PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Machado (ranked 48 p4p, 137 weight class) and Ife Edwards (ranked 11 p4p, 24 weight class). Machado comes into the arena with El Barrio blaring out of the sound system. Edwards has chosen Damian Marley - Road to Zion as his entrance music. 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.

Machado
vs
Edwards

175 cm
31
214
26 - 7 - 0

189 cm
34
209
32 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wanderson Machado!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ife Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado tries to clinch up.
Machado fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Machado throws a poor cross that misses
and Edwards counters with a body kick.
Machado lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Machado throws a jab when Edwards was well out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Edwards! But no joy.
Machado looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Machado explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Edwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Edwards connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Machado's hands.

It looks like Wanderson Machado has been cut.

Machado rushes Edwards and presses him up against the cage.
Edwards takes a shot to the head.
Edwards wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machado prevents a body shot from Edwards.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Machado controls the action.
Edwards working hard to break the clinch.
Machado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machado lands a nice uppercut.
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Machado lands a hook that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
Machado working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Edwards.
Edwards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Edwards lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Machado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Machado.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Machado.
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!
Machado throws a head punch that misses.
Edwards tries a body shot but Machado blocks it.
Machado tries to work over Edwards's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Machado tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Edwards's elbow.
Edwards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Edwards.

Edwards manages to break the clinch.
Machado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Machado backing away here, and Edwards unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Machado.

It looks like Ife Edwards has been cut.
Edwards throws a leg kick
and Machado counters with a nice body kick.
Edwards scores with a hook.
Machado listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Edwards's coach down at Casa Steel was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Edwards's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Machado throws a hook but Edwards avoids it easily.
Wanderson Machado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machado throws a leg kick
and Edwards counters with a low kick, right behind Machado 's knee.
Edwards staying out of range there.
Edwards blocks a leg kick.
Machado lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Edwards walks into a stiff left hand from Machado.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Machado misses with a hook
and Edwards counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Edwards misses with a kick to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Edwards throws an overhand right that lands on Machado's shoulder, as Machado tries to avoid the shot.
Machado misses with a body shot.
Edwards tries a low kick but Machado avoids it.
Machado is looking to counter punch.
Machado misses the jab.
Edwards now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Machado dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Machado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Edwards misses with an uppercut
and Machado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machado swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Edwards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Edwards avoids the body shot from Machado.
Machado thows a leg kick but Edwards checks it
and Edwards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Machado explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Edwards scores with a decent looking hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado swings for the body but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Edwards throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado misses with a right hand
and Edwards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Machado throws the left hand but Edwards avoids the punch easily.
That kick from Machado tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Machado misses the shot to the body.
Machado looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wanderson Machado is winning the standup battle so far.
Machado misses with a lunging right hand
and Edwards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Machado drops Edwards with a beautiful combination! Edwards stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Machado is looking for the KO!

Edwards is rocked!

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!
Machado misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Edwards was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Machado ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Edwards moves away.
Edwards let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Machado lands a brutal head kick. Edwards looks out on his feet and Machado throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Wanderson Machado!
Wanderson Machado retains his light heavyweight title!
A victorious Wanderson Machado thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.