PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Barry Allen (ranked 4593 p4p, 446 weight class) and Emo Hoxha (ranked 4903 p4p, 466 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Allen
vs
Hoxha

183 cm
26
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
19
188 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Barry Allen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Emo Hoxha!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoxha throws a body punch but Allen moves out of range.
Allen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It seemed like Hoxha was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Allen scores with a shot to the body.
Hoxha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Allen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Emo Hoxha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Allen throws a right and a left that Hoxha avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Allen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoxha.
Allen lands with an overhand left.
Left hook, right uppercut from Allen.
A solid leg kick lands there for Allen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Allen misses.
Allen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Arvins Bootcamp in the buildup to the fight.
Hoxha moves away from the strike by Allen.
Hoxha has a takedown stuffed.
Hoxha throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barry Allen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Allen throws a series of punches but Hoxha avoids them all with ease.
Hoxha is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hoxha misses with a straight left.
Allen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hoxha throws a poor cross that misses
and Allen counters with a two punch combo.
Allen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoxha.
Hoxha throws a lazy right hand but Allen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Allen tries to counter by clinching up but Hoxha breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Allen misses with a series of wild punches.
Hoxha missing with a left hand there. Allen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Allen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Allen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Allen cracks the inside of Hoxha's front leg.
Hoxha throws a combination that misses
and Allen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoxha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Allen manages to avoid it.
Allen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Allen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hoxha in his tracks.
Hoxha looks to score with a jab to the body but Allen is just out of range.
Hoxha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Allen manages to avoid it.
Hoxha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Allen moves away.
As Hoxha looks to move away, Allen throws a big counter combo but Hoxha just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha misses the jab.
Hoxha checks a low kick from Allen.
Allen tries to bum rush Hoxha with a series of wild strikes but Hoxha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hoxha throws a poor cross that misses
and Allen counters with a nice body shot.
Allen throws a leg kick

and Hoxha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Allen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoxha smiles and moves away.
Allen avoids the body shot from Hoxha.
Allen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sloppy strikes from Allen. Those never looked like landing.
Hoxha misses with a hook
letting Allen counter with a right hand.
A shot to the body from Hoxha misses
and Allen counters with a left and a right that stings Hoxha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hoxha on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hoxha throws a lazy uppercut
and Allen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Allen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hoxha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A quick step to the side and Allen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoxha on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Allen. Allen obviously looking to wear him down.
Allen scores with a nice head shot.
Hoxha misses with a hook. Allen ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Hoxha misses.
Allen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hoxha counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Allen throws a series of punches but Hoxha avoids them all with ease.
Hoxha rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Allen counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Allen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Allen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hoxha throws a body punch but Allen moves out of range.
Allen fires out a quick counter leg kick but Hoxha just manages to avoid it.
Hoxha misses with an uppercut
and Allen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Allen. Those never looked like landing.
Allen stalks Hoxha and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hoxha's face. Hoxha staggers backwards, shaken.
Hoxha misses with a double jab
and Allen counters with a three punch combo that has Hoxha backing up. Hoxha nods at Allen to acknowledge the strikes.
Barry Allen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Hoxha.
An inside leg kick lands from Allen.
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!
Allen slips a jab from Hoxha.
Hoxha scores with a jab. Allen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoxha pushes Allen up against the cage in a clinch.
Allen jumps guard but Hoxha stands there with Allen around his waist. Allen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Allen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoxha smiles and moves away.
Allen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoxha can do to turn this around?

Hoxha pushes Allen up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoxha slows down the pace here.
Hoxha lands with a short shot to the head.
Allen fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Barry Allen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoxha has Allen pressed against the cage.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha won't allow it.
A hook to the body from Hoxha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha controlling the action here for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Hoxha.
Hoxha digs a right hand into Allen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Allen's gas tank.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha holds him up against the cage and eventually Allen drops back down to his feet.
Hoxha scores with a hook to the body.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha holds him up against the cage and eventually Allen drops back down to his feet.
A short right from Hoxha on the inside.
Allen jumps guard but Hoxha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Allen fails to pull guard.
Allen is trying to pull guard but Hoxha has him pressed against the cage.
Hoxha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoxha's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hoxha controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Hoxha's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Allen fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Allen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hoxha to keep the fight standing.
Hoxha lands a hook that snaps the head of Allen backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hoxha - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hoxha - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Allen jumps guard but Hoxha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hoxha lands with a light punch inside.
Hoxha lands a nice uppercut.
Come on Hoxha - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoxha.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha won't allow it.
Hoxha stalling in the clinch.
Hoxha stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emo Hoxha.
Allen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha misses with a looping left.
Allen misses with a hook.
Allen walks into a left hand.
Barry Allen is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Allen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hoxha.
Hoxha misses with a double jab
and Allen counters with a series of strikes. Hoxha will be more careful next time no doubt.
Allen cracks a nice hook into Hoxha's ribs.
Allen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoxha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emo Hoxha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hoxha darts in and clinches Allen up against the cage.
Hoxha effectively controlling the action here.
Hoxha lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Allen fails to pull guard.
Allen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hoxha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hoxha pushes Allen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hoxha presses Allen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hoxha lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hoxha.
Allen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hoxha just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Barry Allen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoxha effectively controlling the action here.
Allen is trying to pull guard but Hoxha has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Allen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hoxha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hoxha scores with a nice hook to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Allen is trying to pull guard but Hoxha has him pressed against the cage.
Allen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Emo Hoxha seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Allen is trying to pull guard but Hoxha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Allen fails to pull guard.
Hoxha controlling the action here for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hoxha.
Allen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Allen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hoxha to keep the fight standing.
Allen takes a shot to the head.
Allen is trying to pull guard but Hoxha has him pressed against the cage.
Allen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hoxha to keep the fight standing.
Hoxha leaning against his opponent.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hoxha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Allen backwards.
Allen tries to pull guard but Hoxha won't allow it.
Hoxha lands a body shot.
Hoxha lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hoxha unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Allen! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Hoxha is unloading with more strikes now! Allen drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Emo Hoxha!
After winning the bout, Emo Hoxha thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.