PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keith Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buzz Amato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edwards comes to the cage accompanied by Sirius. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Edwards
vs
Amato

196 cm
24
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keith Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Buzz Amato!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amato throws a big shot that misses.
Edwards shoots in for a double leg but Amato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Amato as he jumps to the side.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Amato! But no joy.
Edwards fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Amato throws a shot from downtown. Edwards moves away and avoids it.
Edwards throws a right and a left that Amato avoids nicely.
Amato loads up on a big right hand but Edwards slips the punch.
Amato avoids the body shot from Edwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Edwards.
Edwards showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Amato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards tries to clinch
and Edwards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Keith Edwards has been cut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Edwards.

Amato shoots in and bounces Edwards off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Amato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Edwards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Amato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Edwards is trying to keep Amato in close.
Amato missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Amato working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards trying to keep a closed guard but Amato is proving a slippery customer.
Edwards looking for a sweep. Not yet Edwards, not yet.
Edwards throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Edwards enables Amato to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Edwards manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Amato preventing the sweep.
Amato throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Edwards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Amato postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Amato landing with the ground and pound.
Amato missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amato trying to control the position from guard on top but Edwards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Amato advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amato slows the pace down.
Amato in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Edwards taking a bit of punishment here - Amato scoring with strikes.
Amato working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is trying to buck Amato off.
Edwards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Amato's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Amato connects with a nice short shot to Edwards's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Edwards is looking to control Amato's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Edwards avoid being mounted?
Amato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Edwards does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amato missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Amato controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Amato dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keith Edwards's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Amato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Edwards circles away quickly and effectively.
Edwards closes the distance and clinches up with Amato, looking for a takedown. Edwards pushes Amato against the cage but Amato circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Edwards looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Amato is fending him off so far but Edwards persists. Nope, Amato circles away and we're back to standing.
Amato tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Edwards looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Amato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Amato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Edwards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Amato lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Edwards fails with an attempt to clinch.

Amato shoots in and bounces Edwards off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Edwards wriggles free and stands up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Buzz Amato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Amato takes a swing at Edwards's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Amato swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Edwards keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Edwards stuffs the takedown.
Edwards throws a right hand that Amato ducks under and follows up with a left that Amato also avoids with ease.
Edwards changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edwards goes for a double leg but Amato avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Amato continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Amato looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Edwards tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Amato manages to move to mount!
Edwards tries to lock up and control but Amato gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amato looking to control but Edwards is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Amato with shots to the head and body - Edwards looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Edwards is looking to improve his position but Amato isn't that keen on the idea.
Edwards is in a horrible position here. Amato smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Amato controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards regains half guard.
Amato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Amato throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Edwards is trying to stand up here but Amato is controlling him well.
Amato stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Edwards has hold of Amato's hands but Amato slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Amato is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Amato throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Amato lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Amato in particular looking to stall.
Amato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buzz Amato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Keith Edwards's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Amato swats away the attempt to clinch by Edwards.
Amato swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Amato shoots in for a takedown but Edwards shows good takedown defense.
Edwards blocks a jab.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Amato shows good takedown defense.
Edwards misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Amato. No joy for Edwards on that attempt.
Amato swings for the body but Edwards moves out of range.
Keith Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edwards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Amato.
Edwards is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Amato.
Amato takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice straight punches there by Edwards. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Edwards.
Amato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Edwards tries to counter by clinching up but Amato breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards is looking to land body kicks.
No joy there for Amato, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Amato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Amato just misses with a punch to the body.
Edwards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Edwards throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Edwards as Amato shoots in.
Keith Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buzz Amato.

Amato fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Edwards sprawls well initially but Amato persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Edwards throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amato not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Amato working the head and body with strikes.
Edwards taking some punishment here, with Amato in his half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Edwards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Amato is working away from the top position though.
Amato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Amato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Amato landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Amato takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Amato connects with a nice short shot to Edwards's temple.
Edwards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Amato is working away from the top position though.
Amato controlling the action here.
Amato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edwards keeps working.
Amato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Edwards's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Amato seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Edwards tries to kick Amato off but Amato keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Amato controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amato throws a left and a right that both miss
and Edwards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Amato misses with an uppercut
and Edwards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Amato's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Edwards connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Amato scrambles back to his feet.
Keith Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amato misses with a combination
and Edwards counters with a nice body shot.
Buzz Amato is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Edwards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Amato swivels and escapes.

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 Keith Edwards.
I think Amato 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buzz Amato!