PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 565 p4p, 599 weight class) and Ife Edwards (ranked 74 p4p, 81 weight class). Edwards has chosen Damian Marley - Road to Zion as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Edwards

183 cm
34
185
27 - 16 - 3

189 cm
26
193
14 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Conviction

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 27 - 16 - 3, fighting out of London, Joe Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ife Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Edwards.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Edwards.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Edwards misses with a looping left.
Edwards throws a poor cross that misses
and Smith counters with a head kick. That will keep Edwards thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Edwards moves out of range of the body kick.
Edwards throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Edwards scores with a decent looking hook.
Edwards closes the distance looking to clinch
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Edwards lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith slips a jab from Edwards.
Smith was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Edwards ducks down to avoid it.
Smith sets himself, and Edwards steps forward looking for the clinch! Smith avoids it this time.
Edwards avoids the body shot from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Smith catches Edwards with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Edwards.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Edwards has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Edwards.
Edwards stalling against the cage.
The referee calls for Edwards to work.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Edwards avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Edwards stalling in the clinch.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Edwards backwards.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.

Edwards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edwards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Edwards.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
A jab lands there for Edwards.
Edwards needs to keep his hands up - Smith had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Edwards throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Edwards moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Edwards is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Edwards tries to counter with a clinch but Smith shakes him off and moves away.
Edwards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith connects with a body shot that sends Edwards's belly button to the back.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Edwards throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith fakes the leg kick and cracks Edwards in the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards cracks Smith with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Edwards misses with an uppercut
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Edwards's knee momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Edwards misses the target.
Edwards on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Joe Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith has Edwards up against the cage in a clinch.
Edwards has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Edwards throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith lands a shot to the body.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Edwards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Edwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Smith prevents a body shot from Edwards.
A right hand to the body from Smith.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch lands to the side of Edwards 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Edwards's head back.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Edwards slips the punch.
A little jabbing left from Edwards on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smith scores with a leg kick.
Smith moves forwards but Edwards connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Edwards looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
It looks like Smith has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Smith misses with a body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith 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.

Smith thows a body kick. Edwards tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Smith throws a wild body kick that Edwards sees coming a mile off.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Edwards checks a low kick from Smith.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Edwards's leg but Edwards calmly moves out of range.
Edwards takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Edwards has managed to clinch.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Smith tries a body shot but Edwards blocks it.
Joe Smith has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Edwards tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Edwards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Edwards's head.
Edwards fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Edwards can do to turn this around?
Edwards misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Edwards just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Edwards.
It seemed like Edwards was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Edwards throws a right hand that misses
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Joe Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Edwards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good leg kick by Edwards.
A slow jab from Edwards misses its intended target.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.
Edwards dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Edwards moved out of range.
Smith tries to clinch there but Edwards circles away.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith misses with a hook. Edwards ducked under it nicely.
Edwards wants to counter with a clinch but Smith pushes him away.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Edwards.
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Edwards is able to avoid easily.
Smith scores with a nice right hand.
Smith checks a leg kick nicely.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards checks a low kick from Smith.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Edwards swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Edwards throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Edwards connects with a looping right hand.
Smith throws a head kick but Edwards moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Edwards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Edwards throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith is looking to counter punch.
Edwards throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A bone on bone clash there as Edwards blocks the leg kick.
Edwards throws a good cross that connects.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Edwards if he has to take too many more of those.
A slapping body kick lands there for Smith.
Edwards is looking to land body kicks.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Edwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Smith dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Edwards swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Edwards is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Edwards flicks out a counter leg kick but Smith steps away.
Edwards tried to score with a low kick but Smith checks it.
Edwards bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smith's head backwards.
Smith works Edwards's body with a nice hook.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Edwards takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Edwards lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Edwards.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Edwards.
Edwards misses with an uppercut
and Smith counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Edwards.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Edwards lands a glancing blow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith blocks a head kick by Edwards.
Smith fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Edwards checks it well.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Edwards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Edwards misses the shot to the body.
Edwards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to slow Edwards down with leg kicks.
Smith misses with a hook
and Edwards counters with a stiff right hand.
Edwards stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Edwards is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Edwards into the cage.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Edwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Edwards misses with the head strike.
Edwards makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Edwards tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Edwards back against the cage.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Edwards stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Edwards tries to tie him up.
Smith lands with a right to the head.
Smith blocking some punches.
Ife Edwards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A hook to the body from Smith.
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Edwards takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Edwards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Edwards controls the action.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Edwards.
Edwards tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Edwards back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Smith.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Edwards lands a shot to the body.
Edwards tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Edwards tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Edwards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith misses with the head strike.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith with a hook.
Edwards's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Edwards releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Joe Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice body punch from Smith.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Smith!
An out of breath and clearly excited Joe Smith thanked Brooklyn Apothecary for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).