PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Mordant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathanial Hornblower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Mordant has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mordant
vs
Hornblower

178 cm
23
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

171 cm
19
166 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vladimir Mordant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathanial Hornblower!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mordant moves out of range as Hornblower throws a body kick.
Mordant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hornblower jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hornblower lands a nice looking body kick.
Mordant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mordant shoots in for a double leg but Hornblower sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mordant closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hornblower circles away.
Mordant misses with a wild body shot.
Hornblower just misses with a punch to the body.
Mordant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mordant shoots in and drives through. Hornblower sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Mordant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mordant feints and as Hornblower raises his hands in defense, Mordant changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mordant thows a big elbow that misses.
Mordant trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hornblower manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hornblower drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mordant manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hornblower has Mordant in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower pulls Mordant in close to prevent any damage.
Hornblower keeping moving, preventing Mordant from controlling successfully.
Hornblower keeping full guard, as Mordant tries to pass.
Hornblower pulls Mordant in close to his closed guard and prevents Mordant from doing any damage or advancing position.
Mordant trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hornblower manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hornblower trying to control the position from guard on top but Mordant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hornblower passes Mordant's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mordant is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hornblower pulls his head out easily.
Hornblower is looking to take a break and control but Mordant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hornblower throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hornblower thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mordant's head.
Mordant is not content to let Hornblower control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mordant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mordant is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hornblower scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hornblower works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mordant tries to hold on but Hornblower pushes him away.
Mordant is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Hornblower swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mordant is now in Hornblower's guard. A big mistake from Hornblower there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Hornblower dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hornblower lands a jab to Mordant's midsection.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hornblower!

It looks like Vladimir Mordant has been cut.
Hornblower throws a head kick but Mordant moves out of range.
Mordant fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hornblower fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mordant looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hornblower misses with a head kick.
Mordant dodges the punch combination from Hornblower.
Mordant misses with a hook to the body
and Hornblower counters with a one-two to the body.

Hornblower clinches.
Mordant wants to break free but Hornblower has control.
Hornblower tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hornblower tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vladimir Mordant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathanial Hornblower.
Hornblower tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hornblower jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mordant walks away with a smile on his face. Hornblower gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mordant looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mordant is trying to control. Hornblower wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hornblower desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Mordant is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mordant is pressing down on Hornblower's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hornblower is holding on for now.
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.
Hornblower is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hornblower has his hands clasped together around Mordant's back. He's all about the action.
Hornblower is not content to let Mordant control the position.

Mordant seems to be working for a kimura but Hornblower defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower is controlling Mordant's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Hornblower is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mordant pulls his head out easily.
Mordant trying to pass the guard but Hornblower defending well.
Hornblower is staying active underneath Mordant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hornblower wants to improve his position but Mordant is controlling well.
Mordant passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hornblower is working to get back to half guard.
Mordant looking to finish with strikes here!
Hornblower is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mordant can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hornblower is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Hornblower showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Mordant's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Hornblower is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hornblower finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mordant fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hornblower is out of range.
Hornblower throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hornblower tries a head kick but it misses.
Hornblower is looking to clinch.
Hornblower is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mordant slips a jab and a cross from Hornblower.
Mordant gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hornblower counters with a three punch combo that has Mordant backing up. Mordant nods at Hornblower to acknowledge the strikes.
Hornblower lands with a nice combination. Mordant backs away looking to recover.
Hornblower looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower moves in looking to clinch but Mordant pushes him off.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hornblower enables Mordant to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hornblower manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mordant slips nicely into half guard.
Hornblower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hornblower looking for submissions off his back.
Hornblower wants to get back to full guard.

Mordant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hornblower has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hornblower keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mordant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hornblower keeps working.
Hornblower has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mordant is working away from the top position though.

Hornblower is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mordant pulls his head out easily.
Hornblower is looking to improve his position.
Hornblower is refusing to be controlled, as Mordant sits in half guard.
Mordant wants to stand up but Hornblower is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mordant wants to control but Hornblower is keeping him busy.
Mordant is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hornblower utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hornblower is trying to control the position but Mordant postures up.
Hornblower tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mordant looking to sit in guard and control but Hornblower gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hornblower looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hornblower with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vladimir Mordant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hornblower slips nicely into half guard.
Hornblower not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hornblower blocks the strikes from Mordant.
Nathanial Hornblower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hornblower is just content to waste time from the top position. Mordant takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nathanial Hornblower.
I've got Hornblower 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathanial Hornblower!