PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piston Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kelly
vs
Horiguchi

170 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Charlie Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Piston Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Kelly.
Kelly on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kelly throws a jab but it's blocked by Horiguchi.
Kelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Horiguchi circles away quickly and effectively.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi tries to clinch but Kelly moves out of range.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Kelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Horiguchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kelly tries to counter by clinching up but Horiguchi breaks away and moves out of range.
Kelly looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kelly walks into a stiff left hand from Horiguchi.
Kelly sizes up Horiguchi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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!
A low kick from Horiguchi is predictable there
and Kelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Charlie Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horiguchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Horiguchi tries to clinch up but Kelly circles away and keeps his distance.
Kelly misses with a few strikes there.
Horiguchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Horiguchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kelly. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a combination that misses
and Kelly counters with a series of strikes. Horiguchi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Horiguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kelly looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kelly misses with a low kick as Horiguchi jumps back.
Kelly throws a nice looking combination but Horiguchi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kelly throws a jab when Horiguchi was well out of range.
Kelly avoids the head kick by Horiguchi.
Kelly will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Horiguchi finds it's way through Kelly's defenses.
Horiguchi checks a low kick from Kelly.
Kelly takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly dips to his left and cracks Horiguchi with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horiguchi throws a low kick but Kelly moves out of range easily.
Horiguchi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kelly connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Horiguchi momentarily.
Horiguchi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kelly.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kelly.
Kelly connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Horiguchi's hands.
Kelly is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Horiguchi blocks a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Horiguchi.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Horiguchi.

Horiguchi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Horiguchi misses with some punches.
Kelly blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Horiguchi blocks an uppercut.
Kelly looking to slow down the pace here.
Horiguchi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kelly is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kelly.
Horiguchi scores with a shoulder strike.
Kelly has a couple of punches blocked by Horiguchi.
Kelly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Horiguchi stalling in the clinch but Kelly improves position.
Kelly looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly struggles to land a body shot inside as Horiguchi controls his hands.
Kelly blocking some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kelly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Horiguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Horiguchi blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kelly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Horiguchi misses with a body punch.
Kelly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Horiguchi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Horiguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Kelly throws a head punch that misses.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kelly takes a shot to the head.
Horiguchi gets through Kelly's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Horiguchi is leaning against Kelly and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short body shot lands from Horiguchi as the two fighters 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!
Horiguchi lands with a light punch inside.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Kelly.
Horiguchi trying to stall but Kelly improves his position.
Kelly throws a punch but it's blocked by Horiguchi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Charlie Kelly will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kelly lands a jab to Horiguchi's midsection.
Kelly scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Horiguchi doesn't seem bothered though.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Horiguchi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
No joy there for Horiguchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Horiguchi gets tackled into the cage by Kelly. Kelly maintains the clinch.
Horiguchi looking to throw knees to the head but Kelly is blocking nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Horiguchi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kelly.
Horiguchi keeps control of Kelly as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kelly is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Horiguchi misses with a body punch.
Kelly prevents a body shot from Horiguchi.
Kelly misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kelly misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly can't find room to land a body shot as Horiguchi controls the action.
Kelly scores with a shoulder strike.
Kelly blocks an elbow strike from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws an elbow that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kelly.
Kelly prevents a body shot from Horiguchi.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kelly takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Horiguchi is looking to control Kelly's arms but Kelly gets an underhook and turns him. Now Horiguchi has his back to the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kelly.
Kelly is struggling to control the position.
Horiguchi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Horiguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Horiguchi on the inside.
Horiguchi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Horiguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Kelly.
Kelly lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

It looks like Piston Horiguchi has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kelly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Horiguchi on the inside.
Horiguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Kelly controls the action.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Kelly.
Horiguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kelly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Kelly.
Horiguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Horiguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Kelly uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kelly throws an elbow but misses.
Kelly scores with a shot to the side of Horiguchi's head.
Horiguchi pushes Kelly back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Horiguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kelly.
Horiguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kelly blocks an uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kelly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kelly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Horiguchi avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Kelly misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kelly.
Horiguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly misses with a punch to the body.
Kelly blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kelly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kelly looking to stall.
Horiguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Horiguchi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Horiguchi lands a right hand.
Piston Horiguchi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Horiguchi misses with an elbow over the top.
Horiguchi misses with some punches.
Horiguchi lands a body punch.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kelly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hook to the body lands for Horiguchi.
Kelly is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kelly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piston Horiguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Piston Horiguchi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Horiguchi slips a straight right by Kelly.
Horiguchi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kelly.
Horiguchi connects with an inside leg kick.
Horiguchi dodges the punch combination from Kelly.
Kelly misses with a low kick as Horiguchi jumps back.

Horiguchi darts in and clinches Kelly up against the cage.
Kelly takes a shot to the head.
Kelly taking a breather.
Kelly lands with a left to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Horiguchi as Kelly tries to tie him up.
Kelly scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi looking to slow down the pace here.
Kelly trying to land knees to the body.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kelly lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Horiguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Horiguchi.
Kelly working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kelly.
Horiguchi looking to stall.
Kelly can't break the clinch.
Horiguchi misses with a body punch.
Horiguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Horiguchi avoiding damage.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kelly lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Horiguchi.
Kelly presses Horiguchi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Horiguchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Kelly tries to break free but Horiguchi pushes him back against the cage.
Kelly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kelly is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Horiguchi is defending well for now.
Kelly dodges an elbow strike from Horiguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is looking to control Horiguchi's arms but Horiguchi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kelly has his back to the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Kelly.
A short right from Horiguchi on the inside.
Horiguchi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kelly taking a breather.
Horiguchi blocks an elbow strike.
Kelly taking a breather.
Kelly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kelly pushes off an throws an elbow but Horiguchi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Horiguchi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kelly misses with some punches.
Horiguchi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Horiguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kelly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Horiguchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Kelly avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kelly throws an elbow but misses.
A short body shot lands from Horiguchi as the two fighters clinch.
Horiguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Kelly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Kelly - that landed with a thud.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kelly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Horiguchi managing to block the knees to the body from Kelly.
Horiguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Horiguchi misses with an elbow strike.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kelly.
Kelly blocks the elbow strike.
Horiguchi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kelly.
Horiguchi dodges an elbow strike from Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Horiguchi.
Kelly blocks an elbow strike from Horiguchi.
Kelly lands an uppercut.
Horiguchi misses with some punches.
Kelly gets through Horiguchi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi avoiding damage as Kelly throws knees to the body.
Kelly avoiding damage.
Horiguchi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horiguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Horiguchi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kelly.
Horiguchi tries to throw a body punch but Kelly avoids it by throwing Horiguchi back against the cage.
Horiguchi with a knee to the head.
Kelly stalling.
Nice body punch from Kelly.
Kelly pressing his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Piston Horiguchi.
I think Horiguchi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!