Joselyne Edwards missed weight for her UFC 277 match-up with Ji Yeon Kim on Saturday, coming in 1.5 pounds over the bantamweight limit.
Kim was making her return to 135lbs — or a catchweight, technically.
A brief flurry opened up Edwards vs. Kim on Saturday, before the pair settled in. Kim found a home for her overhand left, but Edwards put her on her heels with a quick combo. A low kick by Edwards missed the mark; another would connect a moment later as Kim circled on the outside.
As the round progressed, the constantly mobile Kim connected with her right. Edwards fired a combo, but was chasing the South Korean. In the final minute, Edwards cut off the cage and trapped Kim along the fence for a moment, letting her hands go. Kim however would escape; in the final seconds, Edwards would initiate a clinch but couldn’t get much done before the buzzer.
Round two found Kim getting her jab going, while Edwards began mixing up her kicks, throwing to the head, then firing a spinning back kick aimed at the body. Kim would continue to stay outside, until stepping forward in the final two minutes and catching Edwards with a right hand. Edwards continued to throw kicks, and didn’t seem to have much urgency behind her attacks.
Kim jabbed her way in to open round three, following up with right hands. Edwards, who took the fight on short notice in addition to missing weight, looked fatigued. Edwards then appeared to sustain an ankle injury, stumbling momentarily. Perhaps as a result, Edwards closed the distance and pursued a takedown, pushing Kim back to the fence. Eventually, they would go down, with Edwards rolling into an arm-bar only for Ji Yeon Kim to pull free.
They’d finish the round on the feet trading, with Edwards connecting with a heavy right hand seconds before the horn.
Official Result: Joselyne Edwards def. Ji Yeon Kim by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
