PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathanial Hornblower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Duncan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nathanial Hornblower has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hornblower
vs
Duncan

171 cm
20
166 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathanial Hornblower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rob Duncan!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hornblower shoots and misses

and Duncan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hornblower regains full guard. Nicely done.

Duncan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hornblower has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Duncan has managed to get both his arms back between Hornblower's legs - danger averted.
Duncan preventing the sweep.
Duncan distracts Hornblower with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hornblower lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Duncan!
Hornblower won't let Duncan get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Hornblower has hold of Duncan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Duncan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Hornblower goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Duncan is on top in guard.
Duncan looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower controls Duncan momentarily but Duncan frees himself.
Hornblower wants to stand up but Duncan is controlling him.
Duncan lands a couple of digs.
Hornblower keeping moving, preventing Duncan from controlling successfully.
Duncan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hornblower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hornblower lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Duncan!

Hornblower working for a guillotine from mount but Duncan is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hornblower punching from mount but Duncan doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Hornblower looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Hornblower wants to finish this one by submission but Duncan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hornblower.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hornblower misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Hornblower jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Duncan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Duncan and Hornblower has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Hornblower tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Hornblower is trying to get an arm triangle but Duncan is defending well.
Duncan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hornblower has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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.

Hornblower is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Duncan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Duncan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hornblower. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hornblower has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Duncan!
Hornblower trying to control but Duncan is having none of it.
Duncan is trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hornblower looking to control but Duncan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Hornblower looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Hornblower is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Duncan has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Hornblower dominated that round.
That's time! Hornblower's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Duncan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Duncan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hornblower.
Rob Duncan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Duncan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hornblower's half guard.

Hornblower is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Duncan pulls his head out easily.
Hornblower moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hornblower trying to keep a closed guard but Duncan is proving a slippery customer.
Duncan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Duncan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hornblower looking to hit a scissor sweep but Duncan is one step ahead there.

Hornblower looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Duncan trying to control but Hornblower is working from the bottom.
Nathanial Hornblower overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Duncan prevents Hornblower from getting back to his feet.
Duncan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hornblower pushes Duncan off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hornblower misses with a series of wild punches.

Hornblower tries to sprawl but Duncan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Duncan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hornblower trying to hold on to Duncan's head to control him but Duncan postures up.

Hornblower actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duncan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Duncan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hornblower works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duncan stands up over Hornblower, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hornblower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hornblower has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Duncan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hornblower escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Duncan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Duncan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hornblower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hornblower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hornblower is adopting a defensive guard.

Hornblower has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Duncan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hornblower looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Duncan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hornblower looking for a guillotine here but Duncan defends easily.
Hornblower keeping moving, preventing Duncan from controlling successfully.
Hornblower is trying to control the position but Duncan postures up.
Duncan trying to control but Hornblower is working from the bottom.

Hornblower pushes Duncan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Hornblower decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hornblower stops Duncan from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duncan is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hornblower not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hornblower is looking for a kimura here.
Duncan wants to get back to his feet.
Hornblower is looking to take a break and control but Duncan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Hornblower seems to be working for a kimura but Duncan defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Hornblower dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Duncan enables Hornblower to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Duncan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hornblower postures up in Duncan's guard and throws a big left but Duncan blocks it.
Hornblower trying to control but Duncan is working from the bottom.
Hornblower advances position into side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duncan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hornblower working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hornblower prevents Duncan from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hornblower working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hornblower postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hornblower moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hornblower looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Duncan is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Hornblower is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Duncan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hornblower misses with the ground and pound.
Duncan wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hornblower misses with the ground and pound.

Hornblower tries for a kimura but Duncan is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hornblower tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Duncan wants to get back to his feet but Hornblower drags him back down.

Hornblower looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hornblower tries for a kimura but Duncan is defending well.
Duncan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hornblower has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rob Duncan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hornblower is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Duncan looks calm but he's in trouble here. Hornblower gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Duncan is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Hornblower lets go of the hold and Duncan can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nathanial Hornblower!