PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rhaegar Targaryen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riki Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhaegar Targaryen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Targaryen
vs
Horiguchi

190 cm
19
250 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
235 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rhaegar Targaryen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riki Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Targaryen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Horiguchi closes the distance and pushes Targaryen back into the cage.
Horiguchi stalling against the cage.
Targaryen stalls.
Horiguchi jumps guard but Targaryen stands there with Horiguchi around his waist. Horiguchi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Targaryen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Targaryen wants to pass the guard but Horiguchi is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Horiguchi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Targaryen defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Targaryen is fighting to break Horiguchi's control of his arms but Horiguchi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Targaryen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Horiguchi is keeping the position for now.
Horiguchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Targaryen.
Horiguchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Targaryen looking to sit in guard and control but Horiguchi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Targaryen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Targaryen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Targaryen keeping moving, preventing Horiguchi from controlling successfully.
Horiguchi content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Targaryen looking for a sweep. Not yet Targaryen, not yet.
Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Targaryen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Targaryen's guard.
Targaryen wants to sweep but Horiguchi has passed to side control!
Targaryen parries the strikes from Horiguchi easily there. Horiguchi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Targaryen to escape.
Targaryen looks to move to half guard but instead Horiguchi has passed into mount! Damn!
Horiguchi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Targaryen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Horiguchi looking to ground and pound but Targaryen is blocking nicely.
Targaryen is looking to improve his position but Horiguchi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi with shots to the head and body - Targaryen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Targaryen is trying to reverse the position but instead Horiguchi has taken his back - oops!

Horiguchi working for the choke.
Targaryen tries to escape but Horiguchi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Targaryen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Horiguchi tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Targaryen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Targaryen is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riki Horiguchi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Targaryen stuffs the takedown.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Targaryen was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Targaryen throws a right hand that misses
and Horiguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Horiguchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Horiguchi tries for a takedown. No joy.
A frustrated look appears on Targaryen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Targaryen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi tries to pull guard but Targaryen won't allow it.
Rhaegar Targaryen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riki Horiguchi.
Horiguchi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Targaryen walks away with a smile on his face. Horiguchi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries for a takedown but Targaryen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi is breathing heavily.
Horiguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Targaryen throws a poor cross that misses

and Horiguchi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Targaryen is looking for a sweep. Horiguchi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Horiguchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Targaryen regains full guard. Nicely done.

Targaryen looking for a guillotine here but Horiguchi defends easily.
Horiguchi stopping the sweep attempt from Targaryen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Targaryen's guard.
Targaryen trying to control but Horiguchi postures up.
Targaryen is looking for a sweep. Horiguchi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Targaryen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Horiguchi has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Horiguchi throwing strikes here but Targaryen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi looking to control but Targaryen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Horiguchi looking to finish Targaryen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Targaryen!
Horiguchi dominating with strikes here.
Targaryen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Horiguchi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Horiguchi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Targaryen's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Targaryen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Horiguchi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Targaryen is trying to get back to full guard.
Targaryen gets back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horiguchi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Targaryen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Horiguchi.

Horiguchi clinches with his opponent.

Horiguchi pulls Targaryen into guard.
Targaryen trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Targaryen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Targaryen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Targaryen tries to free his leg and advance position but Horiguchi is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Targaryen trying to control but Horiguchi is working from the bottom.
Targaryen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Targaryen trying to control but Horiguchi is working from the bottom.
Targaryen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Horiguchi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Targaryen trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horiguchi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Targaryen works over Horiguchi with some ground and pound from guard.
Rhaegar Targaryen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Targaryen works over Horiguchi with some ground and pound from guard.
Horiguchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horiguchi trying to keep a closed guard but Targaryen is proving a slippery customer.
Targaryen with a nice head shot there.
Targaryen chips away with some ground and pound.
Targaryen wants to control from the top but Horiguchi keeps moving.
Targaryen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Targaryen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Targaryen trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horiguchi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Targaryen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Targaryen trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Targaryen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Targaryen is putting a hurting on Horiguchi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Targaryen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Targaryen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horiguchi keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Targaryen is controlling him well.
Horiguchi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Targaryen there.
Horiguchi trying to control but Targaryen postures up.
Targaryen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Targaryen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horiguchi's head.
Still in half guard, Targaryen seems content to control.

Horiguchi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Riki Horiguchi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Targaryen is pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Horiguchi is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rhaegar Targaryen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horiguchi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riki Horiguchi!