PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ichi Takeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Takeshi
vs
Horiguchi

155 cm
30
138 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

164 cm
24
137 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Takeshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi slips a jab from Takeshi.
Horiguchi misses with a wild body shot.

Takeshi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Takeshi showed some decent athleticism there.
Horiguchi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Horiguchi is trying to control the position but Takeshi postures up.
Takeshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horiguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takeshi chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeshi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Takeshi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeshi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Horiguchi is looking to control Takeshi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Horiguchi avoid being mounted?
Horiguchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Takeshi.
Takeshi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Horiguchi defending well though.
Ground and pound from Takeshi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takeshi throwing shots but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.
We've been hearing that Takeshi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Takeshi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Takeshi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Horiguchi is defending against the submission attempts here by Takeshi.
Takeshi moves into full mount! Horiguchi won't be happy about that!
Takeshi looking to finish Horiguchi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Horiguchi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is working to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Horiguchi really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Takeshi controlling from the full mount.
Takeshi looking to finish with strikes here!
Takeshi looking to finish Horiguchi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Horiguchi!
Takeshi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Horiguchi flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Takeshi looking to control but Horiguchi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Takeshi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Takeshi controlling the pace for now.
Horiguchi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takeshi looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Takeshi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horiguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takeshi throws a shot to the body.
Horiguchi scores with a body shot.
Horiguchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takeshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Horiguchi moves away.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takeshi.
Kyoji Horiguchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horiguchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Horiguchi throws a series of punches but Takeshi avoids them all with ease.
Horiguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Takeshi is just out of range.
Horiguchi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Takeshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horiguchi digs a good body shot into Takeshi's ribs.
Horiguchi tries to move into range but Takeshi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takeshi just misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi digs a good body shot into Takeshi's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takeshi.
Horiguchi swings for the body but Takeshi moves out of range.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot.
Takeshi tries to counter with a takedown but Horiguchi is quick to defend against it.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takeshi.
Takeshi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
No joy there for Horiguchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from Horiguchi finds it's way through Takeshi's defenses.
Takeshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Horiguchi moves away.
Horiguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takeshi just misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Takeshi is just out of range.
Takeshi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Horiguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Horiguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takeshi throws a nice looking combination but Horiguchi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Takeshi with that takedown attempt.
A head kick from Horiguchi lands but Takeshi takes it in his stride.
Horiguchi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takeshi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takeshi.
Kyoji Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horiguchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horiguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Takeshi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Takeshi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takeshi. Horiguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Horiguchi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Horiguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Takeshi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Horiguchi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Horiguchi slips a jab from Takeshi.
Takeshi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Horiguchi lands a body shot.
Horiguchi takes a swing at Takeshi's ribcage but misses.
Takeshi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Horiguchi.
Takeshi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Horiguchi sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi swings for the body but Horiguchi moves out of range.

Takeshi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Takeshi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Horiguchi defending well though.
Takeshi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takeshi trying to control but Horiguchi is having none of it.
Takeshi lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi raining down shots from the mount!
Takeshi controlling the pace for now.
Takeshi wants to control the pace but Horiguchi is squirming around nicely.
Takeshi lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horiguchi taking shots to the head.
Takeshi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Takeshi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Horiguchi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Takeshi feints and as Horiguchi raises his hands in defense, Takeshi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ichi Takeshi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takeshi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Horiguchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takeshi with a nice head shot there.
Takeshi won't allow Horiguchi to get back to his feet.
Takeshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Horiguchi is retaining full guard.
Horiguchi wants to get back to his feet but Takeshi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takeshi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takeshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Horiguchi manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Horiguchi misses.
Horiguchi throws a shot to the body.
Horiguchi lands a head kick!
Horiguchi stuns Takeshi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Horiguchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Takeshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takeshi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Horiguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horiguchi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takeshi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Takeshi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Horiguchi can do to turn this around?
Takeshi motions for Horiguchi to come forward. Takeshi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeshi moves away.
Kyoji Horiguchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi punishes Takeshi's body with a nice straight punch.
Horiguchi tries a head kick but it misses.

Takeshi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Takeshi working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh. Horiguchi counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Takeshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horiguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takeshi working some strikes from top position.
Takeshi passes into half guard.
Ground and pound from Takeshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Takeshi wants to pass to mount but Horiguchi is defending the position.
Takeshi working the head and body with strikes.
Horiguchi is trying to stand back up but Takeshi is controlling him
Takeshi is pressing down on Horiguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Horiguchi is holding on for now.
Takeshi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horiguchi keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Takeshi 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.
Takeshi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ichi Takeshi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takeshi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Horiguchi stuns Takeshi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Takeshi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kyoji Horiguchi.
I think Takeshi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichi Takeshi!
Ichi Takeshi managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, HERITAGE Threads, into his post fight interview.