The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS an unwelcome return to the octagon for Bahamian mixed martial arts fighter Yves Edwards on the Ultimate Fighting Championship series.

Edwards (42-22-1 MMA, 10-10 UFC), lost by submission to Akbarh Arreola (23-8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) via a handbar at the 1:52 mark in the first round of round one Friday night.

The lightweight bout was part of the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 57 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. It was the first UFC victory for Arreola, while Edwards lost his fifth consecutive bout. It aired on FOX Sports following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on FOX Sports 1.

The 31-year-old Arreola, of Mexico, made his UFC debut in July and immediately went on a three fight winning streak. He lost his most recent bout to Tiago dos Santos, but can boast 21 of his 22 wins came via stoppages, including 16 submissions.

Prior to the Arreola fight, Edwards, 38, was defeated by Piotr Hallmann via submission at UFC Fight Night 42 in June.

Since then, Edwards’ drought has included a controversial loss to Daron Cruickshank at UFC on Fox 8.

Cruickshank, who was a late addition to the card after Spencer Fisher withdrew, received a 30-27 advantage from two judges while Edwards was scored 30-27 by the other.

A visibly upset and disgruntled Edwards left the fight abruptly following the announcement.

Prior to the Cruickshank fight, he lost by split decision to Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC 156 in February.

His last win came in a “Knockout of the Night” win over Jeremy Stephens in December 2012 at UFC on Fox 5.

Edwards was defeated in the ring by Yancy Medeiros in the preliminary round of the under card of UFC Fight Night 31:UFC Fight for the Troops 3 on November 6, 2013 at Fort Campbell in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

However, the fight was later ruled a “no contest” after Mederios tested positive for a banned substance. Before the “no contest” he had lost his last two fights and lost four of his last five.

UFC Fight Night 57 was the second that the organisation has hosted in Austin, following UFC Fight Night 22 in 2010.

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.

Based in Texas, Edwards is touted by MMA analysts as a well-rounded fighter with a strong boxing background. He has also trained with Lewis Wood, a sixth ranked WBA featherweight boxer, in addition to his experience in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.