PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between African King (ranked 2380 p4p, 5878 weight class) and Jack Horvat (ranked 322 p4p, 610 weight class). African King has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

King
vs
Horvat

180 cm
21
199
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
19
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, African King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Horvat!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Horvat.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Horvat gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Horvat blocking some punches.

Horvat jumps guard and drags King to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Horvat is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Horvat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

King gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Horvat gets the takedown into side control.
King has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Horvat trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is trying to control Horvat's posture but Horvat avoids it.
Horvat working the head with strikes.
King wants to control but Horvat postures up.
King is trying to escape the position but Horvat is controlling the position.
You can see the frustration on King's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
King is looking for a sweep.
King avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Horvat.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Horvat tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Horvat thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Horvat tries to move to mount but King blocks the move with his legs.
King is trying to improve his position.
King taking a bit of punishment here - Horvat scoring with strikes.
King is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Horvat off and has taken his back!
King 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.
Horvat is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to control but Horvat is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
King tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Horvat can't escape the position.
King tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Horvat wants to hold on but King pushes him away.

King stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
King looks to throw the jab but Horvat is out of range.
King lands a nice leg kick that just misses Horvat's sensitive parts.
Horvat throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Horvat fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from King.
Horvat swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Horvat clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horvat ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Horvat no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Horvat pushes King off and scrambles back to his feet.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from King.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Horvat looking to score a takedown here. King is defending well but Horvat drives through and ends up in King's guard.
Horvat's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Horvat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Horvat trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Horvat stopping the sweep attempt from King.

King pushes Horvat off and gets back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Horvat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Horvat will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

King tries a head kick but it misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by King!
Horvat avoids the head kick by King.

King tries to keep at a distance but Horvat has taken the fight into the clinch.
Horvat goes for a takedown attempt but King pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horvat fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. King looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
King throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King throws a head kick that misses.
King avoids the head kick by Horvat.

Horvat throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. King tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Horvat is in King's guard.
Horvat with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Horvat prevents King from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horvat throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.
King 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.
King looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Horvat's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

King scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Horvat is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in King's half guard.
Horvat prevents King from improving his position.
Horvat not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King wants to get back to his feet.
King wants to improve his position but Horvat is controlling well.
Horvat thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Horvat wants to free his trapped foot but King is holding on for dear life with his legs.
King wants to control but Horvat is keeping busy.
Horvat has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Horvat prevents King from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King wants to control but Horvat is keeping busy.
Horvat content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Horvat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. King looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
King tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Horvat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horvat tries for a kimura but King is defending well.
Horvat has knee on belly and moves into mount.
King is looking to get to half guard.
King regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horvat thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Horvat will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Horvat closes the distance and clinches.
Horvat gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from King.

Horvat pulls King into guard.
Horvat has his hands on King's head, controlling the position.
Horvat is trying to control the position but King postures up.
King stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horvat swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King wants to control from the top but Horvat keeps moving.
Horvat has a closed guard, preventing King from standing up.
Horvat wants to control the position but King says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horvat is holding on to half guard well.
King tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Horvat.
King wants to control but Horvat is keeping him busy.
King performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Horvat looking for submissions off his back.
Horvat slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King is looking to stand up but Horvat won't let him.
Horvat is controlling King's posture.
King wants to stand but Horvat is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
King lands a jab to the head.
African King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

King gets caught napping as Horvat dives in and scores a takedown. King manages to retain guard.
King managing to control the position.
Jack Horvat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Horvat is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
African King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horvat wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
Horvat content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Horvat with a flurry of punches that miss.
Horvat is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
King wants to stand up but Horvat is controlling him.
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Horvat manages to get himself to full guard.

Horvat working a defensive guard here.
Horvat has his hands on King's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King wants to control from the top but Horvat keeps moving.

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

Horvat closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into King's guard.

King has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Horvat is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Horvat lands a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Horvat avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Horvat has him pressed against the cage.

Horvat works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
King looking to hit a scissor sweep but Horvat is one step ahead there.
Jack Horvat is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Horvat controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jack Horvat.
I've got Horvat 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Horvat!