PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cao Cao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cao comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cao Cao kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Cao Cao acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Edgar
vs
Cao

168 cm
31
160 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

175 cm
28
170 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Frankie Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Cao Cao!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edgar avoids a kick to the body.
Edgar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cao swivels and escapes.
Cao's corner calls for a 1-2. Cao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cao loads up on a big right hand but Edgar slips the punch.

Edgar rushes Cao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cao scores with a nice hook to the head.
Edgar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short body shot lands from Cao as the two fighters clinch.
Edgar managing to block the knees to the body from Cao.
Cao is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edgar.
Edgar has been working on his balance at The Shield, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Cao.
Cao crunches a lovely knee into Edgar's ribcage.
Cao lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cao missing with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Cao.
Cao stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Edgar prevents a body shot from Cao.
Edgar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Edgar avoids it.
Edgar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Edgar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edgar goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cao prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar blocking some punches.
Cao tries a body shot but Edgar blocks it.
Cao using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Edgar goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cao prevents it.
Cao stops a takedown attempt from Edgar.
Edgar is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cao scores a nice knee to the body.
Cao is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cao landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Edgar is looking for a takedown.
Cao landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Edgar managing to block the knees to the body from Cao.
Cao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Edgar avoids it.
Cao throws a punch but it's blocked by Edgar.
Edgar is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cao gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgar is looking for a takedown.
Cao can't find room to land a body shot as Edgar controls the action.
Edgar managing to block the knees to the body from Cao.
Edgar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cao lands a right hand that snaps the head of Edgar backwards.

Edgar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cao uses from the top position.
Edgar is controlling Cao's posture.

Edgar is looking for a triangle but Cao pushes his legs off easily.
Edgar trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Edgar closes the distance and clinches.
Edgar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Cao fails to land.
Edgar tries for a takedown but Cao manages to get underhooks.
Edgar blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hand to the body from Cao.

Edgar pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgar looking to control.
Cao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cao is looking to stand up but Edgar won't let him.
Edgar trying to keep a closed guard but Cao is proving a slippery customer.
Cao wants to stand but Edgar has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar working a defensive guard here.
Edgar working a defensive guard but Cao manages to pass into side control anyway.
Edgar struggling a bit here.
Edgar is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cao off and has taken his back!
Cao is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cao fending off the submission attempt from Edgar.

Edgar has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Cao has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Cao wants to get back to his feet.

Cao is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Edgar gets his way!

Cao is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar wants to control but Cao is keeping busy.
Cao is trying to stand back up.
Cao prevents Edgar from getting a body triangle.
Cao trying to get back to his feet but Edgar is in full control for now.

That's four 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.

Edgar is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cao knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cao for a finish.
Cao trying to get back to his feet but Edgar is in full control for now.

Edgar is persistently looking for the submission but Cao is defending it well.
Cao trying to get back to his feet but Edgar is in full control for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Edgar working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Edgar 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!

Cao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Edgar's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cao connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Edgar scrambles back to his feet.
Cao leaves Edgar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Edgar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cao avoids it really well and circles away.
Cao tries to close the distance and clinch but Edgar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cao misses with a hook.

Edgar gets tackled into the cage by Cao. Cao maintains the clinch.
Cao is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Edgar is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cao is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cao tries a body shot but Edgar blocks it.
Cao is pressed up against the cage. Edgar has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cao down to the mat. Cao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Edgar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar shoots in and drives through. Cao sprawls well.
Edgar fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It seemed like Cao was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cao throws a right and a left that Edgar avoids nicely.
Edgar tries to counter with a takedown but Cao is quick to defend against it.
Cao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Edgar.
Cao looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cao throws a right hand that Edgar ducks under and follows up with a left that Edgar also avoids with ease.

Edgar has closed the distance and engaged Cao in a clinch.
Cao gets underhooks to prevent Edgar's takedown attempt.
Edgar takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cao is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Edgar is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edgar.
Cao trying to land knees to the body.
Edgar tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cao just stands there and leans against the cage.
Edgar drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cao pulls his leg out and moves away.

Cao fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Edgar, pushing him back against the cage.
Cao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Edgar avoids it.
Edgar managing to block the knees to the body from Cao.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edgar drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oooooh!!! Cao has knocked Edgar down with a huge combo! Cao steps away and waves a wobbly Edgar back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Edgar is rocked!

It looks like Frankie Edgar has been cut.
Cao throws a nasty head kick that just misses. He throws another kick to the head of his opponent and almost takes it off! Edgar crumples to the floor and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Cao Cao!
Cao Cao thanked the fans post fight for their support.