PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Edmonds (ranked 915 p4p, 1216 weight class) and Yeshua Immanuel (ranked 121 p4p, 153 weight class). Edmonds kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Edmonds
vs
Immanuel

185 cm
27
190
20 - 11 - 1

181 cm
34
190
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Edmonds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yeshua Immanuel!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Immanuel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
It looked like Edmonds wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Immanuel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice jab there from Edmonds.
Edmonds missing with a left hand there. Immanuel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Edmonds slips a jab from Immanuel.
Edmonds attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Edmonds. Those never looked like landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Immanuel. Edmonds does a little dance to reset his feet.
Immanuel scoring well with a low kick there.
Immanuel throws a hook to the side of Edmonds's head but Edmonds sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Immanuel misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Edmonds misses the target.
Edmonds ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Immanuel moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edmonds slips a jab and a cross from Immanuel.
As Immanuel tries to get set, Edmonds tries to push him back and clinch up but Immanuel manages to avoid the attempt.
Immanuel throws a right and a left that Edmonds avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Immanuel.
No joy there for Edmonds, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
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!
Immanuel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Immanuel lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Immanuel wants to land a leg kick but Edmonds is out of range.
Immanuel throws a lazy right hand but Edmonds sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yeshua Immanuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Immanuel.
Edmonds looks to land a left hand but Immanuel moved out of range nicely.
Immanuel thuds his right hand into Edmonds's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Edmonds dodges the punch combination from Immanuel.
Yeshua Immanuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edmonds missing with a left hand there. Immanuel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Immanuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Immanuel throws a sloppy body shot
and Immanuel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've been hearing reports that Edmonds has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Immanuel moves out of range as Edmonds strikes.
Edmonds fails to land with a series of punches.
Immanuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Immanuel throws a head kick that misses.
Edmonds misses with a wild combination.
Immanuel misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Edmonds checks a leg kick.
Edmonds throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Immanuel uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Edmonds has time to react.
Nice jab there from Immanuel.
Immanuel throws an overhand right that lands on Edmonds's shoulder, as Edmonds tries to avoid the shot.
A little feinted left hand from Edmonds on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Edmonds misses with a wild body shot.
Despite the aggression on Immanuel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Immanuel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Edmonds doesn't seem bothered though.
A head kick misses from Immanuel.
Edmonds throws a hook to the side of Immanuel's head but Immanuel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Edmonds misses with a right hand
and Immanuel counters with a one-two to the body.
Immanuel lands a head shot.
Immanuel swings for the body but Edmonds moves out of range.
Edmonds throws a combination. Immanuel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Edmonds uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Immanuel.
A big right from Immanuel misses.
Edmonds throwing a counter right hand but Immanuel manages to avoid it.
Edmonds lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds shoots for a double leg takedown but Immanuel sprawls well. He's pushed Edmonds's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Edmonds moves away from the strike by Immanuel.
Immanuel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Edmonds.
Immanuel misses with a low kick.
A head kick by Immanuel misses
and Edmonds counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Immanuel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Edmonds is out of range.
Edmonds is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Immanuel.

Edmonds bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Immanuel tries to improve position but can't.

Edmonds is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Immanuel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edmonds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Immanuel keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel is trying to improve his position.

Edmonds is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Immanuel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Immanuel is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Edmonds trying to control the position but Immanuel is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yeshua Immanuel will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Edmonds checks a leg kick.
Edmonds appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Edmonds takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Immanuel stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A swing and a miss from Edmonds.
Immanuel feints and then cracks Edmonds's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Edmonds down.
Immanuel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Immanuel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Immanuel lands a jab to the head.
A clash of legs there as Edmonds blocks the low kick.
Edmonds slips a jab from Immanuel.
Edmonds is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Immanuel staying out of range there.
Immanuel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Edmonds dives in for a single leg takedown but Immanuel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Immanuel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edmonds changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Immanuel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fighters circling - Edmonds throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Immanuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Immanuel stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Edmonds. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edmonds works over Immanuel's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edmonds scores with a jab.
Immanuel throws a head kick but Edmonds moves out of range.
Edmonds tried to counter with a leg kick but Immanuel avoided it.
Immanuel looks for the body kick but Edmonds saw that one coming.
Edmonds drops down looking for a counter takedown but Immanuel sprawls and moves away.
Edmonds displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Immanuel throws out the jab.
Immanuel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Edmonds misses with a head kick.
Immanuel throws a nice looking combination but Edmonds bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Immanuel takes a swing at Edmonds's ribcage but misses.
Immanuel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Immanuel just misses with a punch to the body.
Immanuel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Immanuel misses with an uppercut.
Immanuel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edmonds swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Edmonds checks the leg kick nicely there.
Edmonds listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Edmonds avoids the head kick by Immanuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds swings for the body but Immanuel moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Immanuel tries to land a leg kick but Edmonds saw it coming and moves away.
Edmonds is looking to counter punch.
Immanuel misses with a double jab.
Immanuel tries to clinch but Edmonds moves out of range.
Yeshua Immanuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick lands from Immanuel.
Edmonds thows a left - swing and a miss!
Edmonds uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Immanuel has time to react.
Edmonds moves into range and connects with a jab.
Edmonds will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Edmonds throws a lazy right hand but Immanuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Immanuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Edmonds throws a right hand that Immanuel ducks under and follows up with a left that Immanuel also avoids with ease.
Edmonds checks the leg kick.
Immanuel slaps away a takedown attempt from Edmonds, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Edmonds throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Immanuel's waist but Immanuel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Edmonds off to one side.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Immanuel! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds blocks a leg kick.
Edmonds tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Immanuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Edmonds.
Yeshua Immanuel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab from Immanuel.
Edmonds lands with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Immanuel.
Immanuel tries to clinch up.
Edmonds shoots in but no luck this time.
Immanuel tries a head kick but it misses.
A big left from Edmonds misses.
Immanuel takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Immanuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Edmonds fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Immanuel on the side of the head.
Edmonds throws a right and a left that Immanuel avoids nicely.
Edmonds connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Immanuel momentarily.
Immanuel throws a nice outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Immanuel misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Edmonds looks for a takedown but Immanuel sprawls well.
Immanuel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Edmonds with a hook.
Immanuel shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Immanuel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Edmonds circles away quickly and effectively.
Edmonds throws a jab when Immanuel was well out of range.
Despite the aggression on Immanuel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Immanuel attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Immanuel slips under a jab.
Immanuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Edmonds throws out the jab.
Edmonds misses with a wild combination.
Edmonds circles away from the clinch attempt
and Immanuel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yeshua Immanuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Immanuel tries to clinch but Edmonds is having none of it.
Immanuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Immanuel is looking to slow Edmonds down with leg kicks.
Edmonds takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Edmonds takes a jab right on the kisser.
The fighters circling - Immanuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Immanuel misses with a leg kick
enabling Edmonds to counter with a crisp jab.
Immanuel throws a head kick that misses.
Immanuel throws a head kick that half lands.
Immanuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Edmonds moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Edmonds lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Immanuel throws out a loose jab but Edmonds uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Edmonds on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Edmonds shoots in for a double leg but Immanuel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Immanuel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Immanuel throws a leg kick
and Edmonds counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Edmonds avoids the head kick by Immanuel.
Edmonds swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Immanuel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Edmonds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Edmonds. Beautiful body shot.
Edmonds connects with a crisp jab.
Immanuel scores with a sloppy right hand. Edmonds should have avoided that one.
Immanuel misses with a kick to the body.
Immanuel tries a low kick but Edmonds avoids it.
Immanuel takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Immanuel throws a leg kick
letting Edmonds counter with a right hand.
Edmonds connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Edmonds slips a straight right by Immanuel.
Immanuel throws a right and a left that Edmonds avoids nicely.
Immanuel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Edmonds swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Immanuel is looking for the big counter here.
Immanuel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Immanuel misses with a body shot.
Immanuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Edmonds throws out the jab.
Immanuel throws a leg kick which misses Edmonds's front leg but catches the back leg as Edmonds tries to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Edmonds catches Immanuel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Immanuel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds misses with the combination.
Immanuel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jab by Edmonds.

Edmonds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Edmonds is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Immanuel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Immanuel is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Edmonds off and has taken his back!
Immanuel has the hooks in. Edmonds is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Immanuel wants to control the position but Edmonds frees himself and scrambles - Immanuel manages to regain control in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Immanuel working the head with strikes.
Edmonds manages to get back to half guard.
Edmonds is pressing down on Immanuel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Immanuel postures up.
Edmonds keeping moving, preventing Immanuel from controlling successfully.
Immanuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Edmonds is keeping the position for now.
Edmonds is trying to control the position but Immanuel postures up.
Immanuel looking to sit in guard and control but Edmonds gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

John Edmonds has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edmonds wants to control from the top but Immanuel keeps moving.
Yeshua Immanuel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Edmonds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Edmonds trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Immanuel manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Immanuel has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Gentleman's Club. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Edmonds is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Edmonds.
I think Immanuel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yeshua Immanuel!
After winning the bout, Yeshua Immanuel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.