Edwards Set To Return To The Octagon

by RENALDO DORSETT
Bahamian mixed martial arts veteran Yves Edwards  is just over a month away from an opportunity to step back into the octagon and regain a spot in the win column.
Ultimate Fighting Championship recently announced that Edwards will be added to the undercard of UFC Fight Night 57, November 22 at the Frank Erwin Centre on the University of Texas-Austin Campus.
Edwards (42-21-1 MMA, 10-9 UFC) will take on Akbarh Arreola (22-8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a lightweight bout.
UFC Fight Night 57 will air on FOX Sports 1 with preliminaries on UFC Fight Pass.
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.
Edwards, 38, has struggled recently with losses in four consecutive fights.
In his most recent bout, he 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 “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 will be the second that the organization has hosted in Austin, following UFC Fight Night 22 in 2010.
The 12-bout card is expected to be headlined by a Featherweight bout between Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar.
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.

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