PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Edwards (ranked 1670 p4p, 2878 weight class) and Shunsui Kyoraku (ranked 221 p4p, 361 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Edwards
vs
Kyoraku

180 cm
26
190
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
195
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Primal
Phoenix Island

Island clothing lite

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bernard Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shunsui Kyoraku!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kyoraku lands with a nice body punch.
Shunsui Kyoraku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kyoraku scores with a hook to the body. Edwards takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kyoraku looks to land a right hand but Edwards moved out of range.
Kyoraku scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Edwards doesn't seem bothered though.
Edwards has been working on his boxing with his coaches at PhoQus Island Training in the buildup to the fight.
Kyoraku missing with a left hand there. Edwards was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kyoraku darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Edwards scores with a jab to the body.
Kyoraku throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Edwards was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kyoraku throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Edwards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kyoraku's coach down at PhoQus Island Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kyoraku's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Edwards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kyoraku.
Edwards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Edwards moves out of range of the strikes.
Kyoraku throws an overhand right that lands on Edwards's shoulder, as Edwards tries to avoid the shot.
Kyoraku throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards digs a good hook to Kyoraku's body.
Kyoraku scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards misses the shot to the body.
Kyoraku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kyoraku lands with an overhand left.
Kyoraku throws a one two combo.
Nice straight punches there by Kyoraku. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kyoraku.
Kyoraku bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Edwards's head.
Kyoraku throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kyoraku throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Edwards stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Edwards is looking to wear down Kyoraku with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Edwards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kyoraku was well out of range. Poor timing from Edwards.
Kyoraku avoids the body shot from Edwards.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kyoraku.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Edwards takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Edwards dodges the punch combination from Kyoraku.
Edwards seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kyoraku.
Edwards ducks under a wild hook from Kyoraku.

Kyoraku has managed to clinch.
Kyoraku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kyoraku throws a head punch that misses.
Edwards lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kyoraku.
A short right from Edwards.
Kyoraku prevents Edwards from breaking the clinch.
Edwards can't find room to land a body shot as Kyoraku controls the action.
Kyoraku holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Edwards misses with a punch on the inside.
Edwards misses with a body punch.
Kyoraku misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Edwards scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kyoraku looking to stall.
Still in the clinch, Kyoraku scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kyoraku can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Kyoraku misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kyoraku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kyoraku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Edwards tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Kyoraku.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Kyoraku misses the target.
Edwards blocks a jab.
Edwards walks into a straight right hand from Kyoraku.
Edwards throws a hook but Kyoraku avoids it easily.
Edwards swings for the body but Kyoraku moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Kyoraku misses.
Kyoraku avoids the body shot from Edwards.
Kyoraku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Edwards looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kyoraku connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kyoraku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Edwards.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kyoraku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kyoraku throws an overhand right that lands on Edwards's shoulder, as Edwards tries to avoid the shot.
Kyoraku listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kyoraku misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kyoraku. Edwards does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kyoraku dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kyoraku throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Edwards was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kyoraku connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Edwards's hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shunsui Kyoraku dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kyoraku throws a hook to the side of Edwards's head but Edwards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kyoraku connects with a body shot that sends Edwards's belly button to the back.
Kyoraku misses with a hook.

Edwards instigates a clinch.
A short right from Edwards on the inside.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kyoraku's elbow.
Kyoraku lands a nice uppercut.
Kyoraku lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Edwards misses with the head strike.
Edwards throws a punch but it's blocked by Kyoraku.
Kyoraku lands a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Edwards.
Edwards misses with some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kyoraku prevents a body shot from Edwards.
Bernard Edwards has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kyoraku's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kyoraku's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyoraku blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kyoraku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Kyoraku misses the target.
An attempted straight right counter from Edwards misses the target.
Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kyoraku.
Kyoraku throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Edwards is looking to counter punch.
Edwards tries to clinch but Kyoraku moves out of range.
Kyoraku lands with a nice body punch.
Kyoraku cracks Edwards with a right hand to the side of the head.
Edwards wants to clinch.

Edwards has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Edwards lands with a short shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Edwards scores with a nice short uppercut.
Edwards tries to work over Kyoraku's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kyoraku's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Edwards breaks the clinch.
Kyoraku lands with a nice body punch.
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!
Kyoraku lands the left hand.
Kyoraku feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Edwardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kyoraku misses with a looping right.
Kyoraku clobbers Edwards with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Kyoraku gets tackled into the cage by Edwards. Edwards maintains the clinch.
Kyoraku is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kyoraku scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kyoraku blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards lands a left hand.
Kyoraku blocks an uppercut.
Kyoraku digs a right hand underneath Edwards's ribcage. Edwards let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kyoraku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kyoraku blocks an uppercut.
Edwards tries to work over Kyoraku's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Edwards tries a body shot but Kyoraku blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Edwards fails to land.
Kyoraku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Edwards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kyoraku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Edwards circles away quickly and effectively.
Kyoraku misses with a looping right.
Nice shot by Edwards.
Edwards thuds a left hand into Kyoraku's body.
Kyoraku's corner calls for a 1-2. Kyoraku obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Edwards misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kyoraku scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Edwards doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kyoraku misses with a lunging right hand
and Edwards counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Edwards takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kyoraku throws a hook to the side of Edwards's head but Edwards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Edwards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kyoraku.
Jab from Edwards.

Kyoraku is rocked!

It looks like Shunsui Kyoraku has been cut.
Kyoraku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Edwards.
Kyoraku is still on wobbly legs! Can Edwards finish him?
Edwards takes one on the button.
Edwards is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kyoraku seems to have recovered his senses.
Edwards shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Edwards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Edwards walks into a left hand.
Kyoraku throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Edwards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Edwards tries to throw a body punch but Kyoraku avoids it by throwing Edwards back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shunsui Kyoraku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Shunsui Kyoraku's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kyoraku misses with a looping right.
Kyoraku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Edwards is looking to counter the offense by Kyoraku and move into the clinch.
Kyoraku misses with an uppercut.
Edwards scores with a jab to the body.
Kyoraku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Edwards.
Kyoraku misses with a left hand
and Edwards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kyoraku thinking.
Edwards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kyoraku circles away quickly and effectively.
Kyoraku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Edwards takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kyoraku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Edwards circles away quickly and effectively.
Kyoraku with a nice cross.
Kyoraku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Edwards.
Kyoraku misses with a looping left.
Edwards is looking to clinch but Kyoraku is avoiding it.
Kyoraku doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Edwards.
Kyoraku displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Edwards throws out the jab.
Kyoraku throws a lazy right hand but Edwards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A lazy left from Edwards finds it's target.
Kyoraku throws a hook but Edwards avoids it easily.
Edwards displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kyoraku throws out the jab.
Kyoraku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Edwards.
Edwards misses the shot to the body.
Kyoraku throws a sloppy body shot
and Edwards counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Edwards lands a nice shot that snaps Kyoraku's head back.
Kyoraku misses with a lunging right hand
and Edwards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kyoraku misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Edwards misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kyoraku lands with a nice combination. Edwards backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards swings for the body but Kyoraku moves out of range.
Kyoraku misses with a hook
and Edwards counters with a straight right hand.
Kyoraku connects with a jab.
Kyoraku moves away from the strike by Edwards.
Edwards is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kyoraku jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Edwards is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kyoraku.
Kyoraku lunges at Edwards with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Edwards's hand.
Edwards defending well as Kyoraku loads up on a big left hand.
Edwards slips a straight right by Kyoraku.
Edwards takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kyoraku misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kyoraku lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Edwards is rocked!
Kyoraku tests Edwards's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Oh Edwards is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Edwards just misses with a punch to the body.
Kyoraku throws an overhand right that lands on Edwards's shoulder, as Edwards tries to avoid the shot.
Kyoraku throws an overhand right that drops Edwards like a sack of potatoes! Kyoraku dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shunsui Kyoraku!
Shunsui Kyoraku seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.