PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chenglong Xie (ranked 5038 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Edwards (ranked 4130 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Xie
vs
Edwards

177 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chenglong Xie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edwards changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xie tries to avoid it but Edwards manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xie to the ground. Xie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Xie attempts a counter takedown but Edwards avoids it well and moves away.
Xie fails with the takedown
and Edwards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Xie misses with a takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a series of strikes. Xie will be more careful next time no doubt.
Edwards 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.
Xie with a poor takedown

and Edwards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chenglong Xie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edwards pushes Xie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Edwards just stands there and leans against the cage.
Xie tries to stall but Edwards uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Xie is breathing heavily.
Edwards has Xie pressed against the cage, preventing Xie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Xie managing to block the knees to the body from Edwards.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xie misses with a few strikes there.
Xie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown but Xie shows good takedown defense.

Edwards closes the distance and clinches.
Edwards wants to break free but Xie has control.
Xie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Edwardss head.
Edwards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Edwards looking for a takedown.
Edwards just leaning against Xie, taking a breather.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Xie to keep the fight standing.
Xie can't get the takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Edwards wants to break free but Xie has control.
Xie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Edwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Xie is trying to keep an underhook but Edwards manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Xie tries to roll over but Edwards keeps him under control.

Edwards is working for a kimura here but Xie manages to reverse the position and he's now in Edwards's guard.
Edwards is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Xie is controlling him.
Xie trying to move into half guard but instead Edwards has managed to sweep!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards wants to pass the guard but Xie is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards won't allow Xie to sweep him here.
Edwards looking to pass the guard.
Xie being controlled here, momentarily.
Edwards passes Xie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Edwards in particular looking to stall.

That's four 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.
Xie tries to get to full guard but Edwards has control of the leg.

Edwards is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Xie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Edwards.

Edwards is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Edwards 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 is trying hard to land a takedown here. Xie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Xie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Edwards throws a low kick but Xie moves out of range easily.
Edwards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chenglong Xie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Edwards.
Edwards showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xie.

Edwards has closed the distance and engaged Xie in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xie has Edwards pressed against the cage, preventing Edwards from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but Xie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Xie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xie prevents a takedown attempt there.
Xie lands a body shot.

Xie pulls guard effortlessly.
Xie wants to improve his position but instead Edwards has moved into half guard.
Edwards missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xie punching from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Edwards thows a huge punch but Xie dodges it nicely.
Edwards trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards prevents Xie from standing back up.
Edwards is taking a breather. Xie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Xie moves out of range of the leg kick from Edwards.
Edwards shoots in but Xie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Xie stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Edwards counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Edwards avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Edwards is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Edwards instigates a clinch.
Xie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Xie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Edwards pulls his leg out and moves away.
Edwards misses with a low kick.

Edwards has taken the fight to the clinch.
Xie can't break the clinch.
Edwards stalling the fight.
Edwards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Xie walks away with a smile on his face. Edwards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Edwards dives in for a single leg takedown but Xie sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Edwards.
Xie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xie tries to close the distance and clinch but Edwards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Xie wants to clinch.

Edwards instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A frustrated look appears on Edwards's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Edwards wants to get back to striking at distance but Xie won't allow it.
Edwards jumps guard but Xie stands there with Edwards around his waist. Edwards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Edwards.

Edwards closes the distance and pushes Xie back into the cage.
Edwards jumps guard but Xie stands there with Edwards around his waist. Edwards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Xie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Xie can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Edwards drags the fight down to the ground.
Michael Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Edwards pulls Xie in close to prevent any damage.
Xie won't allow Edwards to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xie trying to control but Edwards is working from the bottom.
Edwards wants to stand and escape but Xie is having none of it.
Edwards utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Edwards controls Xie momentarily but Xie frees himself.
Xie wants to pass the guard but Edwards is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Xie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Edwards.
Chenglong Xie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Edwards.
Edwards shoots in looking for a takedown but Xie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Edwards's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Xie thinks about countering with a head kick.

Edwards closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Edwards tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Edwards creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Xie tries a body shot but Edwards blocks it.
Xie looking for a takedown.
Xie is looking to break free of the clinch but Edwards has double underhooks.

Xie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Edwards is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Xie to the mat. Xie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Xie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xie working a defensive guard here.
Edwards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Edwards postures up.
Edwards postures up in Xie's guard and throws a big left but Xie blocks it.
Edwards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Xie can't keep his opponent in guard - Edwards advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Edwards controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chenglong Xie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Edwards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Edwards has Xie up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Edwards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Edwards has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Edwards!