PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ismet Hoxha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Ismet Hoxha has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ismet Hoxha seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hoxha
vs
Wilson

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
172 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ismet Hoxha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Wilson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilson misses with a two punch combination.
Wilson throws a leg kick but Hoxha sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hoxha blocks a low kick nicely.
Hoxha fails with a takedown attempt.
Wilson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hoxha.

Wilson gets the takedown into side control.
Wilson working the ground and pound but Hoxha is defending the strikes.
Wilson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Wilson working away.
Wilson tries to score with some ground and pound. Hoxha controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wilson with the ground and pound but Hoxha regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Wilson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson throwing shots but Hoxha is blocking nicely.
Hoxha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wilson.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Wilson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hoxha is looking to sweep but instead, Wilson has passed into half guard.
Wilson prevents Hoxha from improving his position.
Wilson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hoxha defending well though.
Wilson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hoxha defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wilson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hoxha to stand up.

Hoxha instigates a clinch.
Hoxha working hard to break the clinch.
Wilson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hoxha lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hoxha lands a left hand.

Wilson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wilson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hoxha counters with a shoot takedown. Wilson fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilson wants to stand and escape but Hoxha is having none of it.

Wilson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hoxha escapes and throws Wilson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Wilson looks gassed!
Hoxha landing a few strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wilson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Hoxha decides to stand up, so the ref orders Wilson to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson misses with a takedown attempt

and Hoxha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wilson working hard to break the clinch.
Wilson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hoxha won't allow it.
Wilson is trying to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hoxha.

Hoxha has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Wilson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hoxha trying to control momentarily.
Hoxha is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Wilson up.
Hoxha throwing damaging strikes from the back! Wilson could be in trouble here!
Hoxha lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hoxha is trying to stick to Wilson's back but Wilson is turning into Hoxha. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hoxha's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wilson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hoxha is on top in guard.
Wilson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wilson keeping full guard, as Hoxha tries to pass.
Hoxha trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilson looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wilson is looking for a triangle but Hoxha pushes his legs off easily.

Wilson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Wilson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wilson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ismet Hoxha will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wilson darts in trying to clinch
and Wilson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wilson misses with a kick to the body.
Hoxha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilson misses with a takedown

and Hoxha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hoxha.

Hoxha gets to his feet. Wilson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wilson with a poor takedown

and Hoxha holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hoxha lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Wilson.

Hoxha successfully pulls guard.
Wilson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wilson throws a strike but Hoxha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hoxha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoxha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wilson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hoxha stands up over Wilson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wilson trying to keep a closed guard but Hoxha is proving a slippery customer.
Wilson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wilson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hoxha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wilson looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilson, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilson tries to clinch but Hoxha moves away

and Hoxha holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Wilson struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoxha controls his hands.
Wilson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hoxha has him pressed against the cage.
Hoxha is working Wilson over against the cage.
Wilson has had enough of the clinch but Hoxha keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Wilson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hoxha is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wilson to the mat. Wilson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wilson wants to stand but Hoxha is controlling the position.
Hoxha works over Wilson with some ground and pound from guard.
Wilson wants to stand but Hoxha is controlling the position.
Hoxha sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wilson has a closed guard, preventing Hoxha from standing up.

Wilson pushes Hoxha off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wilson misses with a takedown

and Hoxha counters with a single leg into guard. Wilson didn't expect that.
Ismet Hoxha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Wilson.
Wilson wants to stand up but Hoxha is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hoxha distracts Wilson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hoxha is in close to Wilson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wilson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ismet Hoxha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hoxha avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wilson.
Wilson misses with a head shot.
Hoxha is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wilson scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hoxha is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hoxha blocking the ground and pound.
Wilson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hoxha because Wilson loaded up on that one.
Wilson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Wilson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hoxha has worked his arm free - good work by Hoxha!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoxha pushes Wilson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wilson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismet Hoxha dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilson has Hoxha up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoxha wants a takedown but no success here.
Hoxha jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wilson walks away with a smile on his face. Hoxha gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wilson tries to clinch but Hoxha moves away
enabling Hoxha to counter with a crisp jab.
Hoxha looks for a takedown but Wilson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismet Hoxha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoxha takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hoxha swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hoxha stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wilson.
Wilson darts in trying to clinch

and Hoxha moves into the clinch.

Wilson jumps guard and drags Hoxha to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wilson trying to keep a closed guard but Hoxha is proving a slippery customer.
Wilson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wilson wants to clinch but Hoxha slips to the side

and Hoxha moves into the clinch.
Hoxha looking to slow down the pace here.
Hoxha tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wilson just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Hoxha as the two fighters clinch.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Wilson moves into the clinch.
Hoxha jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wilson walks away with a smile on his face. Hoxha gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wilson misses with a few strikes there.
Wilson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilson feints and then cracks Hoxha's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hoxha down.
Hoxha stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wilson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson tries to land a front kick but Hoxha steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hoxha shoots for a takedown but Wilson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hoxha displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
Wilson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wilson darts in trying to clinch

and Hoxha counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hoxha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wilson is trying to keep Hoxha in close.
Hoxha throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha prevents Wilson from getting back to his feet.
Hoxha trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hoxha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hoxha is looking to work some ground and pound but Wilson has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hoxha avoids a kick to the body.
Hoxha wants to clinch.
Hoxha stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wilson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A head kick misses from Wilson.
Wilson tries to clinch up but Hoxha circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilson moves in looking to clinch but Hoxha pushes him off.
Josh Wilson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wilson.
Hoxha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hoxha tries to get out of the position.
Hoxha can't do much from the bottom here.
Wilson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hoxha down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Wilson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Josh Wilson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ismet Hoxha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoxha defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Wilson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hoxha has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ismet Hoxha!