PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bastyn Dall (ranked 1035 p4p, 49 weight class) and Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 1217 p4p, 56 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Dall might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Beast. Kyoji Horiguchi has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Dall
vs
Horiguchi

170 cm
32
135 lbs
21 - 17 - 1

164 cm
36
145 lbs
30 - 18 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Urban Fighter
Sin City Allstars

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 21 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bastyn Dall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 18 - 2, fighting out of London, Kyoji Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dall.
Horiguchi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dall is defended easily by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dall throws a hook but Horiguchi avoids it easily.
Horiguchi throws out a counter right but Dall avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dall's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Horiguchi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dall scrambles back to his feet.
Dall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Horiguchi tenderised Dall's leg. Dall is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dall blocks a head kick by Horiguchi.
Dall connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Horiguchi momentarily.
Dall moves out of range of the leg kick from Horiguchi.
Dall half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Horiguchi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi feints and then cracks Dall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dall down.
Horiguchi misses with a hook
and Dall counters with a nice body shot.
A shot to the liver by Dall. Beautiful body shot.
Horiguchi looks to land a left hand but Dall moved out of range nicely.
Dall pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut
and Dall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dall cracks Horiguchi with a good jab.
Dall misses with a takedown attempt - Horiguchi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dall pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dall.
Dall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dall feinted with a counter takedown.
Horiguchi throws a looping overhand right but Dall ducks down to avoid it.
Horiguchi is looking to chop away at Dall's legs.
Dall lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dall dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dall connects with a right hand. Horiguchi shakes it off.

It looks like Kyoji Horiguchi has been cut.
Dall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Horiguchi defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bastyn Dall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horiguchi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dall is out of range.
Horiguchi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The fighters circling - Horiguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dall uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dall scores with a nice head shot.
Horiguchi looks to throw a body kick
and Dall counters with a low kick, right behind Horiguchi 's knee.
Dall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Horiguchi sprawls well. Horiguchi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dall gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a nice looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dall. Horiguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looks like Dall has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Dall pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horiguchi throws a shot to the body.
Dall takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice shot by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi ducks right into an uppercut from Dall.
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Dall moves out of range.
Dall attempts a counter takedown but Horiguchi avoids it well and moves away.
Dall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Dall backs off Horiguchi throws a huge counter combo but Dall manages to avoid it all.
Dall is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Horiguchi lands with a straight right. Dall didn't see that one coming.
Dall connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Horiguchi momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Horiguchi - just one landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice jab there from Dall.
Horiguchi throws out a powerful jab.
Dall throws a head kick that misses.
Kyoji Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dall scores with a jab. Horiguchi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dall keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi scores with a shot to the body.
Horiguchi slips under a jab from Dall.
Dall throws a shot from downtown. Horiguchi moves away and avoids it.
Horiguchi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Horiguchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Horiguchi looks to throw the jab but Dall is out of range.
Horiguchi scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyoji Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyoji Horiguchi's cut.
That's time! Dall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horiguchi misses with a body kick.
Horiguchi throws a right hand that misses

and Dall counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dall is trying to control the action in half guard but Horiguchi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dall is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Horiguchi wants to get back to full guard.
Dall is trying to control. Horiguchi 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.
Horiguchi tries to roll over but Dall keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dall is trying to control. Horiguchi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dall sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dall prevents Horiguchi from standing back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Horiguchi manages to get to full guard.
Dall sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Dall drops back, looking for a kneebar! Horiguchi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Horiguchi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Horiguchi!

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Horiguchi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Dall sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Horiguchi lands a nice short elbow.
Horiguchi is thwarting Dall's attempts to control the position.
Horiguchi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Horiguchi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Dall actively working from the bottom here.
Dall is pressing down on Horiguchi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Horiguchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dall manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Horiguchi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Horiguchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horiguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dall looking to control.
Horiguchi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dall manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Horiguchi manages to get himself to full guard.

Horiguchi keeping full guard, as Dall tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to control the position but Dall postures up.
Bastyn Dall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Horiguchi is keeping the position for now.
Horiguchi has control of Dall's left arm, preventing Dall from doing any damage.
Horiguchi wants to control the position but Dall says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Horiguchi is staying active underneath Dall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dall is working for a submission of some sort.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dall is keen to just control but Horiguchi is a slippery customer.
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 Bastyn Dall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyoji Horiguchi's cut.
That's time! Dall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horiguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dall manages to avoid it.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dall slips under a jab from Horiguchi.
An attempted straight right counter from Dall misses the target.
Dall misses with a body shot.
Dall closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Both fighters circling a little - Horiguchi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Dall connects with a good right hand that stumbles Horiguchi. Horiguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Horiguchi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Horiguchi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dall checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dall is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi jabs at Dall's body.
Kyoji Horiguchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dall throws the kick towards the body but Horiguchi avoids it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Horiguchi! But no joy.
Dall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses.
Dall half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Horiguchi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dall uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dall.
Dall looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Horiguchi misses with a hook
and Dall counters with a stiff right hand.
Dall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Horiguchi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horiguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a big shot that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dall jabs Horiguchi right on the nose. Horiguchi blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a lazy right hand but Dall sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dall lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi with a jab.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Dall checks a leg kick nicely.

Dall is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Horiguchi's half guard.
Horiguchi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dall is trying to control the action in half guard but Horiguchi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dall is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dall is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to escape the mount.
Horiguchi is still trying to improve position.
Dall can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Horiguchi is looking to escape.
Horiguchi regains half guard.
Horiguchi is refusing to be controlled, as Dall sits in half guard.

That's four 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.

Dall wants to work for an arm triangle but Horiguchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dall seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Horiguchi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dall has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dall looking to control but Horiguchi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dall content just to control the position here.
Horiguchi is squirming around, avoiding Dall's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyoji Horiguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kyoji Horiguchi!
Kyoji Horiguchi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.