Ashley Theophane vs. Ben Murphy & Shinny Bayaar vs. Chris Edwards II RBR

I don't disagree with that at all. There was still no reason he couldn't have finished the 11th and possibly even the 12th, IMO. Theophane isn't a puncher or a finisher. Minimal clinching - or even pressing up close and trading body shots as had been the pattern earlier - would have been all that was needed to coast to victory safe & sound even giving away those last two rounds.

 

Round 3

Good right hand by Edwards. Bayaar is ducking and sliding inside to grab. Body shots by Edwards. Bayaar is one slippery eel up close with his skinny body and undulation, but he's still getting caught with shots to that busted and bloodied nose. Flurry by Edwards, through the guard. Bayaar leans over to his right to slip shots and then comes snapping up flicking right jabs. Edwards is rolling through with right hands and a few left hands sort of halfway between a setup jab and a short hook. Body shots by Edwards. Whipping right hand to the face by Edwards before Bayaar can lean out of the way, thrown from behind the hip. Left hook by Edwards. Left hand lead by Bayaar before leaning in to drill his shoulder against Edwards. Lots of straight shots by Edwards, missing most.

29-28 Edwards

 

Only a year closer than Shinny!

 

Round 4

Edwards misses several shots as Bayaar ducks in on him and then braces off. Slapping right hook by Bayaar to the side of the head as Edwards charges in low, and then Bayaar pushes him down and away while stepping back. Edwards gets inside and taps the body, with Bayaar seeming to lack the strength to push him off or avoid getting muscled all over like a leaf in the wind. Huge southpaw 1-2 by Bayaar, blocked. Whipping overhand left by Bayaar. Edwards ducks in under a right jab and works the body. Right hand to the face by Edwards as Bayaar backs up. Right uppercut inside by Edwards. Bayaar ducks and grabs, then pivots out of the pocket. Edwards keeps ripping the body and then lands a right hand to the nose. Huge slapping left hand up top by Bayaar, missing the head and clapping onto Edwards' shoulder. Short straight shots by Edwards.

10-9 Edwards

39-37 Edwards

 

Round 5

Edwards is drilling through with right hands as Bayaar circles around him in short lateral leaps while leaning his upper body over to the right side. Edwards is getting up close and landing body shots and then launching straight rights into Bayaar's face when the chase resumes. Bayaar is tossing his right jab into Edwards' stomach and trying to line up an overhand left while backing up but doesn't have time to pull the trigger. Left to the body by Bayaar. Jabs and straight flurries up top by Edwards. Uppercut by Edwards. Right jab by Bayaar, countered by two left jabs from Edwards that land on that broken nose. Wild right hook misses for Bayaar.

49-46 Edwards

 

Round 6

Edwards is plugging away with uppercuts and body shots as Bayaar tries to shield himself backing up with his right arm held up and head pulled down behind it. Edwards slaps him with a right hand up top. Combo to the face by Edwards while Bayaar tries to cover up and duck in. Bayaar tries to push Edwards back and line up a chopping left hand. It misses. Another left hand, lands. Edwards walks through the flicking right jab of Bayaar and lands a right hand lead to the face. Left hook to the side of the head by Edwards.

10-9 Edwards

59-55 Edwards

 

Round 7

Bayaar is landing the right jab a bit now, and some left hands to the body. Edwards is still marching him down and out working him, just not by as much. Another body shot by Bayaar. Some wrestling toe to toe and Bayaar pushes Edwards back. A right hand from Edwards misses and Bayaar pops him with a couple of quick right jabs. Body shots by Edwards leaning forward. BIG right hand to the kisser by Edwards. Lean-in. More body shots from Edwards. Right hook to the body by Bayaar. Edwards tosses out short mild flurries and Bayaar catches them on his forearms, then pushes out with them to get some separation and step away.

68-65 Edwards

 

Bayaar's corner is admonishing him, asking if he even wants the title. They're being brutally honest, telling him he's well behind and looking like crap.

 

Round 8

Bayaar sticks the right jab and circles wide to his left. Edwards throws a right hand and Bayaar slips it by leaning over to his right. Edwards now lands a right, persistent. Body shots by Edwards. Pawing right jab by Bayaar, then stepping inside to plug a left uppercut to the chest. Wild right hook at the body by Bayaar, missing. Edwards hops to his left and throws a lead right, landing. Bayaar is landing right jabs; Edwards is landing harder right hand leads. They come together and then push apart, no punches thrown. Edwards blocks a wild right hook and works the body. Slapping left hook to the mullet by Edwards. Wrestling. Bayaar shoves Edwards back. Left hand by Bayaar. Edwards dives and shoot inside low, working the body. Now a body shot by Bayaar from outside. Edwards lands low, and Bayaar complains with a wince. Bayaar is on his knees in a neutral corner, clutching the ropes and beating his head into the turnbuckle. Time in. Edwards lands a pair of lead rights. Body shot. Bayaar paws with his jab and steps back. Left hook by Edwards, flush. Body shot. Good slashing combo by Bayaar.

10-9 Edwards

78-74 Edwards

 

Round 9

Uppercuts by Edwards on the front foot. Bayaar backs up, swoops and weaves and tries to set up a left. Left uppercut by Bayaar, to the body. Edwards stays close and slaps at Bayaar's sides. They lean together and Edwards leans on Bayaar's head with his elbow. Bayaar shoves him back. Edwards misses a pair of uppercuts. Nice right hand lead by Edwards jumping in. Another right lands. Bayaar is moving his head but not spotting/timing the shots well enough to avoid them. Right jabs by Bayaar. Left jab by Edwards. Plunging body shots by Edwards. Right hand misses by Edwards, they come together and shove off.

88-83 Edwards