PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cory Edgerton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Blagovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blagovic is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 'Thunderstruck' ACDC. The key to victory for Cory Edgerton has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Edgerton
vs
Blagovic

175 cm
18
222 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

197 cm
18
253 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cory Edgerton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikola Blagovic!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Edgerton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edgerton really is a fat lump.
Blagovic checks a low kick from Edgerton.
Edgerton catches Blagovic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Blagovic is looking to clinch but Edgerton is avoiding it.
Edgerton swinging wildly here.

Edgerton drives through and clinches with Blagovic against the cage.

Blagovic manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Edgerton controlling from the top position.
Edgerton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Edgerton won't allow Blagovic to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blagovic is looking for a triangle but Edgerton pushes his legs off easily.
Edgerton trying to control but Blagovic is working from the bottom.
Edgerton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Edgerton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blagovic's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgerton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Blagovic pushes Edgerton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Edgerton lands with a thumping leg kick.
Blagovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blagovic wants it to stay on the feet.
Edgerton tries to clinch but Blagovic moves out of range.
Blagovic lands a body shot.
Blagovic avoids the head kick by Edgerton.

Blagovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Edgerton trying to remain calm as Blagovic controls from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Blagovic is controlling him well.
Edgerton tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton being controlled for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nikola Blagovic.
Edgerton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Edgerton scores with a kick to the body.
Blagovic looks gassed!
Edgerton throws a head kick but Blagovic moves out of range.
Edgerton swinging wildly here.
Edgerton throws a nice looking combination but Blagovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Edgerton, right into the meat.
Edgerton tries a head kick but it misses.
Edgerton lands a front kick.
No joy there for Edgerton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Edgerton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blagovic moves out of range as Edgerton throws a body kick.
Blagovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Edgerton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Edgerton.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Edgerton gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edgerton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Edgerton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Edgerton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blagovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Edgerton misses with a head kick.
Blagovic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Blagovic misses with a body punch
and Edgerton counters with a body kick that stops Blagovic in his tracks momentarily.
Edgerton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Blagovic counters with a three punch combo that has Edgerton backing up. Edgerton nods at Blagovic to acknowledge the strikes.
Edgerton throws a body kick that misses.
Edgerton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Edgerton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blagovic but Blagovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A punch combination from Edgerton misses.
Edgerton shoots in for a double leg but Blagovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Edgerton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blagovic blocks a head kick by Edgerton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagovic tries to clinch but Edgerton moves away
and Edgerton counters with a three punch combo that has Blagovic backing up. Blagovic nods at Edgerton to acknowledge the strikes.
Edgerton tries to bum rush Blagovic with a series of wild strikes but Blagovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blagovic takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cory Edgerton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blagovic fails in his attempt to clinch.

Edgerton moves into the clinch successfully.

Edgerton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edgerton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blagovic looks to clinch

and Edgerton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Edgerton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blagovic is not content to let Edgerton control the position.
Edgerton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blagovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton is just content to waste time from the top position. Blagovic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Edgerton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Edgerton stops Blagovic from standing up.
Edgerton wants to control from the top but Blagovic keeps moving.
Edgerton 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cory Edgerton.
A nice combination there by Edgerton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Edgerton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blagovic moves away.

Edgerton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Blagovic is not content to let Edgerton control the position.

Edgerton has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A head kick misses from Blagovic.
Blagovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Edgerton shoots for a double leg takedown but Blagovic sprawls well. He's pushed Edgerton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton throws a series of punches but Blagovic avoids them all with ease.
Blagovic blocks the body kick.
Edgerton shoots for a takedown but Blagovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Edgerton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Blagovic to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Blagovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blagovic looks for the body kick but Edgerton saw that one coming.
Cory Edgerton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edgerton throws a series of punches but Blagovic avoids them all with ease.
Edgerton shoots in for a takedown but Blagovic shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Edgerton dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blagovic throws a head kick that misses.
Edgerton stalks Blagovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Blagovic's face. Blagovic staggers backwards, shaken.
Cory Edgerton is winning the standup battle so far.
Edgerton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Edgerton throws a series of punches but Blagovic avoids them all with ease.
Blagovic takes one to the chin there.
Blagovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Edgerton.
Edgerton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blagovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Edgerton is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blagovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Edgerton scores with a takedown into Blagovic's guard.
Edgerton controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgerton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blagovic is trying to control the position but Edgerton postures up.
Edgerton wants to control from the top but Blagovic keeps moving.
Edgerton lands a couple of digs.
Edgerton is stalling in the full guard.

Edgerton gets to his feet. Blagovic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two 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.
Edgerton fails to land the takedown.
Edgerton fails with an attempt to clinch.

Edgerton clinches up with Blagovic and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Edgerton.

Edgerton has clasped his hands together around Blagovic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Edgerton slows the pace down.
Edgerton trying to control the position but Blagovic is working away.

Edgerton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Blagovic to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Edgerton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Edgerton tries to clinch but Blagovic is having none of it.
Edgerton shoots in for a double leg but Blagovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Edgerton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blagovic looks to clinch

and Edgerton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Edgerton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cory Edgerton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Edgerton lands a couple of elbows.
Edgerton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Edgerton stops Blagovic from standing up.
Nikola Blagovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgerton trying to control the position from guard on top but Blagovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blagovic working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Edgerton has passed into half guard!
Edgerton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blagovic wants to improve his position but Edgerton is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory Edgerton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Edgerton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

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