PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Timur Xhekaj (ranked 4827 p4p, 4405 weight class) and Mason Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Mason Wilson enters the cage!

Xhekaj
vs
Wilson

176 cm
22
145
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
134
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Timur Xhekaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mason Wilson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xhekaj on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Xhekaj scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wilson doesn't seem bothered though.
Xhekaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wilson as he avoids it easily.
Xhekaj shoots in but Wilson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Wilson gets caught flat footed, as Xhekaj shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Xhekaj knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wilson on the ground.
Xhekaj postures up in Wilson's guard and throws a big left but Wilson blocks it.
Xhekaj throws a strike but Wilson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Xhekaj is working an open guard so Wilson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Wilson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wilson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xhekaj.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timur Xhekaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Wilson darts in and clinches Xhekaj up against the cage.

Wilson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Xhekaj shoots in and bounces Wilson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhekaj throwing strikes from guard but Wilson blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wilson is on top in guard.

Wilson is looking to stand up but Xhekaj won't let him.
Wilson stopping the sweep attempt from Xhekaj.
Xhekaj trying to control the position here.
Xhekaj on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Xhekaj tries to get out of the position.
Wilson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two 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.
Wilson stopping the sweep attempt from Xhekaj.
Wilson forces his way into half guard.
Xhekaj is refusing to be controlled, as Wilson sits in half guard.
Xhekaj desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Wilson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson is looking to take a break and control but Xhekaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Xhekaj with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wilson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Wilson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Xhekaj keeps the fight on the outside.
Wilson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Xhekaj shoots in and gets a takedown into Wilson's guard.

Wilson pushes Xhekaj off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson shoots in and drives through. Xhekaj sprawls well.
Xhekaj looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Xhekaj shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wilson sprawls well. Wilson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Xhekaj gets slowly back to his feet.
Xhekaj shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilson shoots in looking for a takedown but Xhekaj manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wilson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Wilson moves into the clinch.
Xhekaj wants to get back to striking at distance but Wilson won't allow it.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Xhekaj tries for a takedown but Wilson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wilson looks for a takedown but Xhekaj sprawls well.
Xhekaj throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Wilson dominated that round.
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.

Xhekaj throws a lazy right hand but Wilson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Xhekaj fails with the takedown.

Wilson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Xhekaj's guard.
Xhekaj wants to sweep but no luck.
Wilson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xhekaj is keeping the position for now.
Wilson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mason Wilson has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhekaj working a defensive guard here.
Wilson trying to control but Xhekaj is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson looking to sit in guard and control but Xhekaj gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wilson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Xhekaj manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wilson stands up and waves to Xhekaj to follow him.
Wilson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xhekaj has a takedown stuffed.
Wilson unleashes a big counter combination but Xhekaj bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Xhekaj looking to score a takedown here. Wilson is defending well but Xhekaj drives through and ends up in Wilson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wilson is looking to stand up but Xhekaj won't let him.
Wilson stopping the sweep attempt from Xhekaj.
Wilson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wilson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xhekaj's guard.
Xhekaj is not content to let Wilson control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xhekaj avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wilson.
Wilson wants to control but Xhekaj is keeping him busy.
Wilson lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson is looking to take a break and control but Xhekaj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilson uses his free foot to push down on Xhekaj's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Xhekaj.
Xhekaj is desperately trying to improve his position but Wilson has a good base and remains in mount.
Wilson with shots to the head and body - Xhekaj looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wilson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wilson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Xhekaj hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj tries to hold on but Wilson pushes him away.
Xhekaj is working to get back to half guard.
Wilson breaks from Xhekaj's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wilson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Xhekaj is looking to improve his position but Wilson isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xhekaj tries to hold on but Wilson postures up.
Wilson controlling from the full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Wilson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Nice takedown defense from Wilson. No joy for Xhekaj on that attempt.
Wilson shoots in for a takedown but Xhekaj shows good takedown defense.
Wilson misses with a wild body shot.
Xhekaj takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Wilson misses with a double jab
and Xhekaj cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Wilson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wilson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilson stands up from Xhekaj's guard - Wilson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Horrible takedown attempt by Xhekaj or perhaps it was just good defense by Wilson, which made it look bad.
Wilson stuffs the takedown attempt from Xhekaj. Xhekaj gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timur Xhekaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xhekaj tries for a takedown but Wilson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xhekaj stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Xhekaj wants it to stay on the feet.
Wilson shoots for a double leg takedown but Xhekaj sprawls well. He's pushed Wilson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Wilson drives through with a takedown into Xhekaj's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Xhekaj working a defensive guard but Wilson manages to pass into side control anyway.

Wilson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wilson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson trying to control the position but Xhekaj is working away.

Wilson tries for a kimura but Xhekaj is defending well.
Wilson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xhekaj keeps working.
Xhekaj is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilson decides to stand back up. Wilson steps back and let's Xhekaj get back to his feet.
Xhekaj is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wilson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Xhekaj changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wilson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Wilson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Xhekaj enables Wilson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Xhekaj manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Xhekaj wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wilson advances position into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xhekaj is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Wilson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wilson tries to clinch but Xhekaj is having none of it.
Wilson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Xhekaj enables Wilson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Xhekaj manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Timur Xhekaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mason Wilson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wilson preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Wilson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wilson 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Wilson!