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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Edwards (ranked 2753 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Varela (ranked 5245 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.
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| 175 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 2 - 0 |
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175 cm
25
151 lbs
8 - 6 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Edwards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dexter Varela !
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Varela as Edwards shoots in.
Edwards has his takedown stuffed
and Varela counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Varela .
Varela looking for a takedown.
Edwards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Varela tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edwards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Varela but Varela pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Varela shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edwards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Varela shows good takedown defense.
Edwards moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromVarela .
The fight stays on the outside here - Varela looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Varela instigates a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela breaks the clinch.
Edwards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Varela darts in looking for a takedown but Edwards gets double underhooks and turns Varela into the cage.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt - Varela sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Varela dodges the punch combination from Edwards.
Edwards is looking to clinch.
Edwards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Edwards misses with a body kick.
Varela defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Edwards.
Varela throws a head kick but Edwards moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varela throws a head kick but Edwards moves out of range.
Varela clobbers Edwards with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice sprawl there from Varela as Edwards shoots in.
Varela fails with a takedown attempt.
Edwards moves out of range of the body kick.
Edwards checks the leg kick.
Varela throws a series of punches but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards wants to clinch up but Varela keeps it at a distance.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Varela is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Edwards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Varela thinking.
Edwards tries to clinch there but Varela circles away.
Edwards throws a sloppy head kick and Varela moves out of range easily.
Varela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Edwards defends well and Varela ends up having to push Edwards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Varela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Varela misses with a head kick.
Edwards doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Edwards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Varela leaves Edwards with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Edwards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Varela .
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edwards lands a nice looking body shot.
Edwards lands a lovely overhand right.
Varela gets a clinch.
Edwards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Edwards slows down the pace here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Varela .
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards fails to pull guard.
Edwards working hard to break the clinch.
Edwards is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Dexter Varela dominated that round.
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.
Edwards tries to clinch up
and Varela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Varela . Those never looked like landing.
As Varela looks to move away, Edwards throws a big counter combo but Varela just gets out of the way.
Edwards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Varela tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Varela swats away the attempt to clinch by Edwards.
Dexter Varela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Varela tries to clinch up
and Edwards makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Varela keeps the fight on the outside.
Edwards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Varela shoots in looking for a takedown. Edwards tries to sprawl out of it but Varela keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Edwards manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt - Varela sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Edwards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edwards leaves Varela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Edwards shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Varela pinned against the cage. Varela gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Edwards fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards moves into the clinch.
Varela pulls guard.
Varela has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Varela looking for a sweep. Not yet Varela , not yet.
Varela keeping moving, preventing Edwards from controlling successfully.
Edwards wants to stand but Varela is controlling his posture from full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Varela keeps moving.
Varela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Edwards is one step ahead there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edwards slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Edwards wants to control but Varela is keeping him busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Edwards wants to stand but Varela is controlling his arm.
Edwards working the ground and pound but Varela is defending the strikes.
Edwards working the ground and pound but Varela is defending the strikes.
Varela is trying to get back to his feet.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Edwards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Varela .
Varela fails with the takedown
and Edwards moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Dexter Varela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Varela lands a nice looking body shot.
Edwards throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Varela .
Michael Edwards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Varela .
Varela shoots in but Edwards avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Edwards shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Varela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Edwards sprawls well. Edwards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Varela gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Varela is fending him off so far but Edwards persists. Nope, Varela circles away and we're back to standing.
Varela misses with a head kick.
Varela throws a right hand that Edwards ducks under and follows up with a left that Edwards also avoids with ease.
Varela tries to clinch up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Varela tries to clinch but Edwards moves away
and Edwards counters with a nice uppercut.
Edwards lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Varela backs up against the cage.
Edwards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Varela .
Varela goes for a double leg but Edwards avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Edwards continues to drive forward.
Michael Edwards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dexter Varela .
Edwards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Varela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Varela tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edwards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Varela tries to clinch up.
Edwards has a takedown stuffed.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Varela or perhaps it was just good defense by Edwards, which made it look bad.
Varela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Edwards pinned against the cage. Edwards gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Edwards appears to be looking for a big counter.
Edwards tries to clinch up but Varela circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Edwards.
Varela fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Varela . Those never looked like landing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varela wants to clinch up but Edwards keeps it at a distance.
Edwards moves out of range as Varela throws a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Varela as Edwards shoots in.
Varela is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Edwards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Edwards wants it to stay on the feet.
Edwards darts in trying to clinch
and Varela counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Edwards moves in looking to clinch but Varela pushes him off.
Varela moves in looking to clinch but Edwards pushes him off.
Varela tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Edwards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Edwards tries to counter with a takedown but Varela is quick to defend against it.
Edwards just misses with a punch to the body.
Edwards scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Varela stalks Edwards and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Edwards's face. Edwards staggers backwards, shaken.
Varela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Edwards turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Varela throws a low kick but Edwards moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Varela as Edwards shoots in.
Varela instigates a clinch.
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!
Varela has had enough of the clinch but Edwards keeps him there for the moment.
Michael Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dexter Varela is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Edwards with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
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 Michael Edwards.
I think Varela 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Varela !
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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