PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lowe (ranked 1054 p4p, 51 weight class) and Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 1894 p4p, 93 weight class). Kyoji Horiguchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lowe
vs
Horiguchi

172 cm
27
142 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

164 cm
39
145 lbs
32 - 21 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Lowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyoji Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lowe throws a right and a left that Horiguchi avoids nicely.
Lowe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Horiguchi tries a head kick but it misses.
Lowe throws a lazy body kick
and Horiguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lowe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lowe throws out the jab.
Horiguchi ducks right into an uppercut from Lowe.

It looks like Kyoji Horiguchi has been cut.
Lowe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lowe throws a chopping leg kick but Horiguchi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Lowe's shoulder, as Lowe tries to avoid the shot.
Horiguchi throws out a loose jab but Lowe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lowe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've been informed that Horiguchi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Lowe ducks under a wild hook from Horiguchi.
A low kick from Horiguchi is predictable there
and Lowe counters with a three punch combo that has Horiguchi backing up. Horiguchi nods at Lowe to acknowledge the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horiguchi defending well as Lowe loads up on a big left hand.
Horiguchi blocks a jab.
Horiguchi tests Lowe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lowe is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi misses with a straight left.
Horiguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lowe manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lowe. Horiguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Lowe!
Lowe throws a body punch but Horiguchi moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lowe checks a leg kick.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot.
Lowe appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lowe misses with a body punch
and Horiguchi counters with a left and a right that stings Lowe.
Horiguchi scores with a leg kick.
Horiguchi scores with a nice strike.
Lowe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lowe throws a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head but Horiguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Horiguchi throws out a counter right but Lowe avoids it with no problem.
A leg kick checked by Horiguchi.
Lowe looks to score with a jab to the body but Horiguchi is just out of range.
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!
Lowe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Lowe.
Lowe throws out a loose jab but Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lowe connects with a nice looking jab.
Lowe lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lowe looks to land a right hand but Horiguchi moved out of range.
Horiguchi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Lowe moves out of range.
Lowe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lowe throws a shot from downtown. Horiguchi moves away and avoids it.
Horiguchi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Horiguchi.
Lowe tried to score with a low kick but Horiguchi checks it.
Lowe misses with a series of wild punches.
Lowe will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lowe lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi misses with a straight left.
Horiguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lowe was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lowe misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horiguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Horiguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lowe.
Horiguchi just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromLowe.
Horiguchi misses with a straight right.
Horiguchi avoids the body shot from Lowe.
Horiguchi ducks under a wild hook from Lowe.
Horiguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horiguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Lowe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horiguchi throws a push kick but Lowe slaps the foot to one side.
Horiguchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horiguchi misses with a hook.
A head kick from Lowe lands but Horiguchi takes it in his stride.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lowe checks it well.
Good standup being displayed there by Horiguchi as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Horiguchi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Horiguchi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left lands for Lowe.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lowe.
Lowe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Horiguchi manages to avoid it.
Horiguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lowe thinks about countering with a body kick.
Lowe lands with a nice combination. Horiguchi backs away looking to recover.
Horiguchi looks to land a right hand but Lowe moved out of range.
Horiguchi jabs Lowe to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Horiguchi.
Lowe scores with a jab to the head.
Horiguchi looks to land a left hand but Lowe moved out of range nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lowe turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lowe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Horiguchi.
Lowe takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lowe throws a right hand that Horiguchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Horiguchi also avoids with ease.
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 Mike Lowe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyoji Horiguchi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horiguchi slips under a jab from Lowe.
Lowe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Horiguchis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Horiguchi looks to land a combination. Lowe sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Mike Lowe has been cut.
Lowe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horiguchi throws a chopping leg kick but Lowe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lowe moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Horiguchi lands a head shot.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lowe was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Lowe throws a leg kick which misses Horiguchi's front leg but catches the back leg as Horiguchi tries to avoid it.
Lowe lands a body shot.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lowe.
Horiguchi tests Lowe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab lands there for Horiguchi.
Lowe tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lowe throws a big counter combination but Horiguchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lowe misses with a hook to the body
and Horiguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Horiguchi with a jab.

Lowe is rocked!
Lowe cracks the inside of Horiguchi's front leg.
Oh Lowe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lowe moves out of range as Horiguchi strikes.
Lowe seems to have got his legs back now.
Horiguchi misses with a right hand
and Lowe counters with a left to the body.
Horiguchi throws a poor cross that misses
and Lowe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Horiguchi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lowe stalks Horiguchi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Horiguchi's face. Horiguchi staggers backwards, shaken.
A punch combination from Lowe misses.
Horiguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lowe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lowe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lowe blocks a leg kick.
Lowe staying out of range there.
Lowe checks the leg kick.
Horiguchi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mike Lowe is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowe swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Lowe.
A swing and a miss from Lowe.
A little jabbing left from Horiguchi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Horiguchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lowe counters with a good, hard body kick but Horiguchi shrugs it off.
Lowe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horiguchi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lowe has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice uppercut lands for Lowe. That snapped Horiguchi's head back.
Horiguchi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lowe checks a leg kick nicely.
Horiguchi is looking to slow Lowe down with leg kicks.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
Horiguchi defending well as Lowe loads up on a big left hand.
Lowe slips under a jab from Horiguchi.
Lowe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horiguchi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lowe.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lowe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Horiguchi looks to throw the jab but Lowe is out of range.
Horiguchi throws the left hand but Lowe avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Horiguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lowe lands a right hook to the body.
Horiguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick that misses.
Lowe throws a lazy right hand but Horiguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lowe misses with a left hand
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Lowe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Lowe moves away and avoids it.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lowe throws a big counter combination but Horiguchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lowe throws a lazy right hand but Horiguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lowe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Horiguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Lowe.
Lowe throws a low kick, looking for Horiguchi's leg but Horiguchi calmly moves out of range.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lowe was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Lowe blocks the low kick.
Nice body kick from Lowe.
Lowe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Lowe's shoulder, as Lowe tries to avoid the shot.
Horiguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lowe manages to avoid it.
Lowe is looking to counter with a body kick.
Horiguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Lowe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lowe misses the body punch
letting Horiguchi counter with a right hand.
Horiguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lowe digs a good hook to Horiguchi's body.
Lowe checks a leg kick.
Horiguchi misses with a right hand
enabling Lowe to counter with a crisp jab.
Mike Lowe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Lowe's shoulder, as Lowe tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lowe checks a low kick from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lowe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyoji Horiguchi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lowe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Horiguchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lowe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Lowe misses.
Lowe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Horiguchi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lowe tried to counter with a leg kick but Horiguchi avoided it.
Horiguchi throws a lazy uppercut
and Lowe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Horiguchi.
Lowe lands a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Lowe down.
Horiguchi slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lowe blocks a leg kick.
Horiguchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lowe throws a big counter combination but Horiguchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Horiguchi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lowe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Horiguchi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horiguchi avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi checks a leg kick nicely.
Horiguchi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A low kick from Horiguchi misses
and Lowe counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Lowe.
Horiguchi misses with a looping right.
Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lowe.
Lowe throws a leg kick but Horiguchi checks it.
Horiguchi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Horiguchi cracks Lowe with a right hand to the side of the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Horiguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lowe working aggressively here.
Lowe swings wildly with an uppercut but Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lowe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Horiguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Lowe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi prevents a body shot from Lowe.
Lowe throws a punch but it's blocked by Horiguchi.
A right handed body shot lands from Horiguchi.
A right hook to the body lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi blocks an elbow strike from Lowe.
Horiguchi is struggling to control the position.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Lowe.
Lowe lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lowe tries to throw a body punch but Horiguchi avoids it by throwing Lowe back against the cage.
Lowe misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Horiguchi.

Horiguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horiguchi throws a push kick but Lowe slaps the foot to one side.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowe lands a head kick!
Horiguchi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lowe on the side of the head.
Horiguchi misses with a looping right.
Lowe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Horiguchi manages to avoid it.
Lowe lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Lowe.
Lowe looks for the body kick but Horiguchi saw that one coming.
Lowe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lowe misses with a wild body shot.
Lowe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horiguchi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A low kick from Lowe is predictable there
and Horiguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Lowe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horiguchi moves out of range as Lowe strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A left lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lowe counters with a thumping low kick.
Lowe checks a leg kick nicely.
Lowe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Horiguchi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lowe feints a jab promting Horiguchi to slip. Lowe then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Horiguchi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Lowe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Horiguchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lowe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Horiguchi moves away.
Danga de danga de dang - Lowe scores with a four punch combination!
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
Lowe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Horiguchi counters with a good low kick that Lowe was not able to check.
Horiguchi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lowe thinks about countering with a body kick.
Lowe moves out of range of the body kick.
Horiguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Lowe.
Well Lowe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Lowe!
Mike Lowe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.