The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

YVES Edwards looks to return to the win column when he steps back into the octagon this summer for his second fight of 2013.

Edwards is slated to face Spencer Fisher in a matchup of lightweight veterans at UFC on Fox 8, July 27 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.

The Bahamian mixed martial arts standout had his last UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) victory in December 2012 with a knockout win over Jeremy Stephens, but has lost three of his last five fights.

Edwards had his alternating streaks of wins and losses begin in June 2011 when he suffered a stunning one-punch knockout against Sam Stout at UFC 131.

He rebounded in his next bout at UFC Live 6 when he scored a TKO on punches over Rafaello Oliveira in October 2011.

Next up he lost on points to Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision at the Ultimate Fighter 14 finale.

His only fight of 2012 was a first round knockout of Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fox 5, with a flurry of punches and elbows before he was awarded the fight.

His last bout came in February in a loss by split decision to Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC 156 in February.

The 36-year-old Edwards has also struggled recently with losses in three consecutive fights and five of his last six. He suffered losses against Joe Stevenson and Dennis Silver before regaining his stride with a win over Curt Warburton.

Most recently his three match loss streak came against Ross Pearson, Thiago Tavares and Steve Stout at UFC on FX 4.

The main event of the 13 match card will feature Demetrious Johnson against John Moraga.

Other matches include Rory MacDonald versus Jake Ellenberger, Robbie Lawler versus Tarec Saffiedine, Liz Carmouche versus Jessica Andrade, Michael Chiesa versus Reza Madadi, Bobby Green versus Danny Castillo, Melvin Guillard versus Mac Danzing, Brendan Schaub versus Matt Mitrione, Julie Kedize versus Germaine de Randamie, Ed Herman versus Trevor Smith, Aaron Riley versus Justin Salas and John Albert versus Yaotzin Meza.

Yves Edwards is credited with inventing the “Thug-Jitsu” fighting style and as a lightweight fighter in organisations such as the UFC, PRIDE, Bodog-FIGHT, and EliteXC.

Edwards was born in New Providence and moved to Texas when he was 15-years-old. He began his budding MMA career with traditional karate training, and moved on to kung fu before eventually taking up mixed martial arts. He also credits Muay Thai for improving his stand-up technique.

Based in Houston, Texas, Edwards says he learned his earliest grappling techniques as a teenager.

Analysts in the sport consider Edwards a well-rounded fighter, with a strong boxing background. He has also rained with Lewis Wood, a sixth ranked WBA featherweight boxer, in addition to his experience in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.