PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Horton (ranked 3818 p4p, 4334 weight class) and Kelvin Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 375 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Horton
vs
Armstrong

170 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arthur Horton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kelvin Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Armstrong tries to score a power double leg takedown but Horton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Armstrong somewhat.

Horton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Horton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horton wants to control but Armstrong is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Horton is keen to just control but Armstrong is a slippery customer.
Horton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Horton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Armstrong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Horton throwing shots but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Armstrong is looking to control Horton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Armstrong avoid being mounted?
Horton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Horton wants to pass to mount but Armstrong is defending the position.
Armstrong is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Horton manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Horton pulls Armstrong into guard.

Horton wriggles free and stands up.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arthur Horton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelvin Armstrong.

Horton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Armstrong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Horton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horton is trying to get an arm triangle but Armstrong is defending well.
Horton working the ground and pound but Armstrong is defending the strikes.

Horton stands up and beckons Armstrong to his feet.

Horton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Horton has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Horton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Horton is trying to control. Armstrong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Armstrong wants to control but Horton is keeping busy.
Armstrong manages to get to full guard.
Horton pushes down on Armstrong's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Horton prevents Armstrong from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Horton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horton slaps away a takedown attempt from Armstrong, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Horton as he jumps to the side.
Horton tries to counter with a takedown but Armstrong is quick to defend against it.
Horton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Armstrong can do to turn this around?
Horton slaps away a takedown attempt from Armstrong, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arthur Horton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelvin Armstrong.

Armstrong gets caught flat footed, as Horton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Horton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horton controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong controls Horton momentarily but Horton frees himself.
Armstrong wants to sweep here but Horton controlling him for the moment.
Armstrong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Horton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Armstrong had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Horton defends it easily.
Horton stands and throws Armstrong's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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.
Horton throws an elbow but Armstrong slips to the side and avoids it well.

Horton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Armstrong to his feet.
Horton tries to clinch there but Armstrong circles away.
Armstrong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Horton defends well and Armstrong ends up having to push Horton into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Armstrong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Horton is fending him off so far but Armstrong persists. Nope, Horton circles away and we're back to standing.
Armstrong is breathing heavily.
Horton throws a leg kick but Armstrong sees it coming and moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Armstrong or perhaps it was just good defense by Horton, which made it look bad.
A punch combination from Horton misses.
Armstrong is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Armstrong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horton looking to score a takedown here. Armstrong is defending well but Horton drives through and ends up in Armstrong's guard.
Our spies down at at Special Ops N7 Training inform us that Armstrong has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Horton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Armstrong looking for a sweep. Not yet Armstrong, not yet.
Horton with a flurry of punches that miss.

Horton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Horton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Horton trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Horton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Armstrong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Horton tries to avoid it but Armstrong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Horton to the ground. Horton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Horton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
Horton throws a big right hand that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Horton dominated that second round.
That's time! Horton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horton throws a nice looking combination but Armstrong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Horton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Horton wants it to stay on the feet.
Armstrong misses with a takedown attempt - Horton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Horton throws a quick counter head kick but Armstrong was just out of range.

Horton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Horton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Horton is taking a breather. Armstrong says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Armstrong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horton tries to pass to full mount but Armstrong defends it.
Horton is keen to just control but Armstrong is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton is pressing down on Armstrong's thigh, looking to free his foot. Armstrong is holding on for now.
Horton thows a huge punch but Armstrong dodges it nicely.
Horton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Armstrong's head.
Horton tries to pass to full mount but Armstrong defends it.
Horton stalling away here and it's allowed Armstrong to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Horton postures up in Armstrong's guard and throws a big left but Armstrong blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Armstrong looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Arthur Horton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.

Horton feints and as Armstrong raises his hands in defense, Horton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Armstrong looking for a guillotine here but Horton defends easily.
Horton stopping the sweep attempt from Armstrong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
Horton tries to stand but Armstrong is controlling from the bottom.
Horton postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Horton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Armstrong!
Armstrong is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Armstrong keeps working.
Armstrong is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Horton decides to stand back up. Horton steps back and let's Armstrong get back to his feet.
Kelvin Armstrong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arthur Horton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Horton moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Horton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horton 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Horton!