PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vicent Edwards (ranked 4655 p4p, 4419 weight class) and Francisco Bustamante (ranked 224 p4p, 216 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
Bustamante

165 cm
25
137
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Vicent 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, Francisco Bustamante!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Bustamante 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bustamante tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Edwards was well out of range. Poor timing from Bustamante.
Edwards is looking to counter punch.
Bustamante is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Edwards is looking for a counter combo.
Bustamante shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Edwards sprawls well. Edwards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bustamante gets slowly back to his feet.
Edwards throws a big counter combination but Bustamante scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bustamante doesn't manage to clinch there - Edwards circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bustamante is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Edwards swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Edwards missing with a left hand there. Bustamante was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Edwards takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bustamante.
Bustamante with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vicent Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Bustamante.
Edwards lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Edwards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bustamante throws a head kick but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards throws a one two combo.
Bustamante misses with a takedown
and Bustamante takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A leg kick checked by Edwards.
Edwards throwing a counter right hand but Bustamante manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards leaves Bustamante with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bustamante looks winded!
Bustamante with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a nice body shot.

Oooh a lovely combination from Edwards sends Bustamante down but not out. Edwards dives into side control looking to finish.

Bustamante is rocked!

It looks like Francisco Bustamante has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The ground and pound from Edwards seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Edwards fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Edwards working the ground and pound from side control.
Edwards creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bustamante sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Edwards throws an elbow but Bustamante slips to the side and avoids it well.
Edwards throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Edwards misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Edwards working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tries to score with some ground and pound. Bustamante controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Edwards creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bustamante sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Edwards looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bustamante is avoiding damage well.
Edwards throws an elbow but Bustamante slips to the side and avoids it well.
Edwards throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Edwards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Edwards throws an elbow but Bustamante slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Edwards crashes against the mat.
Bustamante wants to control but Edwards postures up.
Edwards postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bustamante parries the strikes from Edwards easily there. Edwards is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bustamante to escape.
Edwards working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Edwards throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Bustamante works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Edwards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante blocking the ground and pound attempt from Edwards.
Edwards throws a strike but Bustamante avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Edwards won't allow Bustamante to get back to his feet.

Edwards stands and steps away. Bustamante gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bustamante misses with a takedown
and Edwards counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bustamante takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bustamante tries to close the distance and clinch but Edwards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Edwards.
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!
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt
and Edwards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bustamante thinking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicent Edwards dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francisco Bustamante's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bustamante with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Edwards to score with a decent uppercut.
Bustamante tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily
and Edwards counters with a three punch combo that has Bustamante backing up. Bustamante nods at Edwards to acknowledge the strikes.
Edwards throws a nice looking combination but Bustamante bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bustamante with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bustamante tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Edwards defends well and Bustamante ends up having to push Edwards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vicent Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Bustamante.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bustamante shoots for a double leg takedown but Edwards sprawls well. He's pushed Bustamante's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like Edwards was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bustamante doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edwards counters with a straight right hand.
Bustamante is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards cracks Bustamante with a right hand to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Bustamante.
Bustamante with a poor takedown
and Edwards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Edwards lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Edwards lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Edwards lands a glancing blow to the side of Bustamante's head.
Edwards lands a nice hook to Bustamante's body. Bustamante takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bustamante shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Edwards sprawls well. Edwards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bustamante gets slowly back to his feet.
Vicent Edwards is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Edwards finds it's way round the side to connect with Bustamante's head.
Bustamante with a poor takedown
and Edwards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice combination there by Bustamante.
Bustamante misses with a takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a nice body shot.
Edwards lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Edwards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bustamante looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Edwards throws a shot from downtown. Bustamante moves away and avoids it.
Bustamante throws a combination that misses
letting Edwards counter with a right hand.
Edwards's corner calls for a 1-2. Edwards obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vicent Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edwards lands with a straight right. Bustamante didn't see that one coming.
Edwards misses with a few strikes there.
Bustamante has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Edwards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vicent Edwards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bustamante shoots and misses
and Edwards counters with a straight right hand.
Edwards dips to his left and cracks Bustamante with an uppercut!
Edwards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bustamante manages to avoid it.
Bustamante fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bustamante misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bustamante tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily
enabling Edwards to counter with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicent Edwards dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Francisco Bustamante's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bustamante takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bustamante is defended easily by Edwards.
Edwards swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
No luck for Bustamante with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bustamante with a poor takedown
and Edwards counters with a stiff right hand.
Vicent Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Bustamante.
Bustamante takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Edwards closes the distance and pushes Bustamante back into the cage.
A short uppercut from Edwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short left from Edwards.
Bustamante on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Edwards throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bustamantes head.
Edwards scores with a nice hook to the head.
Edwards is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bustamante is defending well for now.
Edwards scores with a nice hook to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Edwards has Bustamante pressed against the cage.
Bustamante tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bustamante wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Edwards.

Edwards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Edwards scores with a hook to the body. Bustamante takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bustamante misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bustamante tries to clinch but Edwards moves away
and Edwards counters with a straight 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!

Edwards clinches.
Edwards dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Edwards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bustamante can do to turn this around?
Edwards lands a nice uppercut.
Edwards is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bustamante shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Edwards scores with a nice strike.
Bustamante tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Edwards defends well and Bustamante ends up having to push Edwards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Edwards gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Edwards is stalling here.
Bustamante is trying desperately to land a takedown but Edwards is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Bustamante.
Edwards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bustamante has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Edwards's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Edwards - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Vicent Edwards.
Bustamante keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Edwards.
Edwards takes a swing at Bustamante's ribcage but misses.
Bustamante feints the counter takedown.
Bustamante tries for a takedown but Edwards circles away easily
and Edwards counters with a straight right hand.
Francisco Bustamante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bustamante throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Edwards stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vicent 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:24
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:24
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vicent Edwards!
Vicent Edwards spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.