PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Israel Hands (ranked 1141 p4p, 138 weight class) and Akaro Horiguchi (ranked 489 p4p, 63 weight class). Hands comes to the cage accompanied by A Collection of Sea Shanties. Horiguchi has chosen Japanese Imperial Army Victory March as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hands
vs
Horiguchi

175 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
168 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

PWNAGE
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Hands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akaro Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horiguchi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Horiguchi moves out of range of the leg kick from Hands.
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Hands's shoulder, as Hands tries to avoid the shot.
Hands lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Horiguchi at a distance.
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Hands's shoulder, as Hands tries to avoid the shot.
Hands cracks Horiguchi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hands scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Horiguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Horiguchi lands a head shot.
Horiguchi lands a head kick. Hands smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hands looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
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!
A jab lands there for Horiguchi.
Hands keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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.
Horiguchi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hands gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Horiguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi is looking to clinch.
Hands misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi thumps Hands with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Horiguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Hands wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Horiguchi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Akaro Horiguchi has been cut.
Hands takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hands misses the shot to the body.
Horiguchi throws out a counter right but Hands avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horiguchi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hands. That's going to slow Horiguchi down.
Horiguchi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A solid leg kick lands there for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hands 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.
An inside leg kick lands from Horiguchi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horiguchi lands with a nice body kick.
Hands throws a head kick but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Horiguchi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Horiguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A leg kick checked by Horiguchi.
Hands throws a lazy right hand but Horiguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Hands moves out of range.
Horiguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hands.
Horiguchi moves out of range as Hands throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands staying out of range there.
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.
Hands misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Horiguchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hands looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hands chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hands.

Horiguchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hands ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hands no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hands controls Horiguchi momentarily but Horiguchi frees himself.
Hands is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hands is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Horiguchi defends well.
Hands is trying to keep Horiguchi in close.
Hands wants to sweep here but Horiguchi controlling him for the moment.

Hands working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Horiguchi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Horiguchi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hands looking for subs off his back but Horiguchi has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Akaro Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Akaro Horiguchi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horiguchi closes the distance and clinches.
Hands lands with a short shot to the head.
Hands looking for a takedown.
Horiguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hands struggles to land a body shot inside as Horiguchi controls his hands.
Horiguchi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Horiguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hands makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hands misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hands tries to pull guard but Horiguchi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Horiguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Horiguchi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hands's brow.
Horiguchi lands a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hands has him pressed against the cage.

Horiguchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Horiguchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Horiguchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hands takes one to the chin there.

Horiguchi clinches.
Hands is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Horiguchi to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Hands. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Hands.
Hands lands an uppercut.
A short right from Hands on the inside.
Horiguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Hands scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice left hand lands by Hands.
Hands lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Horiguchi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hands.
Horiguchi blocks an uppercut.
Horiguchi misses with the head strike.
Horiguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Horiguchi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Horiguchi takes a shot to the head.

Hands turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Horiguchi is trying to get back to his feet.

Hands tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hands advances to mount.

Hands is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Horiguchi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Horiguchi has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Horiguchi's body.
Hands tries to keep control of the position but Horiguchi is staying busy.
Hands slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Horiguchi turns into Hands and is now in his guard.
Horiguchi wants to get up but he can't break Hands's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hands is trying to control the position but Horiguchi postures up.

Hands is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Hands throws his legs up looking for a submission but Horiguchi uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands is looking for a sweep.
Hands is working hard here to advance position.
Horiguchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hands keeps working.
Hands is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Horiguchi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hands gets back to full guard.
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.
The cut man is working on Akaro Horiguchi's cut.
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!

Horiguchi pushes Hands away with a front kick.
Hands throws a body punch but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Hands is looking to wear down Horiguchi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hands throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice body punch from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a good cross that connects.
Hands throws a leg kick but Horiguchi moved away.
A cross from Horiguchi lands.
A shot to the liver by Horiguchi. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Horiguchi finds it's way through Hands's defenses.
Hands connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horiguchi wants to land a leg kick but Hands is out of range.
Horiguchi misses with a straight left.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hands looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Hands swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hands moves forwards but Horiguchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Horiguchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Horiguchi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hands at a distance.
Horiguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Horiguchi tries to clinch but Hands is having none of it.
A punch lands to the side of Hands 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hands throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hands lands with a nice body kick.
Horiguchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hands throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horiguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hands looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hands tests Horiguchi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick misses from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hands's head.
Horiguchi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hands has time to react.
Hands is looking to land body kicks.
Horiguchi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Horiguchi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hands can pounce on him.
Horiguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Hands misses its target.
A telegraphed right hand from Horiguchi misses the target.
Hands throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands throws a shot from downtown. Horiguchi moves away and avoids it.
Hands bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hands is looking to counter punch.
Hands connects with an inside leg kick.
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Hands moves out of range.
Horiguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hands sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Horiguchi closes the distance and clinches.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hands swats away the attempt to clinch by Horiguchi.
Hands misses with a double jab.
Nice straight punches there by Horiguchi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Horiguchi.

Hands lands a left and a right that sends Horiguchi crashing to the canvas! Hands dives into mount looking to finish!

Horiguchi is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hands controlling from mount.
Hands pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Horiguchi can't escape the position.
Hands controlling from the full mount.
Horiguchi is working to get back to half guard.
Hands sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Horiguchi is squirming around, avoiding Hands's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akaro Horiguchi.
I've got Horiguchi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Akaro Horiguchi!
After winning the bout, Akaro Horiguchi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.