PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ian Mcdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ismet Hoxha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mcdonald
vs
Hoxha

180 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ian Mcdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ismet Hoxha!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcdonald shoots for a takedown but Hoxha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mcdonald looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mcdonald missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mcdonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hoxha's head.
Hoxha tries to roll over but Mcdonald keeps him under control.
Hoxha trying to control but Mcdonald postures up.
Mcdonald slips a nice elbow through Hoxha's hands, connecting with Hoxha's forehead.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hoxha can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mcdonald wants to pass to mount but Hoxha is defending the position.
Hoxha is not content to let Mcdonald control the position.
Hoxha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mcdonald. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mcdonald closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mcdonald lands in his opponent's guard.
Mcdonald looking to sit in guard and control but Hoxha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hoxha wants to pass the guard but Mcdonald is keeping the position.
Hoxha wants to control from the top but Mcdonald keeps moving.
Mcdonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hoxha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mcdonald has his foot on Hoxha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hoxha works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald is trying to control the position but Hoxha postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcdonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoxha is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hoxha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ian Mcdonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoxha tries to clinch but Mcdonald moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Hoxha as Mcdonald shoots in.
Nice defenses there by Mcdonald.
Mcdonald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hoxha pinned against the cage. Hoxha gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Mcdonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mcdonald shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mcdonald with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcdonald is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hoxha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mcdonald.
Mcdonald thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hoxha to regain full guard.
Mcdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoxha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcdonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mcdonald trying to control but Hoxha is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hoxha will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mcdonald dives in and grabs Hoxha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hoxha pushes down on Mcdonald's head and hops out.
Hoxha with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mcdonald counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hoxha!
Mcdonald lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mcdonald prevents Hoxha from getting the reversal.
Hoxha in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoxha tries to hold on but Mcdonald postures up.
Mcdonald tries to control but Hoxha wriggling away.
Mcdonald is landing with some decent strikes but Hoxha is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Mcdonald dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hoxha tries to clinch there but Mcdonald circles away.
Mcdonald with a poor takedown

and Hoxha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mcdonald wants to control but Hoxha is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mcdonald wants to get back to full guard.
Hoxha throwing shots but Mcdonald is blocking nicely.
Mcdonald wants to get back to full guard.
Mcdonald trying to control but Hoxha postures up.
Mcdonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hoxha lands a couple of digs.
Hoxha working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mcdonald's head.
Hoxha chips away with some ground and pound.
Mcdonald lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hoxha!
Hoxha tries to hold on but Mcdonald pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Mcdonald there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hoxha slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mcdonald throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mcdonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mcdonald trying to control the action but Hoxha is working from the bottom.
Ian Mcdonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mcdonald sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hoxha defending well though.
Hoxha wants to improve his position but Mcdonald is controlling well.
Mcdonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hoxha does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two 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.
Mcdonald is really struggling to control Hoxha but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mcdonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mcdonald has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoxha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mcdonald.
Mcdonald misses with a takedown attempt

and Hoxha counters with a shoot takedown. Mcdonald fights it but they end up in guard.
Hoxha is breathing heavily.
Mcdonald keeping moving, preventing Hoxha from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mcdonald thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mcdonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mcdonald lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hoxha!
Mcdonald trying to control but Hoxha is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hoxha blocking the ground and pound.
Mcdonald working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Hoxha slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Mcdonald wants to take a breather but Hoxha is having none of it.
Hoxha keeping control of the position.
Hoxha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mcdonald.

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.
Hoxha is pressing down on Mcdonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mcdonald thows a big elbow that misses.
Mcdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoxha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mcdonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mcdonald wants to control from the top but Hoxha keeps moving.
Hoxha working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismet Hoxha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcdonald is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hoxha's half guard.
Hoxha is trying to get back to full guard.
Hoxha is staying active underneath Mcdonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mcdonald lands a nice short elbow.
Mcdonald working over Hoxha with some ground and pound. Hoxha looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mcdonald missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mcdonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mcdonald is trying to control. Hoxha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mcdonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hoxha's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcdonald sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hoxha defending well though.
Hoxha wants to get back to full guard.
Mcdonald is controlling the pace.
Mcdonald uses his free foot to push down on Hoxha's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hoxha.
Hoxha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mcdonald lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mcdonald content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mcdonald lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hoxha hang on?
Mcdonald controlling the position easily from mount.
Mcdonald throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hoxha really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mcdonald looking to control but Hoxha is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mcdonald throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mcdonald throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Mcdonald has control of Hoxha's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hoxha regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hoxha is in a horrible position here. Mcdonald smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hoxha is squirming around, avoiding Mcdonald's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mcdonald with shots to the head and body - Hoxha looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hoxha in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hoxha is squirming around, avoiding Mcdonald's attempts to control the action.
Hoxha is trying to escape the mount.
Hoxha is squirming around, avoiding Mcdonald's attempts to control the action.
Hoxha tries to lock up and control but Mcdonald gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian Mcdonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mcdonald 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Mcdonald!