Justin Edwards (6-1, 0-1 UFC) and Jorge Lopez (11-1, 0-0 UFC) meet in a welterweight bout on the preliminary card of UFC Ultimate Fight Night 25: Shields vs. Ellenberger. The fight is being streamed on Facebook. Lopez is a protege of MMA legend Wanderlei Silva.
Justin Edwards defeats Jorge Lopez by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Round 1: Lopez shoots, Edwards goes for a guillotine but Lopez turns the corner and gets a slam and lands in side control. Lopez rolls to escape the guillotine, Edwards has the front headlock. They go back to their feet. Edwards keeps things close and is battering Lopez a little in the clinch. Edwards consistently going for the take down but can't keep Lopez on the bottom. Edwards lands elbows. Knee to the body while Lopez is downed. They break. Lopez lands a knee as Edwards shoots in! Edwards drops, gets back up and forces a clinch. Lopez with a knee to the body. Knee to the liver hurts Edwards. Tough round to score, Lopez lands big shots but Edwards controlled the action. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 Edwards.
Round 2: Edwards opens the round with a spinning back kick. Edwards gets the take down and goes for a guillotine. Rolls to his back. Lopez escapes and gets back to his feet. Edwards locks up immediately. Edwards gets a take down, moves to the back and goes for a choke. Edwards abandons the choke but maintains back control. Lands some big punches on Lopez. Lopez spins out, gets top position. They stand up, ref restarts from a stall in the clinch. Edwards landing kicks to end the round. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 Edwards.
Round 3: Fed by desperation, Lopez comes out aggressive. Edwards winging punches. Clinch. Knee to the face of Lopez. Lopez gets him down. Lopez evades a kimura attempt and takes mount. Edwards gives up his back. Lopez grapevines him and flattens him out face down. Big punches raining down on Edwards. After a scramble Edwards gets back up. Lopez with a trip take down. Edwards get back up. Some slick grappling exchanges with Edwards trying for an arm bar, then an omaplata. Very close round. MMA Nation scores it 10-9 Lopez.
Judges see it for Edwards unanimously.