PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Juarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory Edgerton (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.

Juarez
vs
Edgerton

183 cm
21
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jason Juarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cory Edgerton!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Juarez defending well as Edgerton loads up on a big left hand.

Juarez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Edgerton, pushing him back against the cage.

Juarez successfully pulls guard.
Juarez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Edgerton trying to control but Juarez is working from the bottom.
Juarez trying to control the position.
Edgerton wants to control from the top but Juarez keeps moving.
Edgerton lands a couple of digs.
Edgerton wants to stand but Juarez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgerton content to stall in guard here.
Juarez looking for a sweep. Not yet Juarez, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juarez is trying to control the position but Edgerton postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Juarez doesn't manage to clinch there - Edgerton circles away.
Edgerton keeps the fight on the outside.
Edgerton misses with an attempted mid kick.

Edgerton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Juarez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Edgerton gets to mount! Juarez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Edgerton controlling the pace for now.
Juarez's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton content just to control the position here.
Edgerton lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edgerton prevents Juarez from getting the reversal.
Edgerton controlling from the full mount.
Edgerton with good strikes from the mount here!
Edgerton tries to control but Juarez wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Edgerton.
Edgerton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four 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.
Juarez is squirming around, avoiding Edgerton's attempts to control the action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Cory Edgerton just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Juarez throws a series of strikes that have Edgerton backpedaling.
Cory Edgerton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edgerton wants to clinch up but Juarez keeps it at a distance.
Edgerton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edgerton does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Edgerton tries a head kick but it misses.
Juarez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Edgerton.
Edgerton keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Edgerton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Juarez lands with a nice combination. Edgerton backs away looking to recover.
Juarez shoots and misses

and Edgerton counters with a shoot takedown. Juarez fights it but they end up in guard.
Juarez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Juarez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Edgerton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Juarez tries to roll over but Edgerton keeps him under control.
Edgerton stalling.
Edgerton wants to pass to mount but Juarez is defending the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Edgerton is looking to take a break and control but Juarez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edgerton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Juarez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Edgerton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Juarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Juarez.
Juarez wants to stand and escape but instead Edgerton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Edgerton stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Edgerton misses with a kick to the body.
Edgerton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Edgerton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Juarez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Juarez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Edgerton looks to clinch
and Juarez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton tries to clinch up.
Edgerton wants to slow Juarez down by chopping away at his legs.
Edgerton wants to clinch.
Edgerton throws the left hand but Juarez avoids the punch easily.

Juarez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Edgerton to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edgerton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Juarez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Edgerton defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Juarez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Edgerton defends well.
Edgerton wants to get up but he can't break Juarez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Edgerton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Juarez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Juarez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Edgerton controls the pace.
Juarez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edgerton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cory Edgerton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Edgerton throws a head kick but Juarez moves out of range.
Edgerton dives in and grabs Juarez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Juarez pushes down on Edgerton's head and hops out.
Juarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edgerton goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Juarez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edgerton counters with a head kick.
Juarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Edgerton's waist but Edgerton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Juarez off to one side.
Edgerton circles away from the clinch attempt

and Edgerton counters with a shoot takedown. Juarez fights it but they end up in guard.
Edgerton passes Juarez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Edgerton controlling the pace.
Cory Edgerton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juarez trying to control but Edgerton postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cory Edgerton.
Edgerton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Juarez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Edgerton moves into the clinch successfully.
Edgerton stalls.
Edgerton blocks a body shot from Juarez.
Edgerton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Edgerton's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Edgerton manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Edgerton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Juarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Juarez tries to keep at a distance but Edgerton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Juarez tries to pull guard but Edgerton holds him up against the cage and eventually Juarez drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Juarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Edgerton pulls guard.
Juarez won't allow Edgerton to sweep him here.

Juarez stands up from Edgerton's guard - Juarez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Edgerton is looking to clinch but Juarez is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton wants to clinch.
Juarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edgerton.
Juarez keeps the fight on the outside.
Edgerton throws a left and a right that both miss

and Juarez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Juarez.
Edgerton goes for a takedown in the clinch but Juarez prevents it.
Juarez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Edgerton tries to stall but Juarez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Juarez lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Juarez is pushing Edgerton up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Edgerton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Edgerton breaks the clinch.
Edgerton misses with the body kick
and Juarez counters with a two punch combo.
Juarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edgerton.

Edgerton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Juarez keeping moving, preventing Edgerton from controlling successfully.
Edgerton postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory Edgerton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Edgerton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cory Edgerton!