PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simon Hedegaard (ranked 1993 p4p, 1598 weight class) and John Edmonds (ranked 218 p4p, 174 weight class). Edmonds has chosen Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hedegaard
vs
Edmonds

208 cm
33
195
33 - 19 - 0

185 cm
40
190
40 - 32 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

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 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 32 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Edmonds!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edmonds defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hedegaard.
Hedegaard with a poor takedown
and Edmonds counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Edmonds stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Edmonds wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Edmonds closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Edmonds is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hedegaard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hedegaard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Edmonds trying to control the position but Hedegaard is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edmonds gets to mount! Hedegaard was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Edmonds goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hedegaard turns into him and now he's in Edmonds's guard.
Our spies down at at The Jungle Room inform us that Edmonds has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedegaard trying to control but Edmonds is working from the bottom.
Edmonds has momentary wrist control but Hedegaard slips an elbow through the middle.
Hedegaard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hedegaard throws a big right hand that misses.
Edmonds keeping moving, preventing Hedegaard from controlling successfully.
Hedegaard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Edmonds being controlled here, momentarily.

Edmonds isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hedegaard stacks Edmonds on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hedegaard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Edmonds takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Edmonds tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hedegaard is trying to get an arm triangle but Edmonds is defending well.
Edmonds regains half guard.

Hedegaard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edmonds keeps working.

Hedegaard is working for a kimura but Edmonds is defending it quite comfortably.
Edmonds is trying to get back to full guard.
Edmonds is staying active underneath Hedegaard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Hedegaard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Edmonds is looking to improve his position.
Hedegaard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hedegaard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hedegaard is trying to control the action in half guard but Edmonds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Edmonds actively working from the bottom here.
Hedegaard is keen to just control but Edmonds is a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Simon Hedegaard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hedegaard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Edmonds.
A jab lands there for Edmonds.
Edmonds misses the jab.

Hedegaard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Edmonds napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hedegaard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Edmonds will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Edmonds struggling a bit here.
Edmonds tries to bench press Hedegaard off him but Hedegaard keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edmonds regains half guard.

Hedegaard is working for a submission of some sort.

Edmonds looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edmonds keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Hedegaard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Edmonds wants to control but Hedegaard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Edmonds won't allow Hedegaard to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Edmonds trying to control but Hedegaard postures up.

Hedegaard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Hedegaard wants to work for an arm triangle but Edmonds is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've been hearing that Hedegaard has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Edmonds is looking to improve his position.
Hedegaard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hedegaard is working for a kimura but Edmonds is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hedegaard is looking for a kimura but Edmonds is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hedegaard to get the leverage.
Edmonds is concentrating on defense, preventing Hedegaard from advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Edmonds connects with the punch.
Hedegaard takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Edmonds throws a right and a left that Hedegaard avoids nicely.
Hedegaard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Edmonds as he jumps to the side.
Hedegaard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Edmonds swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hedegaard shoots in but no luck this time.
Hedegaard blocks a jab.
Edmonds scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Edmonds shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hedegaard is trying to defend but Edmonds finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Hedegaard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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!

Edmonds is working for a submission of some sort.

Edmonds wants to work for an arm triangle but Hedegaard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Edmonds is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hedegaard has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Edmonds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hedegaard misses with a hook
and Edmonds counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Danga de danga de dang - Edmonds scores with a four punch combination!
Donk. Edmonds catches Hedegaard right on the button with a cross.
Hedegaard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Edmonds's waist but Edmonds gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hedegaard off to one side.
Edmonds works the jab nicely.
John Edmonds seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Edmonds stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Edmonds wants it to stay on the feet.
Edmonds bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hedegaard's head.

Hedegaard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hedegaard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edmonds keeps working.

Hedegaard goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Edmonds has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hedegaard but great work by Edmonds.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Edmonds thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hedegaard is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedegaard is working hard here to advance position.

Edmonds thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Edmonds thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hedegaard prevents Edmonds from improving position.
You can see the frustration on Hedegaard's face as Edmonds controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Edmonds is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hedegaard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Edmonds tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Edmonds tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hedegaard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Edmonds off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hedegaard patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Edmonds covering up well under a series of strikes from Hedegaard.
Hedegaard doesn't have the hooks in and Edmonds manages to turn into his guard.
Edmonds wants to control from the top but Hedegaard keeps moving.

Hedegaard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Edmonds is aware though and is defending well.
Hedegaard tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Edmonds got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hedegaard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Edmonds has managed to get both his arms back between Hedegaard's legs - danger averted.

Hedegaard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Edmonds defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Edmonds preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hedegaard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Edmonds is aware though and is defending well.
Edmonds trying to control the position from guard on top but Hedegaard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hedegaard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Edmonds doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Edmonds manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Edmonds trying to control but Hedegaard is working from the bottom.
Edmonds is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hedegaard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Edmonds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Edmonds 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

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