PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Warwick Edmund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Verzosa
vs
Edmund

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Remedios Verzosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Warwick Edmund!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verzosa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Edmund is trying to defend but Verzosa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Verzosa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Verzosa prevents Edmund from improving his position.

Verzosa is working for a submission of some sort.
Edmund is not content to let Verzosa control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Edmund is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Verzosa is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Edmund keeping moving, preventing Verzosa from controlling successfully.
Edmund looking to hit a scissor sweep but Verzosa is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Edmund throws a hook to the side of Verzosa's head but Verzosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Edmund throws an overhand right that lands on Verzosa's shoulder, as Verzosa tries to avoid the shot.
Verzosa fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edmund looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Verzosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Verzosa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remedios Verzosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Edmund misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Edmund tries to close the distance and clinch up but Verzosa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Remedios Verzosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Verzosa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Verzosa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Edmund, who protects the arm well.
Verzosa just content to control the position.

Verzosa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edmund can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Verzosa trying to control the action but Edmund is working from the bottom.
Edmund is looking to regain half guard here but Verzosa keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Verzosa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Edmund has escaped the position, nice work there.
Verzosa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Edmund's legs.
Edmund tries to buck Verzosa off but Verzosa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Verzosa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Remedios Verzosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verzosa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Edmund swivels and escapes.
Verzosa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Edmund pinned against the cage. Edmund gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remedios Verzosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Verzosa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Verzosa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Verzosa looking to sit in guard and control but Edmund gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Verzosa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Verzosa trying to control but Edmund is working from the bottom.
Verzosa postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Verzosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Edmund wants to control the position but Verzosa says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Verzosa is keen to just control but Edmund is a slippery customer.
Edmund gets full guard.

Verzosa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Edmund is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Verzosa, into his guard.

Verzosa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Remedios Verzosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa controls Edmund momentarily but Edmund frees himself.
Edmund trying to control but Verzosa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Edmund trying to control the position from guard on top but Verzosa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verzosa pulls Edmund in close to his closed guard and prevents Edmund from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Remedios Verzosa just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown but Edmund shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remedios Verzosa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Verzosa, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remedios Verzosa!