PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Stallion (ranked 278 p4p, 35 weight class) and Akaro Horiguchi (ranked 808 p4p, 101 weight class). Stallion comes to the cage accompanied by Ozzy Osborne - Crazy Horse. The crowd seem to be enjoying Horiguchi's choice of entrance music: Girl From The North Country. Akaro Horiguchi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stallion
vs
Horiguchi

173 cm
22
166 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

176 cm
22
168 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements

Dark Knight Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Harvey Stallion!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akaro Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stallion staying out of range there.
Stallion tries to counter with a takedown but Horiguchi is quick to defend against it.
Horiguchi feints a jab promting Stallion to slip. Horiguchi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Stallion slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stallion was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Stallion shoots in looking for a takedown but Horiguchi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stallion's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stallion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Horiguchi.

Stallion drives through and clinches with Horiguchi against the cage.
Stallion fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stallion tries to pull guard but Horiguchi holds him up against the cage and eventually Stallion drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Stallion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stallion lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Horiguchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Horiguchi.
Stallion slips a straight right by Horiguchi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stallion shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Horiguchi but Horiguchi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stallion swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Horiguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stallion. Horiguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Horiguchi misses.
Stallion walks forward, straight into a front kick from Horiguchi.
Nice uppercut there from Stallion.
Stallion cracks Horiguchi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stallion takes one to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Horiguchi.

Stallion closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Horiguchi quickly recovers to half guard.
Horiguchi is not content to let Stallion control the position.
Horiguchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stallion.
Stallion trying to mount his opponent but Horiguchi defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi wants to get back to full guard.
Stallion trying to control from half guard but Horiguchi is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stallion not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Horiguchi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stallion stalling.
Stallion is pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Horiguchi is holding on for now.
Stallion trying to control from Horiguchi's half guard. Horiguchi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Stallion postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stallion missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stallion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horiguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horiguchi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stallion throwing strikes but missing.
Stallion trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stallion sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Horiguchi's guard.
Stallion wants to pass to mount but Horiguchi is defending the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stallion working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Horiguchi is looking for a sweep. Stallion is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi wants to control but Stallion is keeping busy.
Horiguchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stallion.
Horiguchi wants to improve his position but Stallion is controlling well.
Stallion throwing shots but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.
Horiguchi is refusing to be controlled, as Stallion sits in half guard.
Stallion content to control rather than advance.
Stallion wants to pass to mount but Horiguchi is defending the position.
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 Harvey Stallion will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stallion goes for a double leg but Horiguchi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Horiguchi continues to drive forward.
Horiguchi walks into a left hand.
Stallion moves in looking to clinch but Horiguchi pushes him off.
Horiguchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Stallion dives in and grabs Horiguchi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Horiguchi pushes down on Stallion's head and hops out.
Stallion misses the jab.
Stallion thuds a left hand into Horiguchi's body.
Horiguchi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stallion bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Stallion rushes Horiguchi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stallion drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Stallion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stallion keeps control of Horiguchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stallion dives in and scores a takedown into Horiguchi's guard.
Stallion has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallion trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stallion throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stallion with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stallion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horiguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stallion postures up.
Stallion is looking to work some ground and pound but Horiguchi has wrist control.
Stallion throwing strikes but missing.
Stallion wants to control from the top but Horiguchi keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Horiguchi is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Stallion is retaining full guard.
Stallion wants to sweep but no luck.
Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Stallion keeps moving.
Horiguchi wants to pass the guard but Stallion is keeping the position.
Horiguchi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Horiguchi stopping the sweep attempt from Stallion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horiguchi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Stallion has closed the distance and engaged Horiguchi in a clinch.
Stallion looking for a takedown.
Horiguchi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stallions head.
Stallion fails to pull guard.
Stallion tries to score a body lock takedown but Horiguchi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stallion tries to score a body lock takedown but Horiguchi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stallion has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Horiguchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Horiguchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Horiguchi gets caught napping as Stallion dives in and scores a takedown. Horiguchi manages to retain guard.

Horiguchi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Akaro Horiguchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horrible takedown attempt by Stallion or perhaps it was just good defense by Horiguchi, which made it look bad.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut. Stallion saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stallion has Horiguchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Stallion has Horiguchi pressed against the cage, preventing Horiguchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stallion prevents Horiguchi from breaking the clinch.
Horiguchi tries to break the clinch but Stallion is controlling the position.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horiguchi misses the shot to the body.

Stallion moves into range and clinches up with Horiguchi.
Horiguchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stallion has him pressed against the cage.
Horiguchi gets underhooks to prevent Stallion's takedown attempt.
Stallion can't find room to land a body shot as Horiguchi controls the action.
Stallion is working for takedown but Horiguchi is calmly controlling the position for now.

Stallion drags the fight down to the ground.
Horiguchi wants to pass the guard but Stallion is keeping the position.
Stallion 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akaro Horiguchi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stallion moves out of range of the strikes.
Stallion half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Horiguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stallion momentarily.

Stallion feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Horiguchi pushes Stallion off and gets back to his feet.
Horiguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Horiguchi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Horiguchi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stallion uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Horiguchi.
Stallion misses with a looping right.
Horiguchi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Horiguchi counters with a straight right hand.
Stallion has been working on his balance at Chris Leben KO Academy , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a looping overhand right but Stallion ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallion thows a left - swing and a miss!
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Stallion moves out of range.
Stallion fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horiguchi jabs Stallion right on the nose. Stallion blinks but takes it well.

Stallion dives in and scores a takedown into Horiguchi's guard.

Horiguchi manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Stallion has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Horiguchi uses from the top position.
Stallion being controlled here, momentarily.
Stallion tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Horiguchi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stallion can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Horiguchi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stallion to his feet.
Stallion misses with a straight right.
Horiguchi lands an overhand right.
Stallion slips a straight right by Horiguchi.
Stallion tries to clinch but Horiguchi is having none of it.
Horiguchi throws a counter combo.
A cross from Horiguchi lands.
Horiguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stallion.
Horiguchi throws a sloppy head kick and Stallion moves out of range easily.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses

and Stallion counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stallion winds up and cracks Horiguchi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stallion is pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Horiguchi is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stallion throwing shots but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.
Horiguchi wants to get back to his feet.
Stallion is nestled in close to Horiguchi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stallion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horiguchi's head.
Horiguchi is looking for a sweep. Stallion is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stallion passes to side control.
Stallion trying to control the action but Horiguchi is working from the bottom.
Stallion throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stallion throwing strikes but Horiguchi manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Stallion tries to improve position but can't.
Stallion wants to control but Horiguchi postures up.
Stallion tries to improve position but can't.
Horiguchi takes a little break here. Stallion wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Stallion is looking to regain half guard here but Horiguchi keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akaro Horiguchi really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stallion dives in and grabs Horiguchi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Horiguchi pushes down on Stallion's head and hops out.
Horiguchi misses with a hook.
Stallion changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Stallion ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stallion is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Horiguchi.
An inside leg kick from Horiguchi misses.
Horiguchi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stallion throws a looping overhand right but Horiguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Stallion swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses.
Horiguchi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stallion thuds a left hand into Horiguchi's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi lands the left hand.

Stallion has closed the distance and engaged Horiguchi in a clinch.
Stallion jumps guard but Horiguchi stands there with Stallion around his waist. Stallion gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Horiguchi is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallion changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Horiguchi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Stallion. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stallion closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Horiguchi tries to bench press Stallion off him but Stallion keeps the position.
Stallion working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Stallion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horiguchi keeps working.
Stallion is trying to ground and pound but Horiguchi uses the momentary lack of control by Stallion to regain half guard.
Horiguchi is staying active underneath Stallion, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stallion throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stallion throwing shots but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.
Stallion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horiguchi keeps working.
Stallion working over Horiguchi with some ground and pound. Horiguchi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Horiguchi is looking to control Stallion's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Horiguchi avoid being mounted?
Stallion looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Horiguchi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stallion 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.
Harvey Stallion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stallion wants to pass to mount but Horiguchi is defending the position.
Horiguchi wants to control but Stallion is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Stallion is staying active.
Stallion trying to control from half guard but Horiguchi is working away.
Stallion looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stallion is pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Horiguchi is holding on for now.
Stallion is working hard here to advance position.
Stallion is just content to waste time from the top position. Horiguchi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Horiguchi keeping full guard, as Stallion tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Horiguchi misses with a double jab.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Stallion moves away and avoids it.
Stallion walks into a jab.
Stallion misses the shot to the body.
Horiguchi swings for the body but Stallion moves out of range.
Stallion tries to counter by clinching up but Horiguchi breaks away and moves out of range.
Stallion tries to clinch up but Horiguchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Stallion backing away here, and Horiguchi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Stallion rushes Horiguchi and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horiguchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Stallion won't allow it.

Stallion has Horiguchi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stallion pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Horiguchi tumbling to the mat - Stallion dives into Horiguchi's guard.
Stallion pushes down on Horiguchi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Harvey Stallion will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stallion takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Stallion misses with a takedown attempt - Horiguchi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stallion fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stallion tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stallion shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Horiguchi as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Stallion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horiguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Stallion down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stallion or perhaps it was just good defense by Horiguchi, which made it look bad.
Horiguchi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fighters circling - Horiguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stallion blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stallion will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stallion wants to clinch.

Stallion fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Horiguchi to the ground. Stallion is now in Horiguchi's guard.
Stallion is standing up over Horiguchi. Horiguchi looks to escape but Stallion dives into side control.

Stallion in side control, throwing shots but Horiguchi defends.
Stallion looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Horiguchi is avoiding damage well.
Horiguchi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Stallion 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stallion tries to score with some ground and pound. Horiguchi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Horiguchi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Stallion tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Stallion lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Horiguchi down.
Horiguchi defending against the ground and pound.
Stallion lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stallion wants to control for a moment but Horiguchi uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Stallion working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Stallion throwing shots but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stallion moves nicely into side control.
Stallion working away.
Stallion postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Horiguchi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Stallion's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Stallion not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Horiguchi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Stallion.
Stallion trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stallion trying to move into half guard but instead Horiguchi has managed to sweep!

Stallion wants to sweep but no luck.
Stallion throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Horiguchi won't allow Stallion to sweep him here.
Stallion is looking to sweep but instead, Horiguchi has passed into half guard.
Stallion is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stallion trying to hold on to Horiguchi's head to control him but Horiguchi postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akaro Horiguchi.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 49:46
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Harvey Stallion!
Harvey Stallion retains his lightweight title!
A very excited looking Harvey Stallion made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.