PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 808 p4p, 41 weight class) and Roko Tiili (ranked 1649 p4p, 87 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tiili's choice of entrance music: Antti Railio - Halla ja etelätuuli. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Horiguchi
vs
Tiili

164 cm
35
145 lbs
29 - 17 - 1

168 cm
35
137 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars
Urban Fighter

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 29 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Kyoji Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Roko Tiili!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiili fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horiguchi throws an off balance right hand
and Tiili counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tiili looks to score with a jab to the body but Horiguchi is just out of range.
Tiili pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An attempted straight right counter from Horiguchi misses the target.
An inside leg kick lands from Tiili.
Horiguchi defending well as Tiili loads up on a big left hand.
Tiili fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Horiguchi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Horiguchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tiili closes the distance and clinches.
Horiguchi working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Tiili.
Tiili scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Horiguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tiili blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi tries to work over Tiili's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tiili lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to work over Tiili's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tiili misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tiili.
Horiguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tiili's elbow.
Tiili tries a body shot but Horiguchi blocks it.
Tiili goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Horiguchi breaks from the clinch.
Horiguchi throws a low kick but Tiili avoids it.
Horiguchi tries a low kick but Tiili avoids it.
Tiili lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tiili misses with an attempted mid kick.
Horiguchi misses with a body kick.
Tiili connects with a solid leg kick.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Horiguchi backing away here, and Tiili unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Horiguchi wants to land a leg kick but Tiili is out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tiili.
Tiili chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Horiguchi can pounce on him.
Tiili tries to close the distance and clinch but Horiguchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Horiguchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tiili tries to work over Horiguchi's front leg with a kick but Horiguchi checks it.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Tiili moves away and avoids it.
Tiili throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tiili connects with the punch.
Horiguchi cracks Tiili with a good jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Horiguchi.
Tiili bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Horiguchi fakes the leg kick and cracks Tiili in the body.
Horiguchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tiili.
Nice cross by Tiili.
Tiili throws the left hand but Horiguchi avoids the punch easily.

Tiili darts in and clinches Horiguchi up against the cage.

Horiguchi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Horiguchi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tiili is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Horiguchi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Horiguchi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Horiguchi tries to score with some ground and pound. Tiili controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tiili prevents Horiguchi from improving position.
Tiili tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Horiguchi presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Horiguchi wants to control the pace but Tiili is squirming around nicely.
Tiili is looking to get to half guard.
Tiili wants to control but Horiguchi is having none of it.
Tiili can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to control but Tiili wriggling away.
Horiguchi looking to land elbow strikes but Tiili uses the position to regain half guard.
Horiguchi content to control rather than advance.
Tiili tries to get to full guard but Horiguchi has control of the leg.
Horiguchi lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kyoji Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tiili throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Horiguchi is looking for a counter combo.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Tiili off balance momentarily.
Tiili's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Horiguchi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tiili scrambles back to his feet.
Kyoji Horiguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Tiili looks to land a right hand but Horiguchi moved out of range.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tiili is looking to slow Horiguchi down with leg kicks.
Horiguchi slips a jab from Tiili.
Tiili throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Horiguchi lands a really nice looking cross but Tiili seems unphased.
A big right from Horiguchi misses.
A swing and a miss from Tiili.
No joy there for Horiguchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
Horiguchi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Tiili has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Horiguchi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horiguchi is looking to score with low kicks.
Tiili tries to move into range but Horiguchi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to land a body kick

and Tiili counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tiili looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horiguchi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tiili lands a couple of digs.
Horiguchi is pulling down on Tiili's head to control his posture.
Tiili throws a strike but Horiguchi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Horiguchi wants to stand and escape but instead Tiili has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tiili accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Horiguchi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Horiguchi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi being controlled here momentarily.
Horiguchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tiili looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tiili keeps trying to improve his position.
Horiguchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've been hearing that Horiguchi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws a big elbow that misses.
Kyoji Horiguchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Horiguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiili is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horiguchi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Horiguchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Horiguchi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Tiili keeps moving.
Horiguchi throws a strike but Tiili rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tiili is looking to work some ground and pound but Horiguchi has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Horiguchi is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi trying to control but Tiili is working from the bottom.
Tiili wants to sweep but no luck.
Horiguchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Horiguchi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Horiguchi won't allow Tiili to sweep him here.
Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Tiili keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tiili is on top in guard.

Tiili is working Horiguchi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kyoji Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Horiguchi throws a good cross that connects.
Tiili bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Tiili misses the target.
Tiili slips under a jab from Horiguchi.
Tiili jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Horiguchi is looking to counter punch.
Tiili misses with a low kick.
Horiguchi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Tiili closes the distance and clinches.
Horiguchi pushes Tiili back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tiili can't find room to land a body shot as Horiguchi controls the action.
Horiguchi blocks a body shot from Tiili.
Horiguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Tiili controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Horiguchi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Horiguchi trying to control but Tiili is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horiguchi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tiili's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiili pulls Horiguchi in close to his closed guard and prevents Horiguchi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Horiguchi advances to half guard.
Horiguchi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tiili is trying to get back to full guard.
Horiguchi with the ground and pound but Tiili uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tiili avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tiili pulls Horiguchi in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tiili lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Horiguchi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tiili throws a strike but Horiguchi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tiili is controlling Horiguchi's posture.
Horiguchi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Horiguchi trying to control but Tiili is working from the bottom.
Horiguchi looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiili controlling Horiguchi's posture.
Horiguchi looking to sit in guard and control but Tiili gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Roko Tiili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyoji Horiguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tiili pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Horiguchi is keeping the position for now.
Tiili trying to control the position from guard on top but Horiguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiili makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tiili works over Horiguchi with some ground and pound from guard.
Tiili throws an elbow that misses. Horiguchi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tiili's guard. Nice move by Horiguchi!

Horiguchi looking to sit in guard and control but Tiili gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tiili wants to control from the top but Horiguchi keeps moving.
Horiguchi wants to sweep but no luck.
Tiili looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiili stopping the sweep attempt from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kyoji Horiguchi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Horiguchi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!