PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Max Palmer (ranked 3521 p4p, 360 weight class) and Louis Edwards (ranked 3413 p4p, 347 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Palmer
vs
Edwards

183 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Blue Moon

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Louis Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palmer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Palmer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Edwards gets a takedown into half guard.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet.

Edwards is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Palmer sees it coming and defends easily.
Palmer tries to kick Edwards off but Edwards keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Edwards stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmer is trying to stand up here but Edwards is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards is pressing down on Palmer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Palmer is holding on for now.
Edwards controlling the action here.
Edwards's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards stops Palmer from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Edwards shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Edwards was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Edwards throws a strike aimed at the side of Palmer's head but Palmer avoids it well.
Edwards is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Palmer will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Palmer tries to escape but Edwards is in control.
Edwards tries to score with some ground and pound. Palmer controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Edwards tries to move into full mount but can't pass Palmer's legs.
Edwards trying to control the action but Palmer is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Palmer is trying to get back to his feet.

Edwards has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Edwards rushes Palmer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Palmer has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Edwards lands with a light punch inside.
Edwards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Palmer avoids it.
Palmer is looking to break free of the clinch but Edwards has double underhooks.
Palmer gets underhooks to prevent Edwards's takedown attempt.

Edwards breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Palmer misses

and Edwards counters with a shoot takedown. Palmer fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Edwards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Edwards prevents Palmer from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Edwards prevents Palmer from getting back to his feet.
Edwards wants to pass the guard but Palmer is keeping the position.
Edwards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Edwards stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Edwards shoots in and drives through. Palmer sprawls well.
A lazy left from Palmer finds it's target.

Edwards gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Palmer has had enough of the clinch but Edwards keeps him there for the moment.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Palmer throws a lazy head kick

and Edwards counters with a single leg into guard. Palmer didn't expect that.
Edwards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Edwards passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmer is breathing heavily.
Edwards taking a breather here.
Palmer is trying to get back to his feet.

Edwards stands up and beckons Palmer to his feet.
Edwards throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Palmer throws a series of punches but Edwards moves out of range.

Edwards gets a takedown into half guard.
Edwards sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Palmer defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Edwards dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Edwards fails with the takedown.
Palmer misses with a two punch combination.
Palmer misses with the combination.
Palmer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Edwards.

Edwards moves into the clinch.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Palmer won't allow it.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Palmer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Max Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Edwards.

Edwards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Edwards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Left hook, right uppercut from Palmer.
Palmer tries to bum rush Edwards with a series of wild strikes but Edwards uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Edwards steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Palmer.

Edwards rushes Palmer and presses him up against the cage.
Palmer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
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 Palmer walks away with a smile on his face. Edwards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Palmer misses with a double jab.
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!
Palmer throws a left and a right that both miss

and Edwards counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Edwards seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to stand up but Edwards isn't so interested in that idea.
Edwards is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Edwards looking to pass the guard.
Palmer wants to stand up but Edwards is controlling him.
Palmer is looking to stand back up but Edwards counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Palmer.

Edwards is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Palmer is just riding it out for now. Edwards eventually gives up the hold.
Palmer is trying to stand up here but Edwards is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edwards looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Palmer is looking to escape.

Palmer is defending against the submission attempts here by Edwards.
Palmer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Edwards.
Edwards missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmer is trying to stand up here but Edwards is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Edwards slips under a jab from Palmer.
Palmer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Edwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer misses with a right hand

and Edwards counters with a shoot takedown. Palmer fights it but they end up in guard.
Palmer wants to stand up but Edwards is controlling him.
Edwards controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Edwards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Palmer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Edwards works over Palmer with some ground and pound from guard.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Edwards manages to pass to side control.
Edwards trying to pass the guard but Palmer defending well.
Edwards slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Edwards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Palmer has managed to free his arm - good work.
Edwards lands strikes from half guard.

Edwards decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Max Palmer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Palmer does no damage.
Palmer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palmer throws a series of punches but Edwards moves out of range.
Edwards tries to counter with a clinch but Palmer shakes him off and moves away.
Palmer throws a lazy head kick

and Edwards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Palmer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Edwards tries a knee to the head but Palmer blocks it.

Edwards has hold of one of Palmer's legs. Palmer is fighting the takedown attempt but Edwards gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Edwards is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
More stalling from Edwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Edwards throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Palmer was covering up waiting for the punch and Edwards finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Palmer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Edwards is controlling him.
Edwards wants to get up but he can't break Palmer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Palmer wants to get back to his feet but Edwards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Palmer is looking to stand up but Edwards isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Louis Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palmer has momentary wrist control but Edwards slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Edwards is looking to stand up but Palmer won't let him.
Edwards looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer is looking to stand up but Edwards isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Edwards scores with a nice body kick.

Edwards moves into the clinch successfully.
Edwards is looking for a takedown.
Palmer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Palmer is pressed up against the cage. Edwards has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Palmer down to the mat. Palmer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Edwards moves into the clinch.
Palmer is trying to break the clinch but Edwards has him pressed against the cage.
Palmer working hard to break the clinch.
Edwards has Palmer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Palmer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Max Palmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Edwards.
Edwards controlling the action here for a moment.
Palmer has had enough of the clinch but Edwards keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards has hold of one of Palmer's legs. Palmer is fighting the takedown attempt but Edwards gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Palmer wants to stand but Edwards is controlling the position.
Palmer trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Edwards sitting in guard here, content to control.
Edwards prevents Palmer from getting back to his feet.
Edwards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Edwards prevents Palmer from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Edwards with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palmer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palmer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Edwards counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Edwards throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Edwards controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Edwards cracks Palmer with a solid left hand.
Edwards is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Palmer wants to stand up but Edwards is controlling him.
Edwards engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards stops Palmer from standing up.
Edwards tries to free his leg and advance position but Palmer is retaining full guard.
Edwards stays in close to Palmer's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Max Palmer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edwards misses with a few strikes there.
Edwards is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Palmer.

Edwards shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Palmer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Palmer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Edwards is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards wants to pass the guard but Palmer is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Louis Edwards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Edwards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

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