PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Epolito (ranked 800 p4p, 176 weight class) and Necmettin Hoca (ranked 106 p4p, 24 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Epolito
vs
Hoca

172 cm
26
154
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
27
162
10 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Epolito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Necmettin Hoca!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epolito is looking to clinch but Hoca is avoiding it.
Epolito looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hoca throws a jab when Epolito was well out of range.
Epolito looks to score with a jab to the body but Hoca is just out of range.
Hoca ducks under a wild hook from Epolito.
Nice body punch from Hoca.
Hoca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Epolito was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoca.
Anthony Epolito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Epolito throws a poor cross that misses
and Hoca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hoca moves into range and clinches up with Epolito.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hoca.
A nice right hand lands inside from Epolito.
Hoca blocks an uppercut.
Epolito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hoca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hoca stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hoca working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epolito.
Epolito misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hoca's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hoca's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Epolito lands an uppercut.
Epolito throws a head punch that misses.
Epolito misses with the head strike.
Hoca lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Epolito.
Epolito working aggressively here.
Hoca blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Hoca lands a hook that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.
A short right from Hoca.
Hoca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Hoca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Epolito takes a shot to the head.
Epolito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hoca lands a body punch.
Epolito looking to throw knees to the head but Hoca is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Epolito blocks a body shot from Hoca.
Epolito struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoca controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Hoca.
Nice body punch from Epolito - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito swings wildly with an uppercut but Hoca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epolito working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Epolito pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epolito.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoca.
Epolito lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hoca backwards.
Nice body punch from Hoca - that landed with a thud.
A head punch on the inside from Epolito fails to land.
Hoca lands with a right to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Hoca.
Hoca will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Epolito up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Hoca.
Hoca working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hoca softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Hoca avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
Hoca tries a body shot but Epolito blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoca lands a hook that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.
Epolito misses with a body punch.
Epolito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hoca swings wildly with an uppercut but Epolito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoca blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Nice body punch from Hoca.
Hoca working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hoca gets through Epolito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hoca working aggressively here.
Epolito misses with some punches.
Hoca can't find room to land a body shot as Epolito controls the action.
Hoca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epolitos head.
Hoca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Epolito tries to land knees in the clinch but Hoca avoids the damage to the body.
Hoca gets through Epolito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Epolito misses with an elbow over the top.
A short uppercut from Hoca.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Hoca.
Epolito misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Hoca.
Epolito working aggressively here.
Epolito takes a shot to the head.
Epolito working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hoca.
Hoca blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Hoca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hand to the body from Hoca.
Hoca is leaning against Epolito and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short left from Hoca.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hoca working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Epolito tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Epolito lands a left hand.
Hoca tries a body shot but Epolito blocks it.
Epolito tries to work over Hoca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoca scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hoca lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Hoca.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hoca.
Hoca lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Necmettin Hoca dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Epolito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoca swings for the body but Epolito moves out of range.
Epolito lands with a nice combination. Hoca backs away looking to recover.
Epolito slips under a jab from Hoca.
Epolito throws a low kick, looking for Hoca's leg but Hoca calmly moves out of range.
Hoca scores with a jab. Epolito acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Hoca instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hoca.
Epolito presses Hoca against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Epolito misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hoca takes a shot to the head.
Epolito lands with a light punch inside.
Epolito wants to get back to striking at distance but Hoca won't allow it.
Hoca avoids a wild elbow strike from Epolito.
Hoca misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoca lands with a short shot to the head.
Epolito looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Epolito misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoca lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hoca digs a right hand into Epolito's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Epolito's gas tank.
Epolito scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hoca lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Necmettin Hoca seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hoca scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hoca has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hoca lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hoca misses with a punch to the body.
Epolito tries to work over Hoca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hoca blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hoca blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hoca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hoca lands a right hand that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.
Hoca has a couple of punches blocked by Epolito.
A short left from Hoca.
Epolito lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hoca blocks an elbow strike.
Hoca pushes Epolito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hoca gets through Epolito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Epolito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hocas head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito tries a body shot but Hoca blocks it.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Epolito.
Epolito tries to work over Hoca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Epolito misses with a punch on the inside.
Hoca tries to throw a body punch but Epolito avoids it by throwing Hoca back against the cage.
Hoca blocks an uppercut.
Epolito tries to work over Hoca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hoca working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hoca throws a head punch that misses.
Epolito struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoca controls his hands.
Hoca lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Hoca.
Hoca tries to throw a body punch but Epolito avoids it by throwing Hoca back against the cage.
Epolito misses with a knee to the head.
Hoca lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hoca lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Hoca.
Hoca blocking some punches.
Hoca lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epolitos head.

Epolito breaks from the clinch.
Hoca misses with a straight right.
Epolito defending well as Hoca loads up on a big left hand.
Good exchange - Epolito coming out on top.
Epolito looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Epolito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hoca to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab from Epolito misses.
Hoca throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Epolito wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Epolito avoids the body shot from Hoca.
Hoca thuds a left hand into Epolito's body.

Hoca closes the distance and clinches.
A right hook to the body lands for Hoca.
Epolito tries a body shot but Hoca blocks it.
Epolito lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epolito tries a body shot but Hoca blocks it.
Epolito working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hoca throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Epolito tries a body shot but Hoca blocks it.
Hoca is working Epolito over against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoca makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Epolito.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoca.
Nice body punch from Hoca - that landed with a thud.
Epolito swings wildly with an uppercut but Hoca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoca lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Epolito blocks a body shot from Hoca.

Epolito's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hoca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hoca just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoca dodges the punch combination from Epolito.
Hoca misses with a hook.
Epolito slips a jab from Hoca.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Necmettin Hoca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A big left from Hoca misses.
Hoca is looking to clinch but Epolito is avoiding it.
Hoca fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Epolito misses the shot to the body.
Hoca throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Epolito was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoca.
Epolito will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Epolito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoca was well out of range. Poor timing from Epolito.
Hoca scores with a punch to the head.
Hoca misses with a body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Hoca.
Epolito moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epolito uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoca.
Hoca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Epolito.
Epolito swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Epolito tries to close the distance and clinch but Hoca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hoca lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Epolito lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hoca tries to clinch but Epolito is having none of it.
Necmettin Hoca seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoca.
Hoca dodges the punch combination from Epolito.
Epolito scores with a nice right hand.
Epolito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hoca paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Hoca misses.
Hoca throws a lazy right hand but Epolito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Epolito misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch lands to the side of Epolito 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Epolito slips under a jab from Hoca.
Epolito misses with a takedown
and Hoca counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Epolito gets tackled into the cage by Hoca. Hoca maintains the clinch.
Hoca digs a right hand into Epolito's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Epolito's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hoca blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Hoca.
Hoca lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Hoca.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epolito struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoca controls his hands.
Epolito throws an elbow that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Hoca.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoca.
A right hook to the body lands for Hoca.
Epolito lands a hook that snaps the head of Hoca backwards.
Still in the clinch, Hoca scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short left from Hoca.
Hoca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hoca blocks a body shot from Epolito.
A right hook to the body lands for Hoca.
Necmettin Hoca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Still in the clinch, Hoca scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hoca pushes Epolito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hoca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoca lands a body shot.
Hoca avoids the elbow strike from Epolito, against the cage.
Epolito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Epolito struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoca controls his hands.
Hoca managing to block the knees to the body from Epolito.
Hoca misses with a body punch.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Hoca avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
Epolito can't find room to land a body shot as Hoca controls the action.
Hoca avoids a wild elbow strike from Epolito.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Epolito struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoca controls his hands.
Epolito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hoca avoids a wild elbow strike from Epolito.
Hoca lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epolito misses with the head strike.
Hoca blocking some punches.
Hoca pushes Epolito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hoca blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Hoca lands a body shot.
Anthony Epolito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short uppercut from Hoca.
Hoca lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Epolito.
Hoca lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hoca lands an uppercut.
Hoca scores with a nice hook to the head.
Epolito takes a shot to the head.
Hoca lands with a short shot to the head.
Epolito tries to work over Hoca's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Necmettin Hoca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hoca 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 David Hoff scores the fight for Necmettin Hoca!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Necmettin Hoca!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Necmettin Hoca!

Necmettin Hoca wins by unanimous decision!
Necmettin Hoca decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.