Canberra MMA fighter Ben Edwards halfway to UFC with win over Jeremy Joiner -
18th November 2017

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Former kickboxing world champion Ben Edwards is halfway to the UFC. Photo: Rohan Thomson

by David Polkinghorne

If UFC debutant Tai Tuivasa hits Rashad Coulter then the latter's going to sleep.

While Tuivasa's sparring partner, Canberra's Ben Edwards, said they've thrown Tuivasa into the deep end he said if his mate lands a blow in the UFC Sydney bout on Sunday then it will be all over.

Edwards will head to Sydney to watch the fight, having taken his own MMA record to 2-0 after he beat Jeremy Joiner with a technical knockout at Monaro Fight Circuit 26 at The Rex Hotel on Friday night.

He's hoping to join Tuivasa in the UFC ranks and has been promised a contract if he wins his next two fights.

Taking down Joiner means the heavyweight has now beaten the fifth and second fighters in Australia as his UFC case continues to strengthen.

But now it's Tuivasa's turn.

"He's just one of those guys that shows up on the day. He trains well and he spars well, but when he fights it's just a different level," Edwards said of Tuivasa.

"He's just such an athletic guy for such a big man. By the time he gets in the cage he'll be close to 130 kilos.

"If he hits anyone in those four-ounce gloves they're going to sleep for sure. The guy he's fighting's had a couple of UFC fights and he's very fast and very experienced.

"They've definitely chucked him in the deep end for his first fight, but if he hits this dude it's over for sure."

Edwards said he already had a couple of offers for his next fight, which he was hoping would be in March.

Then if all goes to plan his fourth fight would be in May or June and then it would be on to the UFC.

"I'm still honing my style, but a lot of positives came out of it. I was really happy with my take-down defence, but I did eat a lot of shots which I didn't have to," Edwards said.

"I just need to work out how to defend punches and defend the take down as well.

"I'm adapting really well, I'm still trying to figure out the best way to do things for me. I've got the basics that I like to do and ... I'm happy with where I'm at.

"I've got a long way to go, but definitely on the right track. A lot of positives out of [Friday] night."

Luckily for Joiner, Edwards was still "honing his style" - otherwise it might've taken a lot less than the three minutes it took in the first round.

He said he was probably "too patient".

"It was a TKO, I caught him with an uppercut, broke his nose, he sort of fell over and I just jumped on him and the ref waved it off three minutes into the first round," he said.

"The more patient I am, if you just wait that extra five seconds or whatever, the fights seem to go quicker the more patient you are, which seems to be contradictory.

"I was probably too patient actually. I was so worried about gassing. I should've had more faith in my fitness, I was actually pretty fit going into it.

"Lesson learnt, but better to be too patient rather than not patient enough."

(The Sydney Morning Herald)