PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luan Gashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janathan Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gashi
vs
Ho

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

iFight Fight Gear - Steel Penn - $10

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luan Gashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Janathan Ho!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gashi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gashi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ho.
Gashi shoots in looking for a takedown but Ho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gashi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gashi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gashi looks for a takedown but Ho sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gashi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luan Gashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gashi doesn't manage to clinch there - Ho circles away.
Gashi leaves Ho with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ho keeps the fight on the outside.
Ho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho shoots in for a double leg but Gashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gashi swivels and escapes.

Gashi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ho turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ho manages to end up in side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gashi is looking to reverse the position.
Gashi is trying to control Ho's posture but Ho avoids it.
Ho trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.
Gashi is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Gashi.
Ho can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gashi is looking to escape.
Gashi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gashi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gashi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ho sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gashi wants to improve his position but Ho is controlling well.
Gashi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ho is working away from the top position though.
Ho wants to stand up but Gashi is controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gashi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ho is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gashi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ho throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gashi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gashi is breathing heavily.
Gashi avoids the head kick by Ho.
Gashi wants to clinch up but Ho keeps it at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gashi closes the distance and clinches up with Ho, looking for a takedown. Gashi pushes Ho against the cage but Ho circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Ho or perhaps it was just good defense by Gashi which made him look bad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ho is defended easily by Gashi.
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 Luan Gashi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ho closes the distance and pushes Gashi back into the cage.
Gashi is pressed up against the cage. Ho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gashi down to the mat. Gashi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Ho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gashi missing with punches from the bottom.
Gashi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ho.
Gashi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gashi.

Ho gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ho has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gashi. That did some damage!
Gashi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ho shoots in looking for a takedown but Gashi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ho's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Luan Gashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janathan Ho.
Ho is breathing heavily.
Gashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ho circles away from the clinch attempt.

Gashi closes the distance and pushes Ho back into the cage.

Gashi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Gashi with that takedown attempt.
Ho defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gashi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gashi fails with a takedown attempt.

Ho gets a double leg takedown into Gashi's guard.

Ho stands up and waves to Gashi to follow him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ho showed some decent athleticism there.
Ho with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gashi is not content to let Ho control the position.

Gashi actively working from the bottom here.
Ho looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Janathan Ho was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ho instigates a clinch.

Ho has picked Gashi up - he's going for a ride! Ho dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ho stands up and beckons Gashi to join him on the feet.
Gashi misses with a head kick.
Nice body punch from Ho.

Ho drives through and clinches with Gashi against the cage.
Gashi is looking to take this one to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ho has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gashi uses from the top position.
Gashi trying to control but Ho is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ho bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gashi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janathan Ho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ho drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gashi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ho gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ho is stalling in the full guard.
Ho trying to control but Gashi is working from the bottom.
Gashi trying to keep a closed guard but Ho is proving a slippery customer.
Ho slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Janathan Ho was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ho.
Gashi throws a head kick but Ho moves out of range.
Luan Gashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gashi tries to avoid it but Ho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gashi to the ground. Gashi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ho on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Luan Gashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Ho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gashi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ho.
Luan Gashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janathan Ho.
Gashi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ho but Ho pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gashi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gashi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gashi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ho avoids the body shot from Gashi.
Gashi has a takedown stuffed.
Gashi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Ho throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gashi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ho is in Gashi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ho decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gashi throws a series of punches but Ho moves out of range.

Ho closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gashi is trying to control Ho's posture but Ho avoids it.
Ho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gashi keeps working.

Ho stands up and beckons Gashi to his feet.
Ho has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho tries to clinch up but Gashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Ho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gashi pinned against the cage. Gashi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gashi tries for a takedown but Ho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ho has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ho tries to pull guard but Gashi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gashi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janathan Ho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ho has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janathan Ho!