PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Enver Gashi (ranked 3444 p4p, 291 weight class) and Joey Tophat (ranked 5125 p4p, 373 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gashi
vs
Tophat

170 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Annihilation Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Enver Gashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Tophat!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tophat with a hook.
Tophat cracks Gashi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Tophat has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Gashi is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Tophat throws a combination. Gashi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Tophat drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Tophat stands up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gashi or perhaps it was just good defense by Tophat, which made it look bad.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tophat scores with a head kick.

It looks like Enver Gashi has been cut.
Enver Gashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tophat thuds a left hand into Gashi's body.
Tophat connects with a high kick.
Tophat stuns Gashi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Tophat is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gashi's half guard.

Gashi kicks Tophat off and gets back to his feet.
Gashi has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gashi is breathing heavily.
Tophat lands a nice shot to the body.
Tophat scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tophat fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gashi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tophat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gashi.

Tophat dives in and scores a takedown into Gashi's guard.
Tophat chips away with some ground and pound.
Tophat postures up in Gashi's guard and throws a big left but Gashi blocks it.
Tophat loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tophat wants to get up but he can't break Gashi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gashi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tophat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tophat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gashi keeping moving, preventing Tophat from controlling successfully.

Gashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tophat gets to his feet - Gashi follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tophat drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gashi is trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tophat controls the position.
Gashi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tophat.
Gashi can't do much from the bottom here.
Tophat is working Gashi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tophat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gashi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gashi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tophat trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gashi is looking for a sweep.
Tophat tries to move to mount but Gashi blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tophat decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gashi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Tophat there.
Tophat lands a nice shot to the body.

Tophat feints and as Gashi raises his hands in defense, Tophat changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tophat avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tophat wants to control from the top but Gashi keeps moving.
Tophat wants to pass the guard but Gashi is keeping the position.

Gashi is working an open guard so Tophat takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tophat.

Gashi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Tophat makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tophat pushes Gashi away with a front kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tophat changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gashi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tophat. Tophat obviously looking to wear him down.
Tophat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gashi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Tophat dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Enver Gashi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tophat connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tophat throws a head kick but Gashi moves out of range.
Tophat stuffs the takedown.

Tophat shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tophat was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tophat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gashi is trying to control Tophat's posture but Tophat avoids it.
Tophat lands a few punches from side control.
Gashi is trying to buck Tophat off.

Tophat tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tophat trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tophat cracks Gashi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gashi is not content to let Tophat control the position.
Tophat tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gashi's legs.
Gashi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gashi is working hard here to advance position.

Tophat is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gashi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gashi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tophat has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two 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.
Tophat wants to control but Gashi is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tophat working away.

Tophat stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Joey Tophat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good exchange - Tophat coming out on top.
Gashi shoots in looking for a takedown but Tophat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gashi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tophat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tophat wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enver Gashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gashi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Tophat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gashi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tophat trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.
Tophat controlling the position.
Tophat trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.
Tophat is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tophat prevents Gashi from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Joey Tophat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tophat working away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Tophat decides to stand back up.
Tophat lands a head shot.

Gashi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tophat is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tophat works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gashi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tophat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Tophat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Enver Gashi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gashi misses with a takedown attempt
and Tophat counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tophat lands a jab-cross combination.
Tophat scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tophat scores with a leg kick.
Gashi looks for a takedown but Tophat sprawls well.
Tophat throws a nice head kick!
Tophat scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Tophat gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gashi postures up in Tophat's guard and throws a big left but Tophat blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gashi throws an elbow that misses. Tophat uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gashi's guard. Nice move by Tophat!

Gashi looking for a guillotine here but Tophat defends easily.
Tophat must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tophat trying to control the position from guard on top but Gashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tophat slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gashi wants to control but Tophat postures up.
Tophat wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gashi keeps working.

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.
Gashi struggling a bit here.

Tophat wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gashi, who protects the arm well.
Tophat trying to control the position but Gashi is working away.

Tophat decides to stand back up. Tophat steps back and let's Gashi get back to his feet.
Gashi slips a jab and a cross from Tophat.
Gashi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tophat circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enver Gashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tophat digs a good hook to Gashi's body.

Gashi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tophat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gashi manages to get himself to full guard.

Tophat's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Gashi is working an open guard so Tophat takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Tophat swinging wildly here.
Tophat is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gashi rather than just go for the knockout.
Tophat misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice straight punches there by Tophat. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tophat.
Gashi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tophat is fending him off so far but Gashi persists. Nope, Tophat circles away and we're back to standing.
Gashi darts in looking for a takedown but Tophat gets double underhooks and turns Gashi into the cage.
Tophat is looking for the big counter here.
Tophat stuffs the takedown attempt from Gashi. Gashi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tophat dives in and scores a takedown into Gashi's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gashi is trying to keep Tophat in close.

Gashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tophat gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gashi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tophat defends well.
Tophat wants to control from the top but Gashi keeps moving.
Tophat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Tophat really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Enver Gashi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tophat throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gashi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tophat as he jumps to the side.
Tophat cracks Gashi with a good jab.
Gashi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tophat works over Gashi's head and body with a nice combination.
Tophat throws a nice looking combination but Gashi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tophat lands a really nice looking cross but Gashi seems unphased.
Joey Tophat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tophat closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gashi did well to prevent Tophat getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tophat trying to control from half guard but Gashi is working away.

Tophat is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gashi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gashi.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tophat tries to free his leg and advance position but Gashi is retaining full guard.

Tophat is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Gashi has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Tophat is looking to defend but Gashi has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Tophat! Gashi pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Tophat taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Enver Gashi!
Enver Gashi is the new featherweight champion!
Enver Gashi very nearly forgot to thank Annihilation Apparel amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.