PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Perez (ranked 2814 p4p, 3973 weight class) and Vasil Hoxha (ranked 300 p4p, 409 weight class). Vasil Hoxha acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Perez
vs
Hoxha

180 cm
25
160
2 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
155
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Arcticus University: London

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrew Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasil Hoxha!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoxha fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hoxha moves into the clinch successfully.
Hoxha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hoxha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Perez's elbow.
Hoxha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Perez blocks a body shot from Hoxha.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoxha.

Hoxha breaks from the clinch.
Perez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hoxha counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Hoxha closes the distance and clinches.
Hoxha lands with a left to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
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!
Hoxha has Perez pressed against the cage.
Perez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've been hearing reports that Perez has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Hoxha.
Hoxha is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hoxha takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hoxha struggles to land a body shot inside as Perez controls his hands.
Hoxha lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hoxha gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hoxha with a knee to the head.

It looks like Andrew Perez has been cut.
Perez wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Perez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Perez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hoxha utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hoxha lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Perez.
Hoxha lands with a right to the head.
Hoxha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoxha is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Perez is defending well for now.
Perez tries to pull guard but Hoxha forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Perez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hoxha misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Hoxha.
Hoxha pushes Perez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hoxha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Perez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hoxha moves into the clinch.
Hoxha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoxha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Perez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hoxha is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Perez to keep the fight standing.
Hoxha lands a hook that snaps the head of Perez backwards.
Perez tries to score a body lock takedown but Hoxha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Perez tries for a takedown but Hoxha manages to get underhooks.
Hoxha digs a right hand underneath Perez's ribcage. Perez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Perez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hoxha prevents it.
Hoxha misses with a knee to the head.
Hoxha throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hoxha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Perez backwards.

Hoxha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez shoots in looking for a takedown. Hoxha tries to sprawl out of it but Perez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hoxha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Perez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hoxha kicks off Perez and gets to his feet.
Hoxha throws a nice outside leg kick.
Perez takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Hoxha moves into the clinch.
Hoxha lands a body punch in the clinch.
Perez is breathing heavily.
Hoxha works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasil Hoxha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrew Perez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hoxha throws a right and a left that Perez avoids nicely.
Perez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hoxha pinned against the cage. Hoxha gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hoxha misses with a double jab
and Perez counters with an inside leg kick.
Perez fails with the takedown.
Hoxha lands a really nice looking cross but Perez seems unphased.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoxha shoots for a double leg takedown but Perez sprawls well. He's pushed Hoxha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hoxha lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hoxha.
Hoxha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hoxha tries to clinch up but Perez circles away and keeps his distance.
Perez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Hoxha rushes Perez and presses him up against the cage.

Hoxha ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hoxha no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez wants to control from the top but Hoxha keeps moving.
Perez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoxha is keeping the position for now.
Hoxha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Perez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hoxha wants to get back to his feet but Perez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Hoxha is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Hoxha breaks the clinch.
Hoxha throws a combination that misses

and Perez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hoxha!
Hoxha struggling a bit here.

Perez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoxha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Hoxha is looking to regain half guard here but Perez keeps moving and retains side control.
Perez controlling from side mount.

Perez is trying to get an arm triangle but Hoxha is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoxha struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez advances to full mount.
Perez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Perez trying to control but Hoxha is having none of it.
Perez is trying to control here but Hoxha has managed to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Perez.
Hoxha is looking to escape.
Hoxha is looking for a sweep. Perez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha is trying to stand.

Perez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hoxha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Perez.
Perez wants to pass the guard but Hoxha is defending well.
Hoxha is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hoxha is in trouble now - Perez has advanced to mount!
Hoxha squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
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 cut man is working on Andrew Perez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Perez is defended easily by Hoxha.
Hoxha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Perez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Perez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Hoxha darts in and clinches Perez up against the cage.
Hoxha misses with a body punch.

Hoxha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Perez.
Perez swings for the body but Hoxha moves out of range.
Vasil Hoxha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perez avoids the body shot from Hoxha.

Hoxha clinches up against the cage.
Hoxha lands a body shot.

Perez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Hoxha wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez dives in for a single leg takedown but Hoxha sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Perez gets caught napping as Hoxha dives in and scores a takedown. Perez manages to retain guard.

Perez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hoxha struggles to land a body shot inside as Perez controls his hands.
Hoxha prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Perez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoxha lands a body punch.
Hoxha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoxha stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vasil Hoxha seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Hoxha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've been informed that Hoxha has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Hoxha moves into the clinch.
Vasil Hoxha is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hoxha stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Perez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hoxha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hoxha misses with a series of wild punches.

Hoxha drives through and clinches with Perez against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hoxha.
Perez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hoxha prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoxha lands a nice uppercut.
Hoxha prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hoxha is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hoxha tries to throw a body punch but Perez avoids it by throwing Hoxha back against the cage.

Hoxha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hoxha takes the fight into the clinch.
Hoxha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Perez looking for a takedown.

Hoxha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Hoxha decides to stand and escape the position.
Andrew Perez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoxha fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Hoxha has closed the distance and engaged Perez in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perez is trying to pull guard but Hoxha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hoxha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Perez backwards.

Hoxha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hoxha closes the distance and clinches.
Hoxha will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Perez up against the cage.
Hoxha misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasil Hoxha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hoxha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasil Hoxha!