PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Horacio Hornblower (ranked 1820 p4p, 2378 weight class) and Daizen Kuroda (ranked 207 p4p, 255 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hornblower
vs
Kuroda

180 cm
20
155
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
19
156
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

EFC Threads

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Horacio Hornblower !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daizen Kuroda!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Kuroda misses.
Kuroda moves out of range as Hornblower throws a body kick.
Hornblower looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kuroda throws a hook to the side of Hornblower 's head but Hornblower sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hornblower is looking for a counter combo.
Kuroda shoots in looking for a takedown. Hornblower tries to sprawl out of it but Kuroda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hornblower manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuroda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kuroda takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kuroda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hornblower manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hornblower missing with a left hand there. Kuroda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Kuroda misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hornblower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuroda checks a leg kick nicely.
Kuroda tries to move into range but Hornblower moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hornblower throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kuroda looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kuroda throws a lazy uppercut
and Hornblower counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hornblower works Kuroda's body with a nice hook.
Hornblower throws out a powerful jab.
Hornblower misses with a body kick.
Kuroda moves out of range of the body kick from Hornblower .
Kuroda swings widly with a right hand
and Hornblower counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hornblower steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuroda.
Kuroda moves forwards but Hornblower connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Hornblower gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hornblower stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hornblower digs a right hand underneath Kuroda's ribcage. Kuroda let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kuroda tries to score a body lock takedown but Hornblower shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hornblower .
Good body shot from Hornblower .
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hornblower lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Hornblower .
Kuroda wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hornblower has him pressed against the cage.
Hornblower scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hornblower lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kuroda fails to pull guard.
Horacio Hornblower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.
Hornblower prevents the takedown attempt.
Hornblower displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuroda up against the cage.
Hornblower stalls.

Hornblower breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheers as Hornblower lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kuroda doesn't seem phased though.

Hornblower closes the distance and clinches.
Hornblower scores with a shoulder strike.
Hornblower prevents Kuroda from breaking the clinch.
Kuroda being controlled against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hornblower - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower is working Kuroda over against the cage.
Kuroda is trying to push Hornblower away but Hornblower has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hornblower creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short left from Hornblower .
Kuroda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hornblower scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuroda jumps guard but Hornblower stands there with Kuroda around his waist. Kuroda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hornblower makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hornblower lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuroda backwards.
Kuroda misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Hornblower on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hornblower takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hornblower lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Hornblower .
Hornblower scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Hornblower on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hornblower lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hornblower slows down the pace here.
A short uppercut from Hornblower .
Hornblower has Kuroda pressed against the cage.
Kuroda is trying to pull guard but Hornblower turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kuroda wants to get back to striking at distance but Hornblower won't allow it.
Kuroda is trying to push Hornblower away but Hornblower has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hornblower lands an uppercut.
Hornblower presses Kuroda against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hornblower lands with a right to the head.
Hornblower lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Hornblower .
Hornblower lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kuroda is rocked!
Hornblower slows down the pace here.
Kuroda is still on wobbly legs! Can Hornblower finish him?
A nice right hand lands inside from Hornblower .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Hornblower dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hornblower lands a really nice looking cross but Kuroda seems unphased.
Kuroda seems to have recovered his senses.
Hornblower with a hook.
Hornblower lands a slapping body shot.
Hornblower goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hornblower fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuroda misses with a hook. Hornblower ducked under it nicely.
Hornblower seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A head kick misses from Hornblower .
Hornblower scores with a body shot.
Kuroda looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Hornblower closes the distance and pushes Kuroda back into the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hornblower takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hornblower digs a right hand underneath Kuroda's ribcage. Kuroda let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hornblower lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuroda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hornblower breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hornblower has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hornblower .
Hornblower lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hornblower stalling the fight.
Hornblower lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hornblower scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hornblower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuroda can do to turn this around?
The referee is keeping an eye on Hornblower - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hornblower lands with a right to the head.
Kuroda tries to break free but Hornblower pushes him back against the cage.
Kuroda is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hornblower lands with a left to the head.
Kuroda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hornblower gets through Kuroda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Hornblower .
Kuroda jumps guard but Hornblower turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hornblower effectively controlling the action here.
Hornblower lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower taking a breather.
Hornblower lands a left hand.
Hornblower is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kuroda wants a takedown but no success here.
Horacio Hornblower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.
A nice left hand lands by Hornblower .
Kuroda looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kuroda can't break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hornblower - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kuroda tries to pull guard but Hornblower holds him up against the cage and eventually Kuroda drops back down to his feet.
Hornblower lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hornblower blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Hornblower as the two fighters clinch.
Kuroda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuroda is looking to break free of the clinch but Hornblower has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hornblower lands with a light punch inside.
Hornblower keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuroda's efforts to push away.
A body shot lands from Hornblower .
Hornblower stalling.
Hornblower slowing the pace effectively.
Kuroda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuroda struggles to land a body shot inside as Hornblower controls his hands.
Hornblower lands a body shot.
Kuroda is breathing heavily.
Hornblower lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kuroda backwards.
Kuroda looking for a takedown.
Kuroda takes a shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Hornblower scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hornblower works on Kuroda's body with a couple of short punches.
Hornblower gets through Kuroda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hornblower lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuroda backwards.
Hornblower softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuroda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hornblower walks away with a smile on his face. Kuroda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hornblower goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hornblower connects with a body shot that sends Kuroda's belly button to the back.

Hornblower gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hornblower lands a left hand.
A body shot lands from Hornblower .
Kuroda is trying to pull guard but Hornblower turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kuroda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hornblower gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hornblower pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hornblower throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kuroda on the side of the head.
Hornblower drops Kuroda with a huge uppercut! Kuroda drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Hornblower is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Horacio Hornblower !