PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kantaro Hoshino (ranked 1716 p4p, 182 weight class) and Pikku Näkäräinen (ranked 2905 p4p, 269 weight class). Kantaro Hoshino has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hoshino
vs
Näkäräinen

165 cm
39
145 lbs
39 - 15 - 3

152 cm
48
150 lbs
38 - 24 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Aspire Clothing

FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 15 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Kantaro Hoshino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Pikku Näkäräinen!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoshino throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Näkäräinen slips under a jab.
Näkäräinen slips under a jab.
Näkäräinen wants to counter the offense by Hoshino and move into the clinch position.

Näkäräinen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Näkäräinen trying to control the position but Hoshino is working away.
Näkäräinen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hoshino sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Näkäräinen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Näkäräinen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoshino is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Näkäräinen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Näkäräinen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Näkäräinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Näkäräinen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Näkäräinen trying to control the action but Hoshino is working from the bottom.
Näkäräinen controls the position.

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.
Hoshino is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Näkäräinen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Näkäräinen advances to mount.
Hoshino blocking the ground and pound.
Näkäräinen tries to control but Hoshino wriggling away.
Näkäräinen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hoshino haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hoshino wants to get back to his feet.
Hoshino is squirming around, avoiding Näkäräinen's attempts to control the action.
Näkäräinen controlling from the full mount.

That's four 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.
Näkäräinen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hoshino avoids a series of strikes thrown by Näkäräinen.
Näkäräinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hoshino is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pikku Näkäräinen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hoshino lands a really nice looking cross but Näkäräinen seems unphased.
Hoshino ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Näkäräinen moves away.
Hoshino scores with a jab.
Hoshino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kantaro Hoshino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoshino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Näkäräinen manages to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hoshino throws a series of punches but Näkäräinen moves out of range.
Hoshino misses with a wild body shot.
Hoshino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Despite the aggression on Näkäräinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hoshino throws a shot from downtown. Näkäräinen moves away and avoids it.
Näkäräinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoshino.
A combination from Hoshino does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Näkäräinen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hoshino was covering up waiting for the punch and Näkäräinen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Näkäräinen throws a strike but Hoshino rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Näkäräinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Näkäräinen trying to control the position here.
Näkäräinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Näkäräinen is adopting a defensive guard.
Näkäräinen working a defensive guard but Hoshino passes into half guard.
Hoshino perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Näkäräinen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hoshino's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hoshino's back!

Hoshino is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Näkäräinen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Näkäräinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Näkäräinen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hoshino pinned against the cage. Hoshino gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Näkäräinen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Näkäräinen misses with a looping left.
Hoshino just misses with a punch to the body.
Näkäräinen shoots for a takedown but Hoshino saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hoshino misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoshino but Hoshino pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hoshino is looking to counter punch.
Kantaro Hoshino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pikku Näkäräinen.
Hoshino works Näkäräinen's body with a nice hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Hoshino scores with a four punch combination!
A punch combination from Hoshino misses.

Hoshino tries to sprawl but Näkäräinen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Näkäräinen is taking a breather. Hoshino says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hoshino tries to kick Näkäräinen off but Näkäräinen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hoshino definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Näkäräinen is trying to control. Hoshino wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Näkäräinen is looking for a kimura but Hoshino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Näkäräinen to get the leverage.
Näkäräinen not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino won't allow Näkäräinen to pass to mount.

Hoshino pushes Näkäräinen off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hoshino stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hoshino wants it to stay on the feet.
Hoshino goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kantaro Hoshino is winning the standup battle so far.
Näkäräinen shoots in for a takedown but Hoshino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hoshino is looking to counter punch.
Näkäräinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoshino throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Näkäräinen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kantaro Hoshino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hoshino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantaro Hoshino dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Näkäräinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Hoshino is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Näkäräinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Näkäräinen drops his hands momentarily and Hoshino takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hoshino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hoshino lands a really nice looking cross but Näkäräinen seems unphased.
Hoshino connects with a looping right hand.
Good exchange - Hoshino coming out on top.
Sloppy strikes from Hoshino. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoshino ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Näkäräinen moves away.
Näkäräinen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hoshino.
Näkäräinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hoshino's waist but Hoshino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Näkäräinen off to one side.
Kantaro Hoshino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pikku Näkäräinen.
Hoshino scores with a one two! Näkäräinen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
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!
Hoshino bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Näkäräinen is rocked!
A punch combination from Hoshino misses.
Näkäräinen is still on wobbly legs! Can Hoshino finish him?
Hoshino misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hoshino.
Hoshino misses with a straight right.
Näkäräinen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hoshino drops Näkäräinen with a naaaaasty hook - Näkäräinen is in real trouble here! Hoshino dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kantaro Hoshino!
Kantaro Hoshino managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Aspire Clothing, into his post fight interview.