PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Ponziabo (ranked 1180 p4p, 162 weight class) and Necmettin Hoca (ranked 165 p4p, 23 weight class). Necmettin Hoca has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ponziabo
vs
Hoca

170 cm
27
164
7 - 3 - 0

175 cm
27
162
11 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santiago Ponziabo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Necmettin Hoca!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponziabo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoca was well out of range. Poor timing from Ponziabo.
Hoca throws the left hand but Ponziabo avoids the punch easily.
Ponziabo misses with an uppercut
and Hoca makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hoca stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoca wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoca stalks Ponziabo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ponziabo's face. Ponziabo staggers backwards, shaken.

Hoca drops Ponziabo with a beautiful combination! Ponziabo stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hoca is looking for the KO!

It looks like Santiago Ponziabo has been cut.
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!
Ponziabo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ponziabo misses with a takedown
and Hoca counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Ponziabo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponziabo throws a series of punches but Hoca moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Hoca misses.
Ponziabo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hoca counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoca misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from Hoca.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hoca enables Ponziabo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hoca manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Ponziabo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hoca wants to sweep but no luck.

Ponziabo drops back looking for a leg! Hoca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hoca manages to kick Ponziabo off! Ponziabo jumps back into Hoca's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ponziabo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ponziabo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hoca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ponziabo is one step ahead there.
Ponziabo 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hoca can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponziabo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Ponziabo drops back looking for a leg! Hoca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hoca manages to kick Ponziabo off! Ponziabo jumps back into Hoca's guard.
Ponziabo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hoca jabs Ponziabo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hoca scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponziabo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoca.
Hoca misses with a two punch combination.
Hoca lands a head shot.
Hoca ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hoca throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hoca throws a hook but Ponziabo blocks it.
Hoca throws a hook but Ponziabo avoids it easily.
Necmettin Hoca is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ponziabo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoca.
A jab from Ponziabo misses.
Hoca looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ponziabo fails with the takedown
letting Hoca counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Necmettin Hoca dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Ponziabo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ponziabo gets a double leg takedown into Hoca's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ponziabo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ponziabo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ponziabo forces his way into half guard.

Ponziabo is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Hoca is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Santiago Ponziabo!
An out of breath Santiago Ponziabo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.