that Lebenanski semi-blocks.
Edson shoots in and drives through. Lebenanski sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Edson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Criss Lebenanski's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lebenanski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lebenanski moves out of range as Edson strikes.
Lebenanski fails with a takedown attempt.
Lebenanski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yoel Edson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Criss Lebenanski.
Edson throws a lazy right hand but Lebenanski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Edson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Edson connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lebenanski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lebenanski is looking to clinch but Edson is avoiding it.
Edson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lebenanski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lebenanski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Edson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edson keeps the fight on the outside.
Edson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lebenanski defends it nicely.
Edson throws a right hand that Lebenanski ducks under and follows up with a left that Lebenanski also avoids with ease.
Edson scores with a leg kick.
Edson misses the jab.
Lebenanski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A jab from Lebenanski finds it's way through Edson's defenses.
Lebenanski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Edson defends it nicely.
Edson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lebenanski fails with a takedown attempt.
Edson quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Edson tries a head kick but it misses.
Lebenanski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Edson defends it well.
Edson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lebenanski.
Lebenanski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Edson rushes Lebenanski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lebenanski tries to pull guard but Edson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Edson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lebenanski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Edson as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Edson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Edson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Edson!
Yoel Edson made sure to mention his sponsor, Shade Tree Nutrition in his post fight interview.