PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Harding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riki Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riki Horiguchi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Harding
vs
Horiguchi

154 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cleveland Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riki Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harding moves into range and clinches up with Horiguchi.
Harding tries to land a knee to the head but Horiguchi blocks with his arms.
Horiguchi looking for a takedown.
Harding misses with an elbow over the top.
Horiguchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Horiguchi goes for a takedown attempt but Harding pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cleveland Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Horiguchi.

Horiguchi feints and as Harding raises his hands in defense, Horiguchi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Horiguchi landing some decent shots from guard.
Harding could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Harding is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Horiguchi trying to control here.
Horiguchi gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Horiguchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Horiguchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Harding has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Horiguchi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Horiguchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.

Horiguchi looking for a guillotine here but Harding defends easily.
Horiguchi wants to get back to his feet but Harding is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Horiguchi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Horiguchi is adopting a defensive guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Horiguchi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harding is one step ahead there.
Horiguchi wants to get back to his feet but Harding passes into half guard.
Horiguchi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Horiguchi is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harding thows a huge punch but Horiguchi dodges it nicely.
Horiguchi keeping hold of Harding's head, controlling as best he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harding wants to work for an arm triangle but Horiguchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riki Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Harding missing with a left hand there. Horiguchi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Horiguchi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harding sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harding attempts a counter takedown but Horiguchi avoids it well and moves away.
No joy there for Horiguchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A low kick from Harding is predictable there

so Horiguchi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Horiguchi trying to control but Harding is working from the bottom.
Harding is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Horiguchi throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding keeping moving, preventing Horiguchi from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Horiguchi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Horiguchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harding might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Horiguchi tries to stand but Harding is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Horiguchi is now in half guard.
Harding is holding on to half guard well.
Horiguchi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harding defending well though.
Horiguchi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Horiguchi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Harding controls his leg.

That's two 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.
Harding trying to control here.
Horiguchi wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harding stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harding wants it to stay on the feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Horiguchi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like Cleveland Harding has been cut.
Harding takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Harding avoids the head kick by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Harding throws a quick counter kick to the body but Horiguchi avoids it.
Cleveland Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Horiguchi.
Harding tries to clinch but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Harding tries to clinch there but Horiguchi circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding avoids the body shot from Horiguchi.

Horiguchi forces Harding back against the cage and clinches.
Horiguchi lands a right hand.

Harding breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Horiguchi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Harding, pushing him back against the cage.
Harding tries to work over Horiguchi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harding throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Horiguchi.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Horiguchi as Harding tries to tie him up.

Horiguchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Harding gets tackled into the cage by Horiguchi. Horiguchi maintains the clinch.
Harding pushes off an throws an elbow but Horiguchi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harding slowing the pace effectively.
Harding creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Horiguchi. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Harding prevents a takedown attempt there.
Horiguchi jumps guard but Harding stands there with Horiguchi around his waist. Horiguchi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Harding tries to circle away but Horiguchi has him pinned against the cage.
Harding is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Harding is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harding blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Horiguchi.

Horiguchi breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riki Horiguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cleveland Harding's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horiguchi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Harding is trying to defend but Horiguchi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Harding trying to control here.
Horiguchi seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Horiguchi connects with a nice short shot to Harding's temple.
Horiguchi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Horiguchi is trying to control. Harding wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Horiguchi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Horiguchi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harding defending well though.
Horiguchi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Harding is trying to get back to full guard.
Horiguchi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harding does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horiguchi dives in and grabs Harding's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harding pushes down on Horiguchi's head and hops out.

Harding has Horiguchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding wants to break free but Horiguchi has control.
Horiguchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Horiguchi blocking some punches.
Horiguchi tries to pull guard but Harding won't allow it.
Cleveland Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Horiguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding taking a breather.
Harding is looking to control Horiguchi's arms but Horiguchi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Harding has his back to the cage.
Harding avoiding damage.
Harding wants to get back to striking at distance but Horiguchi won't allow it.
Horiguchi blocks the elbow strike.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch.

Harding drives through with a takedown into Horiguchi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Horiguchi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harding defends it easily.
Horiguchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horiguchi trying to keep a closed guard but Harding is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horiguchi pushes a forearm under Harding's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Harding is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Riki Horiguchi!