PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Saint Arai (ranked 1442 p4p, 2023 weight class) and Charlie Edwards (ranked 150 p4p, 199 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Arai
vs
Edwards

170 cm
20
148
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
145
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Wrestler Wayfare

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saint Arai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charlie Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edwards takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Arai throws out a loose jab but Edwards uses good head movement to avoid it.

Edwards has closed the distance and engaged Arai in a clinch.
Edwards lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arai lands the left hand.

Edwards moves into the clinch.
Arai presses Edwards against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Edwards fails to land.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Edwards moves into the clinch successfully.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Arai gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Edwards is one step ahead there.
Edwards controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arai is on top in guard.

Arai sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Edwards looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Edwards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arai defends it easily.
Arai sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edwards is trying to control the position but Arai postures up.
Edwards will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Edwards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards wants to sweep here but Arai controlling him for the moment.
Arai not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arai lands the left hand.
Arai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Edwards under the eye.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Edwards is defended easily by Arai.
Arai tries to bum rush Edwards with a series of wild strikes but Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Edwards has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Edwards there as he acknowledges the shot.
Arai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Edwards manages to avoid it.
Edwards showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards moves in looking to clinch but Arai pushes him off.
Arai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Edwards tries to clinch but Arai is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Some wild striking there from Arai.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edwards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Arai misses.
Edwards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arai works the jab nicely.
Edwards moves to clinch but Arai breaks away
and Arai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Edwards thinking.
Arai throws a right and a left that Edwards avoids nicely.
Edwards shoots and misses
and Edwards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Charlie Edwards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edwards throws a right hand that misses
and Arai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Arai dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Arai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Edwards gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Arai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Edwards can do to turn this around?

Arai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arai stuffs the takedown.
Arai fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Edwards on the side of the head.
Edwards shoots and misses
and Arai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Edwards thinking.
Edwards tries to clinch but Arai is having none of it.
Edwards tries to clinch but Arai moves away
letting Arai counter with a right hand.

Edwards pushes Arai up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Edwards to work.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Arai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Edwards creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Arai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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 tries to clinch up.
Arai with a nice cross.
Arai is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Arai.
A swing and a miss from Arai.
Arai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Edwards manages to avoid it.
Edwards gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Arai.
Arai leaves Edwards with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Saint Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Edwards.
No luck for Edwards with that takedown attempt.
Arai lands with a shot to the body.
Arai loads up on a big right hand but Edwards slips the punch.
Saint Arai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Edwards moves away.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt - Arai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Edwards rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arai counters with a two punch combo.
Edwards wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards clinches with his opponent.

Edwards manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arai lands a jab-cross combination.

Arai tries to keep at a distance but Edwards has taken the fight into the clinch.
Arai blocks a body shot from Edwards.

Arai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Edwards has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Edwards shoots in looking for a takedown. Arai tries to sprawl out of it but Edwards keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Arai misses with a body shot.

Edwards clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arai manages to break the clinch.
Edwards swings widly with a right hand
and Arai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Edwards closes the distance and pushes Arai back into the cage.
Edwards works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.
Arai swats away the attempt to clinch by Edwards.
Arai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Edwards wants to clinch up but Arai keeps it at a distance.

Edwards has closed the distance and engaged Arai in a clinch.

Arai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Edwards closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Arai definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards wants to control but Arai is keeping him busy.
Arai is looking to regain half guard here but Edwards keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards trying to control the action but Arai is working from the bottom.
Arai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Edwards trying to control the pace.

Arai pushes Edwards off and gets back to his feet.
Edwards closes the distance but Arai moves to the side
and Arai counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Arai dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab from Edwards.
Charlie Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arai 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 up against the cage but Arai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Edwards thows a left - swing and a miss!

Edwards has closed the distance and engaged Arai in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Edwards.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Arai swings for the body but Edwards moves out of range.
Arai swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Edwards.
Edwards blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arai works Edwards's body with a nice hook.
Edwards moves away from the strike by Arai.
Edwards wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards tries to clinch up.
Edwards connects with a good right hand that stumbles Arai. Arai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Edwards tries to clinch up but Arai circles away and keeps his distance.
Edwards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Arai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Edwards somewhat.
Edwards closes the distance and clinches up with Arai, looking for a takedown. Edwards pushes Arai against the cage but Arai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arai is looking to counter punch.
Edwards on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Arai lands with a cross.
Edwards moves out of range as Arai strikes.
Edwards has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Saint Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Edwards.
Arai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Edwards takes the fight into the clinch.

Arai breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arai punishes Edwards's body with a nice straight punch.
Arai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Edwards.
Edwards closes the distance but Arai moves to the side
and Arai counters with a straight right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arai catches Edwards with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Arai gets tackled into the cage by Edwards. Edwards maintains the clinch.
A short uppercut from Edwards.

Arai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arai takes a swing at Edwards's ribcage but misses.

Edwards forces Arai back against the cage and clinches.

Edwards manages to break the clinch.
Edwards blocks a jab.
Arai throws a shot to the body.
Arai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Edwards.
Edwards tries to clinch up but Arai circles away and keeps his distance.
Edwards doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edwards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arai connects with a body shot.
Saint Arai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Edwards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Edwards moves into range and clinches up with Arai.

Arai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edwards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big right from Edwards misses.
Arai misses with a hook. Edwards ducked under it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Arai. No joy for Edwards on that attempt.
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Arai was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Arai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Edwards drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Arai misses with an uppercut.
Arai works over Edwards's head and body with a nice combination.
A big left from Arai misses.
Edwards throws out a counter right but Arai avoids it with no problem.
Arai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Arai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Edwards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Edwards on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Arai lands with a hook. Edwards tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Arai throws a jab but it's blocked by Edwards.
Arai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Edwards at a distance.
A punch combination from Arai misses.
Arai looks to land a left hand but Edwards moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saint Arai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Arai, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saint Arai!
A very excited looking Saint Arai made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.