Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Leon Edwards and Rafael dos Anjos faced each other in a Heavyweight clash last night (Sat., July 20, 2019) inside AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, only on ESPN. In what proved to be another brilliant, tactical performance from Edwards, the Englishman picked up a clear-cut decision win on the strength of his straight punches, clinch work, and takedowns.
Edwards looked noticeably bigger at the start of the bout, opening the fight with a snap kick and 1-2-3 combo. When dos Anjos came forward, Edwards wrapped up a clinch and put dos Anjos on his back immediately. From within the guard, Edwards looked for the double-wrist ride as dos Anjos tried to climb the fence. He didn’t secure it but landed a nice elbow. From his back, “RDA” threatened a half guard sweep but could not complete it. Dos Anjos carefully clawed his way back up after a lot of time on his back. Dos Anjos blocked a high kick on the break then aimed at the calf. Big elbow from Edwards landed. Dos Anjos successfully landed a few low kicks before the end of the first round.
“RDA” scored first in the second with a big left hand, but Edwards answered with a right hook. Dos Anjos scored to the body, and again Edwards answered with a body knee of his own. Edwards ducked down into another takedown attempt, but this time the Brazilian spun him into the fence and landed a knee. Edwards scored with a strong left elbow and cross. Dos Anjos then dropped into a failed takedown attempt. Another elbow on the break from Edwards. Make it two! Good right hook from Edwards landed. Hard low kick from dos Anjos. Another low kick from dos Anjos swept his foe to the mat. Edwards worked well from half guard to get back up fairly quickly. Long jab from Edwards landed, followed by a 1-2. Dos Anjos dug another low kick and a body hook. Edwards worked well with his straight shots to bring a close to a close round.
After the second round, dos Anjos’ face showed a brutal cut right on the eyebrow from one of the many elbows from Edwards.
Edwards opened the third with some hard jabs before eating a low kick. “RDA” level-changed into a single leg takedown along the fence, but it was denied. Edwards then stung dos Anjos with a left hand and knee. Combo landed for Edwards and another elbow. 1-2 for the Brit. A couple good left hands landed for dos Anjos before he ate another elbow. Yet another elbow from Edwards scraped across the face. Dos Anjos then entered deep into a takedown but was denied. Edwards reversed position and landed a few slapping body shots. Back in the center, Edwards landed a hard uppercut, but dos Anjos countered well. “RDA” dug again to the body. Near the end of the third round, Edwards scored another elbow but absorbed a low kick.
Both men still looked fairly fresh to open the championship rounds. Edwards reach made the difference early, allowing him to land the better punches. Dos Anjos replied with a hard body kick. Crisp 1-2 from Edwards. Stiff jab from “Rocky” stung his foe. Dos Anjos glanced his foe with a left overhand. 1-2-3 from Edwards skimmed his foe’s face. Hard low kick from the Englishman is answered by a right hook to the body. Body-head combo for dos Anjos landed hard, but he also ate a counter elbow. A flying knee attempt from dos Anjos allowed Edwards to throw the Brazilian to his back. Dos Anjos rolled into deep half-guard fairly quickly to get back to his feet. Afterward, the fight stalled out somewhat in the clinch until the end of the round.
Entering the fifth, dos Anjos likely needed a finish. The Brazilian opened the final frame with a nice right hook before eating a low kick. Overhand glances off the head of Edwards. Edwards stuck a jab at his foe and tried to time a knee, but it allowed dos Anjos into a tight body lock. Unbothered, Edwards reversed position and returned to the center in good time. 1-2 from Edwards connected well, followed by a jab. Good job landed for dos Anjos. Edwards landed a brief takedown along the fence then a jab. Edwards checked a low kick but ate a left and a jab. Edwards then scored a big elbow over-the-top. Nice overhand left landed for dos Anjos then a good right hook. Dos Anjos ripped a body kick, but it was caught, allowing Edwards to jam his foe into the fence. The Englishman briefly put dos Anjos on his back with a double once more. “Rocky” broke the clinch with yet another elbow before countering a knee with a final takedown to end the round.
Dos Anjos fought well, but Edwards executed the game plan masterfully.
Result: Leon Edwards defeats Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
For complete UFC on ESPN 4 ‘Dos Anjos vs. Edwards’ results and coverage click here.