PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Dam (ranked 5321 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasil Hoxha (ranked 4415 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dam
vs
Hoxha

170 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Dam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasil Hoxha!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoxha tries to keep at a distance but Dam has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hoxha jumps guard but Dam stands there with Hoxha around his waist. Hoxha gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hoxha is looking to break free of the clinch but Dam has double underhooks.

Dam pulls guard successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dam is on top in guard.

Dam is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dam won't allow Hoxha to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dam is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Dam decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hoxha, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Dam closes the distance and clinches.
Hoxha working hard to break the clinch.

Dam manages to pull guard.
Dam controlling Hoxha's posture.

Dam looking for a guillotine here but Hoxha defends easily.

Hoxha stands up from Dam's guard - Hoxha perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha swinging wildly here.
Dam gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hoxha.

Dam has Hoxha up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoxha wants to get back to striking at distance but Dam won't allow it.
Hoxha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Dam has clasped his hands together around Hoxha's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dam tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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.

Dam tries for a kimura but Hoxha is defending well.
Hoxha struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hoxha gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Dam wants to take his opponent's back but Hoxha doesn't allow it.
Dam working Hoxha over with strikes here.
Dam avoids the attempt from Hoxha to control.
Hoxha really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dam looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Dam dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Some bone on bone action there as Dam checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hoxha tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hoxha misses with a series of wild punches.
Hoxha looks to land a combination. Dam sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dam is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoxha can do to turn this around?
A punch combination from Hoxha misses.
Hoxha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dam's calf.

Dam gets the takedown into side control.
Hoxha tries to bench press Dam off him but Dam keeps the position.
Hoxha is still trying to improve position.
Hoxha wants to control but Dam postures up.
Hoxha is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dam has just dragged him back down to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Dam working away.
Hoxha is letting Dam control him for a moment.
Hoxha wants to get back to his feet but Dam drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Check out the look on Dam's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Dam scoring with punches and elbows.
Hoxha seems a little lost for a moment, as Dam dominates the positioning.

Dam decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dam walks into a straight right hand from Hoxha.
Dam dodges the punch combination from Hoxha.

Dam gets a clinch.
Hoxha trying to control the position but instead, Dam has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hoxha into the cage.
Hoxha is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dam to keep the fight standing.

Hoxha breaks from the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dam checks a leg kick.

Dam throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hoxha tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dam is in Hoxha's guard.
Dam not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dam postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hoxha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dam manages to get himself to full guard.

Hoxha is breathing heavily.
Dam is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hoxha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hoxha wants to control from the top but Dam keeps moving.

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 fighting to break Dam's control of his arms but Dam is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Hoxha stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hoxha misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hoxha moves into the clinch.
Hoxha tries to pull guard but Dam forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Dam has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hoxha clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hoxha trying to get back to his feet but Dam is in full control for now.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Dam controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vasil Hoxha will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dam blocks a head kick by Hoxha.
Dam defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hoxha.
Mario Dam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dam scores with a takedown into Hoxha's guard.
Hoxha is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dam scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Dam drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dam jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoxha wants to stand but Dam is controlling the position.
Hoxha has momentary wrist control but Dam slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dam decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hoxha, up you get!
Horrible takedown attempt by Hoxha or perhaps it was just good defense by Dam, which made it look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Hoxha as Dam shoots in.

Dam drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoxha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hoxha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dam manages to get himself to full guard.

Hoxha stopping the sweep attempt from Dam.

Dam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoxha wants to control from the top but Dam keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dam looking to control.
Hoxha trying to control the position from guard on top but Dam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hoxha looking to pass the guard.
Hoxha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dam pulls Hoxha in to control the position.
Dam throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dam pulls Hoxha in close to prevent any damage.
Dam keeping moving, preventing Hoxha from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hoxha being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hoxha looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dam is fending him off so far but Hoxha persists. Nope, Dam circles away and we're back to standing.
Mario Dam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasil Hoxha.
Hoxha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hoxha or perhaps it was just good defense by Dam, which made it look bad.

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.
Dam takes one to the side of the head.

Dam decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hoxha is trying to escape back to his feet but Dam uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Dam is trying to get an arm triangle but Hoxha is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Hoxha's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hoxha tries to bench press Dam off him but Dam keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Dam showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dam 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Dam!