PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ife Edwards (ranked 651 p4p, 356 weight class) and Paul Muhapuro (ranked 98 p4p, 50 weight class). Edwards's entrance music is Damian Marley - Road to Zion. A fine choice. 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
Muhapuro

189 cm
28
193
17 - 9 - 0

177 cm
27
196
16 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

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 17 - 9 - 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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Muhapuro!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muhapuro throws a shot from downtown. Edwards moves away and avoids it.
Muhapuro staying out of range there.
A cross from Edwards lands.
Edwards scores with a body shot.
Edwards keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Muhapuro on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Muhapuro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Edwards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Muhapuro.
Edwards connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Edwards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Muhapuro lands with a cross.
Muhapuro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab, jab by Muhapuro - just one landing.
Muhapuro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
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!
Muhapuro throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Muhapuro has closed the distance and engaged Edwards in a clinch.
Muhapuro looking to stall.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards blocks a jab.
Muhapuro wants to slow Edwards down by chopping away at his legs.
An attempted straight right counter from Edwards misses the target.
Nice shot by Muhapuro.
Muhapuro misses with a right hand
enabling Edwards to counter with a crisp jab.
Edwards keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Edwards connects with an inside leg kick.
Edwards throws the left hand but Muhapuro avoids the punch easily.
Edwards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Muhapuro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Muhapuro looks to land a right hand but Edwards moved out of range.
Edwards's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Muhapuro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Edwards scrambles back to his feet.
Edwards cracks Muhapuro with an open hand slap.
Muhapuro avoids the head kick by Edwards.
Edwards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Edwards misses with a body kick.
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!
Muhapuro looks for the body kick but Edwards saw that one coming.
Muhapuro misses the shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Muhapuro 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 Edwards has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Edwards and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Edwards finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Muhapuro was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Edwards is out of range.
Muhapuro misses with a head kick.
Edwards tries to land a leg kick but Muhapuro saw it coming and moves away.
A nice leg kick from Edwards, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been hearing reports that Edwards has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Muhapuro misses with a wild body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Edwards gets tackled into the cage by Muhapuro. Muhapuro maintains the clinch.
Muhapuro blocks a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards leaning against his opponent.
Edwards lands with a short shot to the head.
A short left from Edwards.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Muhapuro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Edwards's brow.
Edwards lands with a right to the head.
Edwards lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Muhapuro.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Edwards.
Muhapuro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Edwards softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Edwards pushes Muhapuro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Muhapuro fails to land.
Edwards pushes Muhapuro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Edwards on the inside.
A hook to the body from Edwards.
Edwards throws a head punch that misses.
Muhapuro pushes off an throws an elbow but Edwards leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Edwards looking to slow down the pace here.
Muhapuro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Muhapuro creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch on the inside from Muhapuro fails to land.
Edwards lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Muhapuro or not.
Edwards blocks an elbow strike from Muhapuro.
Edwards lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Muhapuro backwards.
Edwards lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Muhapuro looks winded!
Edwards lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Muhapuro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Edwards pushes Muhapuro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Edwards lands a shot to the body.
Edwards lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Edwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards lands a left hand.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Muhapuro controls the action.
Edwards lands a nice shot to the body.
Muhapuro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Edwards struggles to land a body shot inside as Muhapuro controls his hands.
Edwards is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A short uppercut from Edwards.
Muhapuro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Edwards scores with a nice hook to the head.
The referee calls for Edwards to work.
Edwards tries a body shot but Muhapuro blocks it.
Muhapuro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muhapuro has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Edwards seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Muhapuro can turn it around.
Edwards is leaning against Muhapuro and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edwards swings wildly with an uppercut but Muhapuro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Edwards blocks an elbow strike from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro 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.
A head punch on the inside from Muhapuro fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ife Edwards dominated that round.
That's time! Edwards's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Edwards throws a hook but Muhapuro avoids it easily.
Muhapuro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Muhapuro.
Edwards was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Edwards keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Edwards moves away.
Edwards throws a wild body kick that Muhapuro sees coming a mile off.
Muhapuro throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Edwards to counter with a crisp jab.
Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro misses with a body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Edwards there.
Muhapuro drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Muhapuro forces Edwards back against the cage and clinches.
Ife Edwards has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Edwards.
Edwards takes an elbow to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muhapuro pushes off an throws an elbow but Edwards leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Edwards lands with a left to the head.
Edwards tries a body shot but Muhapuro blocks it.
Muhapuro blocks a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards struggles to land a body shot inside as Muhapuro controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards struggles to land a body shot inside as Muhapuro controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Edwards.
Edwards working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Edwards works on Muhapuro's body with a couple of short punches.
Edwards blocks the elbow strike.
Muhapuro misses with an elbow strike.
Edwards lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Edwards.
Muhapuro has a couple of punches blocked by Edwards.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards tries to work over Muhapuro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Muhapuro's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Edwards.
Muhapuro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Muhapuro checks a low kick from Edwards.
Muhapuro throws a looping overhand right but Edwards ducks down to avoid it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Muhapuro crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Edwards - the referee stops the clock and Muhapuro gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Edwards. Muhapuro manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Edwards throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards throws a hook but Muhapuro blocks it.
Edwards misses with a right hand
and Muhapuro counters with a straight right hand.
Edwards is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Muhapuro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Muhapuro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Edwards moves away.
Edwards jabs at Muhapuro's body.
Edwards swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Muhapuro.
Edwards swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Edwards lands a jab to the head.
Muhapuro lands a nice hook to Edwards's body. Edwards takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Muhapuro 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.
Edwards checks a leg kick.
Ife Edwards is winning the standup battle so far.
Edwards blocks a leg kick.
Edwards feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Muhapuro throws a hook to the side of Edwards's head but Edwards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Edwards half committed to a counter leg kick.
Muhapuro lands with a shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Muhapuro. That's going to slow Edwards down.
Edwards scoring well with a low kick there.
Edwards misses the shot to the body.
Edwards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Muhapuro can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro throws an off balance right hand
and Edwards counters with a nice body kick.
Muhapuro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Edwards walks into a left hand.
Muhapuro avoids the body shot from Edwards.
Muhapuro throws a push kick but Edwards slaps the foot to one side.
Muhapuro throws a head kick but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards checks a leg kick.
Muhapuro takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Edwards thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Muhapuro if he has to take too many more of those.
Edwards works the jab nicely.
Muhapuro throws a lazy uppercut
and Edwards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Muhapuro is breathing heavily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Edwards darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Muhapuro takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muhapuro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Muhapuro gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Edwards lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Muhapuro thumps Edwards with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Edwards lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Muhapuro at a distance.
Edwards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Muhapuro throws a body punch but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards throws a nice inside leg kick.
Muhapuro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Muhapuro looks to land a right hand but Edwards moved out of range.
Muhapuro takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Muhapuro throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Edwards, as that shot connected.
Edwards throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Edwards lands with a right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Edwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edwards looks for the body kick but Muhapuro saw that one coming.
Muhapuro misses with a wild body shot.
Muhapuro throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice leg kick from Edwards, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ife Edwards dominated that second round.
That's time! Edwards's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Edwards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Edwards misses with some punches.
Edwards working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Edwards tries to throw a body punch but Muhapuro avoids it by throwing Edwards back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Muhapuro.
Edwards works on Muhapuro's body with a couple of short punches.
Muhapuro can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short body shot lands from Edwards as the two fighters clinch.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards avoids the elbow strike from Muhapuro, against the cage.
Edwards pushes Muhapuro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Edwards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Muhapuro prevents a body shot from Edwards.
Muhapuro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Edwards presses Muhapuro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Edwards lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Edwards misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Edwards is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A shot in the inside from Edwards.
Edwards lands a nice uppercut.
Edwards digs a right hand underneath Muhapuro's ribcage. Muhapuro let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Edwards stalling against the cage.
Edwards trying to control the position but instead, Muhapuro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Edwards into the cage.
A body shot lands from Edwards.
Edwards tries to work over Muhapuro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Muhapuro misses with a punch on the inside.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Muhapuro controls the action.
Muhapuro misses with a punch on the inside.
Edwards tries a body shot but Muhapuro blocks it.
Edwards effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards avoids the elbow strike from Muhapuro, against the cage.
Edwards pushes Muhapuro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Muhapuro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
Edwards's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Edwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards misses with a body punch.
Edwards tries to work over Muhapuro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Muhapuro takes a shot to the head.
Muhapuro cracks Edwards with a nice body shot.
Muhapuro misses with a punch to the body.
Muhapuro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Muhapuro lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Edwards.
Edwards tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Edwards avoids the elbow strike from Muhapuro, against the cage.
Muhapuro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muhapuro.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Muhapuro controls the action.
A short right from Edwards.
Muhapuro misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Muhapuro misses.
Muhapuro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edwards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Muhapuro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Edwards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An inside leg kick from Muhapuro misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Muhapuro. Edwards shrugs it off though.
Muhapuro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Edwards.
Muhapuro moves in looking to clinch but Edwards pushes him off.
Muhapuro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Edwards slips a straight right by Muhapuro.
It looked like Edwards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Muhapuro shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Edwards lands an overhand right.
Edwards jabs at Muhapuro's body.
Edwards pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Edwards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Edwards fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ife Edwards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tries to move into range but Muhapuro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Muhapuro misses with a kick to the body.
Edwards connects with an inside leg kick.
Muhapuro misses with a low kick as Edwards jumps back.
Muhapuro takes one to the side of the head.
Muhapuro throws a body shot but no joy.
Muhapuro throws a leg kick
and Edwards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Muhapuro tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Edwards misses.
Muhapuro takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Muhapuro throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Edwards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Edwards scores with a jab to the body.
Muhapuro walks into a left hand.
Muhapuro tries to clinch
and Edwards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Edwards scores with a jab.
Edwards swings for the body but Muhapuro moves out of range.
Paul Muhapuro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muhapuro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ife 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ife Edwards!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Ife Edwards waved his t-shirt featuring Conviction's logo in front of the cameras.