LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 19: (LR) Joselyn Edwards of Panama defeats Tamirez of Brazil in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kick Vidal. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The women’s bantamweight bout between Joselyn Edwards and Tamirez Vidal at UFC Vegas 99 had one major storyline.
That was Edwards’ weight, coming into the fight weighing 3 pounds. Even after she took off her clothes and removed the braid from her hair. This is Edwards’ third time underweight in the UFC, following accidents in 2022 and 2023.
The pair started with kicks and moved back and forth until Edwards landed a combo. Vidal closes the distance within a minute and looks for a takedown. When they got to the ground, it was a mountain and Edwards threatened to reverse it. Instead, they stood up in a clinch, but Vidal refused to sidestep it. Edwards then reversed positions and pinned Vidal against the cage. She finally breaks free and throws punches from above like before, then uses her range to land jabs and kicks. Vidal, in contrast, was throwing some haymakers and clearly trying to do some damage or find a finish. Edwards continued to target Vidal’s lead leg with kicks, targeted the body with jabs, and fired spinning backfists. However, Vidal didn’t flinch and attacked the body himself, knocking away a spinning backfist.
A fourth spinning backfist attempt was instigated with just over a minute left. What I didn’t miss was the combo she threw right after that. Edwards then changed levels and landed a takedown, but missed a few elbows.
Edwards opened the second round with a kick, followed by a brutal right hand. Another spinning backfist from Edwards was blocked. Number of spinning backfists: 5 (4 landing or blocking, 1 sailing sideways). Vidal touched his thigh with a kick, and Edwards responded. Vidal then closed the distance, applied a bodylock, and looked for a takedown, but was unable to land a takedown at first. But she took the back and went for a sneak hook, but Edwards defended and dropped an elbow. After more clinches, Edwards drove his opponent to the other side of the Octagon, eventually scoring a takedown of his own and settling into half guard. Edwards gained side control and almost pulled his leg out. Vidal ended up just hanging on, doing enough to stop Edwards from overtaking, but he was unable to scramble or reverse for free.
In the third round, Vidal attempted a spinning backfist about 90 seconds into the fight, which Edwards capitalized on. She chose that moment and landed a well-timed takedown. Vidal was lying on his back in the center, miles from the fence. Edwards had to work over half a round. Smash elbows rained down from Edwards, but Vidal got through by grabbing his legs. Unable to find a submission, Edwards instead takes the back, fires a few elbows, hits a body triangle, sinks it with a rear naked choke and then forces a tap!
Errors in weigh-in remain a concern, but Joselyn Edwards ended a two-fight slide with a submission win that may have saved her job.
Official results: Joselyn Edwards def. Tamirez Vidal, submission (rear naked choke), round 3, 4:33
