PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ife Edwards (ranked 1080 p4p, 1489 weight class) and Serafim Lupei (ranked 145 p4p, 212 weight class). Edwards comes into the arena with Damian Marley - Road to Zion blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Edwards
vs
Lupei

189 cm
27
193
15 - 8 - 0

184 cm
31
191
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ife Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Serafim Lupei!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Edwards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Edwards misses with a hook
and Lupei counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Edwards has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crassus in the buildup to the fight.
Lupei changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick from Lupei, right into the meat of the thigh.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lupei.
Edwards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lupei.
Lupei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Edwards was well out of range. Poor timing from Lupei.
Edwards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lupei was well out of range. Poor timing from Edwards.
Lupei takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That kick from Lupei tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Edwards connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lupei's hands.
Lupei moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lupei. Edwards shrugs it off though.
Edwards avoids a kick to the body.
Edwards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lupei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei delivers a nice body kick.
Edwards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Edwards lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lupei uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A slow jab from Lupei misses its intended target.
Lupei lands with a nice body kick.
Edwards bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lupei scores with a crisp jab that stopped Edwards in his tracks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lupei.
Edwards throws a body punch but Lupei moves out of range.
Edwards slips a jab and a cross from Lupei.
Lupei misses with a kick to the body
and Edwards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Edwards.
A leg kick checked by Edwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Edwards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lupei was well out of range. Poor timing from Edwards.
Lupei tries a quick counter leg kick but Edwards is wise to it.
Edwards blocks a jab.
Edwards gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Lupei counters with a nice body kick.
Lupei throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A low kick from Lupei is predictable there
and Edwards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Edwards misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lupei takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Edwards misses with a body shot.
Lupei with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lupei doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.
Edwards looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Lupei throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch but Lupei swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lupei tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Edwards.
Lupei now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Edwards defending well as Lupei loads up on a big left hand.
Lupei throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Edwards has taken the fight to the clinch.
Edwards trying to stall but Lupei improves his position.
Lupei holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Edwards takes a shot to the head.
Lupei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Edwards's elbow.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Edwards lands a body punch in the clinch.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lupei's elbow.
Lupei misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lupei goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Lupei as the two fighters clinch.
Lupei misses with a punch to the body.
Edwards blocks a body shot from Lupei.
Lupei lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lupei goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lupei's elbow.
Lupei working aggressively here.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lupei connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lupei just misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lupei scores with a leg kick.
Lupei needs to keep his hands up - Edwards had a free shot at his head there.

Lupei has Edwards up against the cage in a clinch.
Lupei lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lupei lands a body punch.
Edwards tries to throw a body punch but Lupei avoids it by throwing Edwards back against the cage.
Edwards prevents a body shot from Lupei.
Lupei avoiding damage.
Edwards works on Lupei's body with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lupei moves into the clinch.
Lupei will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Edwards up against the cage.
Lupei throws a punch but it's blocked by Edwards.
Lupei lands a hook that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
Lupei blocks a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards blocking some punches.
Lupei scores with a shoulder strike.
Edwards just leaning against Lupei, taking a breather.
Lupei has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Edwards tries a body shot but Lupei blocks it.
Lupei is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Edwards is keeping busy.
Edwards swings wildly with an uppercut but Lupei uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lupei tries a body shot but Edwards blocks it.
Lupei's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Edwards fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lupei throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Edwards.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Edwards chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lupei takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Edwards looks to land a right hand but Lupei moved out of range.
A big left from Lupei misses.
Lupei misses with an uppercut.
Lupei throws a low kick but it's checked well by Edwards.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Lupei.
A quick step to the side and Edwards tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lupei throws a nice outside leg kick.
Edwards avoids the body shot from Lupei.
Lupei misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupei misses with a few strikes there.
Edwards tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lupei has Edwards up against the cage in a clinch.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A body shot lands from Edwards.
Edwards prevents a body shot from Lupei.
Lupei blocks an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Lupei.
A short body shot lands from Lupei as the two fighters clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Edwards.
Lupei keeps control of Edwards as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lupei blocks an uppercut.
Lupei taking a breather.
A hook to the body from Edwards.
A shot in the inside from Edwards.
Edwards lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Edwards creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Edwards misses with a hook from the clinch.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Edwards blocking some punches.
Edwards effectively controlling the action here.
Lupei misses with a body punch.
Lupei cracks Edwards with a nice body shot.
Edwards struggles to land a body shot inside as Lupei controls his hands.
Lupei fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lupei can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Lupei can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Edwards slows down the pace here.
Edwards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupei looking to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lupei.
Edwards tries to work over Lupei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Edwards misses with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards tries to work over Lupei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Serafim Lupei seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lupei wants to break free but Edwards has control.
Lupei throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Edwardss head.
Edwards stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Edwards struggles to land a body shot inside as Lupei controls his hands.
Lupei struggles to land a body shot inside as Edwards controls his hands.
Lupei lands with a left to the head.
Edwards lands a body shot in the clinch.

Lupei breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards misses with a straight left.
Lupei is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Lupei connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ife Edwards will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lupei tries to close the distance and clinch but Edwards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Lupei closes the distance and clinches.
Edwards stalling against the cage.
Lupei taking a breather.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.
Edwards ducks under a wild hook from Lupei.
That kick from Lupei tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lupei tries to bum rush Edwards with a series of wild strikes but Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lupei - that will leave a mark!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lupei feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Edwardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Edwards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Edwards defending well as Lupei loads up on a big left hand.
Lupei ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupei throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lupei fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Edwards thows a leg kick but Lupei checks it
and Lupei counters with a one-two to the body.
Edwards has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Edwards there as he acknowledges the shot.

Lupei instigates a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Edwards manages to break the clinch.
Lupei throws a hook but Edwards blocks it.
Edwards is looking to counter punch.
Lupei's corner calls for a 1-2. Lupei obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Edwards lands with a good body shot.
Edwards is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lupei tries to close the distance and clinch but Edwards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lupei blocks the body kick.
Edwards with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Lupei uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Edwards.
That kick from Lupei tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Edwards steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Lupei. That one must have hurt.
Lupei tried to score with a low kick but Edwards checks it.
Edwards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lupei throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lupei throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Edwards connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lupei's hands.
Lupei rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Edwards counters by clinching up.
A short uppercut from Lupei.
Still in the clinch, Edwards scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Lupei.
A shot in the inside from Lupei.
Edwards tries to stall but Lupei uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupei lands with a left to the head.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lupei's elbow.
Lupei doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lupei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lupei is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Edwards is keeping busy.
Edwards cracks Lupei with a nice body shot.
Lupei takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lupei lands a left hand that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
A short uppercut from Edwards.
Edwards stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Edwards misses with a punch on the inside.
Edwards lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Edwards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Edwards misses with a hook from the clinch.
Edwards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lupei tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Edwards's elbow.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Lupei controls the action.
Lupei stalling in the clinch but Edwards improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Edwards tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lupei goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Lupei breaks the clinch.
Edwards keeps the fight on the outside.
Lupei tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Lupei doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.
Lupei tries to clinch but Edwards moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lupei 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.
Lupei fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Edwards looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lupei moves out of range as Edwards strikes.
Lupei tests Edwards's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Oooooh!!! Edwards has knocked Lupei down with a huge combo! Edwards steps away and waves a wobbly Lupei back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Lupei is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Serafim Lupei.
Well Lupei 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serafim Lupei!
Our winner, Serafim Lupei, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.