PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akaro Horiguchi (ranked 574 p4p, 1346 weight class) and Skillz Kneeland (ranked 69 p4p, 157 weight class). Horiguchi comes to the cage accompanied by Japanese Imperial Army Death March. Kneeland has chosen Kung Fu FIghting as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Horiguchi
vs
Kneeland

176 cm
27
159
11 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
156
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Conquer

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akaro Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Skillz Kneeland!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi with the inside leg kick.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Kneeland off balance momentarily.
Horiguchi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horiguchi throws a sloppy body shot
and Horiguchi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the body
and Kneeland counters with an inside leg kick.
Kneeland keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Horiguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Horiguchi with a nice calf kick.
Horiguchi misses the shot to the body.
Kneeland looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice body punch from Kneeland.
Kneeland takes a swing at Horiguchi's ribcage but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kneeland under the eye.
Kneeland throws a body shot but no joy.
Horiguchi misses with a low kick.
Kneeland takes a swing at Horiguchi's ribcage but misses.
Kneeland rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Horiguchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horiguchi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kneeland connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi ducks under a wild hook from Kneeland.
Kneeland has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Horiguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick which misses Kneeland's front leg but catches the back leg as Kneeland tries to avoid it.
Kneeland throws a big shot that misses.
Kneeland checks a leg kick.
Kneeland throws out a loose jab but Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Horiguchi throws a shot to the body.
Horiguchi misses with a shot to the body
and Kneeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horiguchi dodges the punch combination from Kneeland.
Horiguchi lands with a shot to the body.
Horiguchi lands with an uppercut that bounces Kneeland off the cage and back into range.

Horiguchi moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi is looking to take this one to the mat.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horiguchi dodges the punch combination from Kneeland.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick but Kneeland checks it.
Kneeland misses with a body shot.
Kneeland throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kneeland lands a right hook to the body.
Horiguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kneeland avoids the body shot from Horiguchi.
Kneeland lands with a nice combination. Horiguchi backs away looking to recover.
Kneeland swings for the body but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Kneeland throws a jab but it's blocked by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi ducks under a wild hook from Kneeland.
Horiguchi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Horiguchi.
Kneeland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Kneeland does it's job there.
Kneeland connects with a solid leg kick.
Horiguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kneeland manages to avoid it.
Kneeland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Horiguchi moves away.
Kneeland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horiguchi moves out of range of the strikes.

Kneeland clinches up against the cage.
Kneeland goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Horiguchi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kneeland's efforts to push away.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kneeland.
Horiguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
Kneeland lands a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kneeland blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kneeland.

Horiguchi manages to break the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kneeland checks a leg kick.
Horiguchi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Horiguchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kneeland. That did some damage!
Kneeland throws a hook but Horiguchi blocks it.
Horiguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kneeland takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Horiguchi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Horiguchi misses with a low kick as Kneeland jumps back.
Kneeland unleashes a big counter combination but Horiguchi bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Horiguchi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kneeland checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kneeland walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Horiguchi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice uppercut there from Kneeland.
Horiguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Kneeland to counter with a crisp jab.
Horiguchi misses the shot to the body.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Skillz Kneeland will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kneeland ducks right into an uppercut from Horiguchi.
Kneeland's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Horiguchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kneeland.

Kneeland clinches up with Horiguchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Horiguchi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Horiguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Kneeland.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kneeland.
Horiguchi blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Horiguchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kneeland throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Horiguchi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kneeland misses with an elbow strike.
Horiguchi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kneeland's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Kneeland.
Akaro Horiguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Horiguchi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Horiguchi tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kneeland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horiguchi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi avoids the body shot from Kneeland.
Skillz Kneeland seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horiguchi scoring well with a low kick there.
Kneeland keeps the fight on the outside.
Kneeland tries a quick counter leg kick but Horiguchi is wise to it.
Kneeland misses with a low kick.
Horiguchi lands with a straight right. Kneeland didn't see that one coming.
Kneeland fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Horiguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kneeland looks to score with a jab to the body but Horiguchi is just out of range.
Kneeland walks into a left hand.
Horiguchi staying out of range there.
Horiguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kneeland takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kneeland misses with an uppercut.
Kneeland takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A good leg kick by Horiguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick from Horiguchi misses
letting Kneeland counter with a right hand.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A good leg kick by Kneeland.
Kneeland has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kneeland there as he acknowledges the shot.
Horiguchi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Kneeland blocks it.
Horiguchi takes a swing at Kneeland's ribcage but misses.
Kneeland misses with a hook. Horiguchi ducked under it nicely.
A jab lands there for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kneeland thuds a left hand into Horiguchi's body.
Kneeland throws the left hand but Horiguchi avoids the punch easily.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kneeland misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kneeland tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Horiguchi.
Kneeland pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Horiguchi back to the cage. Kneeland follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Kneeland moves out of range.
Horiguchi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A shot to the body from Horiguchi misses
and Kneeland counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Horiguchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kneeland takes one to the chin there.
Horiguchi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kneeland counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kneeland swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Horiguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Kneeland throws a series of punches but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Horiguchi is looking to wear down Kneeland with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kneeland takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Horiguchi connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi scores with a body shot.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick but Kneeland moved away.
Horiguchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kneeland pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Horiguchi checks a leg kick.
Kneeland lands a really nice looking cross but Horiguchi seems unphased.
Horiguchi takes a swing at Kneeland's ribcage but misses.
A little jabbing left from Kneeland on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kneeland throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horiguchi misses the shot to the body.

Horiguchi moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kneeland.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horiguchi blocks the elbow strike.

Kneeland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kneeland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kneeland lands a nice shot that snaps Horiguchi's head back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akaro Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Horiguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Horiguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kneeland! But no joy.
Kneeland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Horiguchi.
Kneeland misses with an uppercut. Horiguchi saw that one coming.
Horiguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Horiguchi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Horiguchi misses with a shot to the body
and Kneeland counters with a nice uppercut.

Horiguchi is rocked!
Horiguchi connects with a solid leg kick.
Horiguchi sizes up Kneeland with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kneeland.
Horiguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kneeland.
Kneeland pivots, looking for a leg kick but Horiguchi is out of range and Kneeland settles back down.
Kneeland misses with a wild combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Horiguchi as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Kneeland moves out of range.
A slow jab from Horiguchi misses its intended target.
Kneeland connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Horiguchi's hands.
Horiguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kneeland throws out the jab.
Kneeland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Horiguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kneeland misses with a looping left.
Horiguchi looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Horiguchi misses with a straight right.
Horiguchi misses with a straight left.
A big left from Horiguchi misses.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kneeland was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Kneeland avoids the body shot from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A slow jab from Kneeland misses its intended target.
Horiguchi half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi ducks under a wild hook from Kneeland.
Horiguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kneeland misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Horiguchi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kneeland.
Kneeland turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kneeland blocks a leg kick.
Kneeland has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Horiguchi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sloppy strikes from Kneeland. Those never looked like landing.
Nice uppercut lands for Horiguchi. That snapped Kneeland's head back.
Horiguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kneeland is just out of range.
Kneeland blocks a jab.
Kneeland walks into a straight right hand from Horiguchi.
Kneeland checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Horiguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kneeland.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kneeland moves away.
Kneeland throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Kneeland throws a looping overhand right but Horiguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Horiguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kneeland is just out of range.
Kneeland throws a counter combo.
Horiguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kneeland throws out the jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Horiguchi checks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Horiguchi.
Kneeland looks to land a left hand but Horiguchi moved out of range nicely.
Horiguchi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kneeland's head.
Horiguchi looks to land a left hand but Kneeland moved out of range nicely.
Kneeland feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Horiguchis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kneeland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Horiguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kneeland throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Kneeland misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kneeland has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Horiguchi lands an overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi throws a head kick but Kneeland moves out of range.
Kneeland throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick but Kneeland sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kneeland displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Horiguchi throws out the jab.
Kneeland now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kneeland. That's going to slow Horiguchi down.
Horiguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Horiguchi tests Kneeland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Horiguchi lands a head kick. Kneeland smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Jab, jab by Horiguchi - just one landing.

Kneeland is rocked!
Kneeland throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kneeland moves away from the strike by Horiguchi.
Despite the aggression on Kneeland's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Horiguchi misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akaro Horiguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horiguchi 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Akaro Horiguchi!
Akaro Horiguchi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.