Strikeforce "Destruction": Ludwig Wins UD over Edwards

“Bang” Duane Ludwig (18-8) defeated Yves Edwards (34-15-1) in a surprising unanimous decision Friday night at Strikeforce: Destruction in San Jose.

After Edwards muscled Ludwig to the mat at the start of the match, he spent most of the remainder of the round smothering Ludwig, while Ludwig threw a few ineffective punches.  Ludwig twice attempted a triangle, which Edwards fended off with hammers.  The lack of any real action elicited boos from the crowd as the horn signaled the end of round one.

The start of round two was promising, as Edwards caught Ludwig’s chin in a right uppercut and attempted a knee while Ludwig countered with some looping rights.  Edwards tripped Ludwig but they didn’t stay down for long.  It continued that way until the horn went, with Ludwig throwing knees into Edwards’s midsection.

Round three was more of the same, but this time Ludwig spent more time on top, dropping elbows into Edwards’s gut.  Back to standup, Ludwig push-kicked, and Edwards charged forward, wrapping his arms around Ludwig’s waist.  Edwards picked him up and the round ended on the mat.

The judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Ludwig, to the disbelief of many in the crowd.