PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josiah Ng (ranked 5176 p4p, 24655 weight class) and Timur Xhekaj (ranked 291 p4p, 332 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Ng
vs
Xhekaj

179 cm
20
135
5 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
145
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josiah Ng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Timur Xhekaj!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ng keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Ng closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ng is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xhekaj is just riding it out for now. Ng eventually gives up the hold.
Xhekaj wants to control but Ng is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Xhekaj is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ng is trying to work for a kimura but Xhekaj is defending well.

Ng is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ng not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ng missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Xhekaj really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ng. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Xhekaj is looking to control Ng's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xhekaj avoid being mounted?
Ng is looking to take a break and control but Xhekaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Xhekaj blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ng.
Ng is looking to take a break and control but Xhekaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ng takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ng wants to control but Xhekaj is keeping him busy.
Ng missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Xhekaj trying to control but Ng postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ng is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Xhekaj has managed to free his arm - good work.
Xhekaj is looking to control Ng's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xhekaj avoid being mounted?
Xhekaj wants to get back to full guard.
Ng really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ng is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xhekaj trying to hold on to Ng's head to control him but Ng postures up.
Xhekaj tries to get to full guard but Ng has control of the leg.

Ng is working for a kimura but Xhekaj is defending it quite comfortably.
Ng looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Ng is looking for a kimura but Xhekaj is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ng to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj gets back to full guard.
Xhekaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Xhekaj, not yet.

Ng 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.
Xhekaj wants to sweep but no luck.

Ng thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Xhekaj controlling Ng's posture.
Xhekaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Xhekaj, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Xhekaj can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ng sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xhekaj's guard.
Ng thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Xhekaj's head.
Xhekaj is looking to improve his position.

Ng is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ng is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Xhekaj doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ng.
Xhekaj tries to roll over but Ng keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Ng dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ng takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Ng closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Xhekaj quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xhekaj is looking to improve his position.

Ng looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ng working the head and body with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhekaj is looking to control Ng's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xhekaj avoid being mounted?

Ng is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Xhekaj doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ng.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhekaj is looking for a sweep. Ng is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Xhekaj trying to control but Ng postures up.

Ng is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Xhekaj wants to improve his position but Ng is controlling well.
Xhekaj trying to control from the bottom.

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.
Ng is trying to control. Xhekaj wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Ng is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Xhekaj defends it well.
Xhekaj wants to get back to full guard.
Josiah Ng overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ng is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xhekaj is just riding it out for now. Ng eventually gives up the hold.
Xhekaj wants to get back to full guard.
Ng throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ng is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ng stalling away here and it's allowed Xhekaj to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj keeping moving, preventing Ng from controlling successfully.
Ng throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ng slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Xhekaj wants to control but Ng postures up.
Ng tries to score with some ground and pound. Xhekaj controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Xhekaj regains half guard.
Xhekaj is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ng wants to take a breather but Xhekaj is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Xhekaj is looking for a sweep. Ng is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ng is looking to take a break and control but Xhekaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ng is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Xhekaj is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ng missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ng is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ng is nestled in close to Xhekaj, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ng is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Xhekaj has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ng is working away from the top position though.
Xhekaj is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ng's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ng's back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Ng dominated that second round.
That's time! Ng's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Xhekaj shoots in for a double leg but Ng sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Xhekaj shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ng as he jumps to the side.
Ng has a takedown stuffed.
Xhekaj swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Ng as Xhekaj shoots in.
It looked like Ng was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Xhekaj.
Josiah Ng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Xhekaj.
Ng fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhekaj shoots in looking for a takedown but Ng manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Xhekaj's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Josiah Ng is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ng closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xhekaj circles away.
Ng slaps away a takedown attempt from Xhekaj, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ng went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ng goes for a double leg but Xhekaj avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Xhekaj continues to drive forward.
Ng prevents Xhekaj from breaking the clinch.
Ng has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Xhekaj after a bit of a struggle.
Xhekaj is looking to break free of the clinch but Ng has double underhooks.
Xhekaj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ng has him pressed against the cage.

Xhekaj breaks from the clinch.

Xhekaj gets a takedown into half guard.
Xhekaj wants to stand up but Ng has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ng gets full guard.
Ng manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xhekaj manages to get himself to full guard.

Ng wants to pass the guard but Xhekaj is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ng 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.
Xhekaj working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ng.
Xhekaj has control of Ng's left arm, preventing Ng from doing any damage.
Ng is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xhekaj can do to turn this around?
Ng stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xhekaj swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ng is looking to work some ground and pound but Xhekaj has wrist control.
Ng postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ng 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.
Ng postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ng throwing strikes but missing.
Xhekaj wants to sweep here but Ng controlling him for the moment.
Xhekaj controls Ng momentarily but Ng frees himself.
Ng missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ng trying to control but Xhekaj is working from the bottom.

Ng stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Some wild striking there from Xhekaj.
Ng changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Xhekaj throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ng's waist but Ng gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xhekaj off to one side.
It looked like Ng was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Xhekaj shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Xhekaj showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ng moves into full guard.

Xhekaj avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ng 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.

Ng escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Xhekaj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xhekaj postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xhekaj postures up and lands a big shot to Ng's brow.
Timur Xhekaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josiah Ng is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ng is rocked!
Xhekaj lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Timur Xhekaj.
I think Ng 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josiah Ng!