PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Piston Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fujiwara Tsuyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsuyoshi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. WHISPERED - HOLD THE SWORD kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Horiguchi
vs
Tsuyoshi

165 cm
29
139 lbs
11 - 5 - 2

172 cm
23
145 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 11 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Piston Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fujiwara Tsuyoshi!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi connects with a leg kick. Tsuyoshi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Horiguchi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Horiguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tsuyoshi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Horiguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tsuyoshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Horiguchi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Cooker in the buildup to the fight.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Horiguchi checks a leg kick.
Horiguchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Tsuyoshi counter with a right hand.
Tsuyoshi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tsuyoshi.
Horiguchi throws a looping overhand right but Tsuyoshi ducks down to avoid it.
Tsuyoshi throws a sloppy head kick and Horiguchi moves out of range easily.
Tsuyoshi throws a poor cross that misses
and Horiguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tsuyoshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horiguchi throws a good cross that connects.
Horiguchi is looking to slow Tsuyoshi down with leg kicks.
Horiguchi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Horiguchi throws a shot to the body.
Horiguchi dips to his left and cracks Tsuyoshi with an uppercut!
Horiguchi throws a sloppy head kick and Tsuyoshi moves out of range easily.
Tsuyoshi looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuyoshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tsuyoshi blocks a head kick by Horiguchi.
Nice defenses there by Tsuyoshi.
Horiguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tsuyoshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Horiguchi takes a swing at Tsuyoshi's ribcage but misses.
A little jabbing left from Tsuyoshi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
An inside leg kick from Tsuyoshi misses.
Tsuyoshi jabs Horiguchi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tsuyoshi misses with the body kick
and Horiguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tsuyoshi misses with a looping left.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tsuyoshi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Horiguchi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Horiguchi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tsuyoshi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tsuyoshi throws a head kick that misses.
Horiguchi throws a front kick aimed at Tsuyoshi's knee but Tsuyoshi avoids it well.
Tsuyoshi throws a big shot that misses.
Tsuyoshi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Horiguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tsuyoshi moves away from the strike by Horiguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuyoshi wants to slow Horiguchi down by chopping away at his legs.
Tsuyoshi wants to clinch.
Horiguchi throws a chopping leg kick but Tsuyoshi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Horiguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horiguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tsuyoshi momentarily.
Horiguchi throws a lazy right hand but Tsuyoshi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tsuyoshi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Tsuyoshi. That snapped Horiguchi's head back.
Tsuyoshi avoids a kick to the body.
Tsuyoshi throws a counter combo.
Tsuyoshi tries to clinch but Horiguchi moves away
and Horiguchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Horiguchi works the jab nicely.
Tsuyoshi scores with a head kick.
Tsuyoshi thumps Horiguchi with a low kick.
Horiguchi looks to land a right hand but Tsuyoshi moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuyoshi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Horiguchi is out of range.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Tsuyoshi avoids it easily.
Horiguchi throws out a loose jab but Tsuyoshi uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tsuyoshi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tsuyoshi blocks an uppercut.
Tsuyoshi pushes off an throws an elbow but Horiguchi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Horiguchi is trying to push Tsuyoshi away but Tsuyoshi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tsuyoshi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tsuyoshi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Horiguchi's defenses.
Horiguchi misses with the head strike.
Horiguchi avoids the elbow strike from Tsuyoshi, against the cage.
Horiguchi tries to break the clinch but Tsuyoshi is controlling the position.
Horiguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsuyoshi's elbow.
Tsuyoshi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Horiguchi avoids it.
Tsuyoshi misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to break the clinch but Tsuyoshi has him pressed against the cage.
Horiguchi tries to circle away but Tsuyoshi has him pinned against the cage.
Horiguchi avoiding damage as Tsuyoshi throws knees to the body.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch.
Horiguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tsuyoshi.
Sloppy strikes from Tsuyoshi. Those never looked like landing.
Horiguchi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tsuyoshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tsuyoshi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Horiguchi scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tsuyoshi. That's going to slow Horiguchi down.
Horiguchi lands a right hook to the body.
Tsuyoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Horiguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Tsuyoshi moves out of range.
Tsuyoshi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
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 Piston Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A low kick from Tsuyoshi misses
letting Horiguchi counter with a right hand.
Tsuyoshi with a nice cross.
Tsuyoshi tries to clinch up.
Horiguchi throws a lazy right hand but Tsuyoshi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tsuyoshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horiguchi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tsuyoshi. Tsuyoshi obviously looking to wear him down.
Tsuyoshi is looking to chop away at Horiguchi's legs.
Horiguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tsuyoshi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Horiguchi under the eye.
Tsuyoshi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Horiguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tsuyoshi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Horiguchi feints a jab promting Tsuyoshi to slip. Horiguchi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tsuyoshi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tsuyoshi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tsuyoshi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Horiguchi working aggressively here.
Horiguchi is trying to break the clinch but Tsuyoshi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tsuyoshi takes a shot to the head.
Horiguchi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tsuyoshi prevents Horiguchi from breaking the clinch.
Tsuyoshi being controlled against the cage.
Tsuyoshi crunches a lovely knee into Horiguchi's ribcage.
Horiguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tsuyoshi backwards.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Tsuyoshi.
Horiguchi is stalling here.
Tsuyoshi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Horiguchi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tsuyoshi is keeping busy.
Tsuyoshi misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands with a left to the head.

Horiguchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Horiguchi misses.
Tsuyoshi cracks Horiguchi with a good jab.

Tsuyoshi closes the distance and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tsuyoshi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Horiguchi's brow.
Horiguchi avoids the elbow strike from Tsuyoshi, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsuyoshi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tsuyoshi has Horiguchi pressed against the cage, preventing Horiguchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hook to the body lands for Horiguchi.
Tsuyoshi misses with a knee strike.

Horiguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsuyoshi lands with a nice body punch.
Tsuyoshi defending well as Horiguchi loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a sloppy head kick

and Tsuyoshi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tsuyoshi.
Horiguchi blocks an elbow strike from Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi lands a damaging elbow.
Tsuyoshi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Horiguchi stalling in the clinch.

Horiguchi breaks from the clinch.
Horiguchi throws a jab when Tsuyoshi was well out of range.
Tsuyoshi wants to clinch.
Horiguchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tsuyoshi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Horiguchi. Tsuyoshi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tsuyoshi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Horiguchi looks to land a combination but Tsuyoshi avoids it well.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi loads up on a big right hand but Tsuyoshi slips the punch.
Tsuyoshi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Tsuyoshi misses its intended target.
Tsuyoshi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Piston Horiguchi has been cut.
Tsuyoshi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi lands with a good body shot.
Tsuyoshi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tsuyoshi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Tsuyoshi moves away and avoids it.
Horiguchi slips a jab from Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horiguchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tsuyoshi doesn't seem bothered though.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Tsuyoshi moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Horiguchi. Those never looked like landing.
Tsuyoshi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Horiguchi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Piston Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Piston Horiguchi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tsuyoshi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horiguchi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Horiguchi lands a jab to Tsuyoshi's midsection.

Tsuyoshi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Horiguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Horiguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Horiguchi avoids a wild elbow strike from Tsuyoshi.
Horiguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tsuyoshi lands an elbow inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuyoshi misses with a knee to the head.
Tsuyoshi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Horiguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsuyoshi's elbow.

Horiguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsuyoshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Horiguchi does it's job there.
Horiguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tsuyoshi moves away from the strike by Horiguchi.
Tsuyoshi defending well as Horiguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Tsuyoshi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Tsuyoshi closes the distance and clinches.
Horiguchi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Horiguchi lands a left hand.
Horiguchi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsuyoshi lands an elbow just above Horiguchi 's eye.

Horiguchi manages to break the clinch.
Tsuyoshi tries to clinch but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Horiguchi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuyoshi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tsuyoshi takes one on the button.
Tsuyoshi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tsuyoshi scores with a jab to the jaw.

Tsuyoshi has Horiguchi up against the cage in a clinch.

Horiguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsuyoshi lands a body shot.
Tsuyoshi misses with a head kick.
Tsuyoshi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tsuyoshi was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Piston Horiguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Horiguchi walks into a straight right hand from Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Tsuyoshi blocks it.
Horiguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Tsuyoshi is just out of range.
It seemed like Tsuyoshi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tsuyoshi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tsuyoshi motions for Horiguchi to come forward. Tsuyoshi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tsuyoshi swings widly with a right hand
and Tsuyoshi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A clash of legs there as Horiguchi blocks the low kick.
Horiguchi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tsuyoshi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Horiguchi to score with a decent uppercut.
Tsuyoshi lunges at Horiguchi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Horiguchi's hand.
Horiguchi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Horiguchi connects with the punch.
Horiguchi missing with a left hand there. Tsuyoshi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A decent looking cross lands there for Horiguchi.
Tsuyoshi cracks Horiguchi with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tsuyoshi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tsuyoshi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsuyoshi moves out of range as Horiguchi strikes.
Tsuyoshi swings widly with a right hand
and Horiguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tsuyoshi. Tsuyoshi obviously looking to wear him down.
Piston Horiguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Horiguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tsuyoshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tsuyoshi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Horiguchi throws a big shot that misses.
Horiguchi throws a sloppy head kick and Tsuyoshi moves out of range easily.
Tsuyoshi wants to land a leg kick but Horiguchi is out of range.
Horiguchi thinks about countering with a head kick.
Tsuyoshi is looking to chop away at Horiguchi's legs.
A swing and a miss from Tsuyoshi.
Fujiwara Tsuyoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tsuyoshi misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fujiwara Tsuyoshi.
I think Horiguchi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fujiwara Tsuyoshi!
Fujiwara Tsuyoshi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.