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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akaro Horiguchi (ranked 1121 p4p, 141 weight class) and Elijah Byrne (ranked 1101 p4p, 139 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Horiguchi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Japanese Imperial Army Victory March. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!
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| 176 cm
23
168 lbs
6 - 2 - 0 |
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182 cm
23
167 lbs
4 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin |
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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
6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akaro Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elijah Byrne!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrne moves away.
Byrne throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Horiguchi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The fighters circling - Byrne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Byrne takes one to the chin there.
Byrne 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.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Horiguchi.
A countering left hand to the body from Byrne misses.
Byrne takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Horiguchi as he connects with a hook.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a jab to Byrne's midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horiguchi feints and then cracks Byrne's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Byrne down.
Horiguchi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Byrne avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Byrne on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi clinches up against the cage.
Byrne lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Horiguchi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Byrne backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Byrne.
Horiguchi misses with some punches.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne cracks Horiguchi with a nice body shot.
Horiguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Horiguchi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
It looks like Elijah Byrne has been cut.
Horiguchi working aggressively here.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Byrne scores with a nice short uppercut.
Byrne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Horiguchi takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Byrne has a couple of punches blocked by Horiguchi.
Byrne pushes Horiguchi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Horiguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Byrne.
Horiguchi lands a left hand.
Byrne blocks an uppercut.
Horiguchi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Byrne creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Byrne.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi scores with a shot to the side of Byrne's head.
Byrne throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Horiguchis head.
Horiguchi lands a left hand.
Horiguchi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Byrne is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Byrne gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Byrne fails to land.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Horiguchi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Byrne cracks Horiguchi with a nice body shot.
Horiguchi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Byrne lands a left hand.
Horiguchi is leaning against Byrne and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Horiguchi lands with a right to the head.
Horiguchi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Horiguchi misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Byrne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akaro Horiguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Byrne.
Byrne digs a right hand into Horiguchi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Horiguchi's gas tank.
Byrne has a couple of punches blocked by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne blocks an elbow strike.
Horiguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Byrne uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Byrne fails to land.
Byrne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Horiguchi.
Byrne misses with a hook from the clinch.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Byrne avoids a wild elbow strike from Horiguchi.
Byrne gets through Horiguchi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Byrne trying to control the position but instead, Horiguchi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Byrne into the cage.
A short right from Byrne.
Byrne throws a head punch that misses.
Horiguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi tries to work over Byrne's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Horiguchi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Byrne backwards.
Horiguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrne throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Horiguchis head.
Byrne makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Byrne throws a head punch that misses.
Horiguchi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Byrne looking to stall.
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrne misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi pushes Byrne back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horiguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byrne blocks the elbow strike.
Nice body punch from Byrne - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Byrne creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Byrne lands a left hand.
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 Akaro Horiguchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Elijah Byrne's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Byrne moves forwards but Horiguchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Byrne takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Horiguchi cracks Byrne with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Horiguchi staying out of range there.
Horiguchi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Byrne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Horiguchi scores with a punch to the head.
Horiguchi is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Horiguchi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Byrne in his tracks.
Horiguchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Byrne misses with the head strike.
Byrne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Byrne.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice elbow from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Horiguchi.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Horiguchi working aggressively here.
Byrne tries to throw a body punch but Horiguchi avoids it by throwing Byrne back against the cage.
Horiguchi has Byrne pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Byrne manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Byrne stops a takedown attempt from Horiguchi.
Byrne blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Horiguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Byrne.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Byrne.
A right handed body shot lands from Horiguchi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Byrne.
A nice right hand lands inside from Horiguchi.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Horiguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Byrne fails to land.
Horiguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Byrne controls the action.
Nice elbow from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Byrne can do to turn this around?
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a right hand.
Byrne blocks an uppercut.
Horiguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Byrne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Horiguchi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Byrnes head.
Byrne lands with a left to the head.
Byrne lands a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne lands a right hand.
Horiguchi blocks an uppercut.
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
Horiguchi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Byrne after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akaro Horiguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne is pressed up against the cage. Horiguchi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Byrne down to the mat. Byrne avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Horiguchi throws out a loose jab but Byrne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrne moves out of range as Horiguchi strikes.
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrne moves away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Horiguchi swings for the body but Byrne moves out of range.
Byrne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Horiguchi manages to avoid it.
Elijah Byrne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Horiguchi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Byrne doesn't seem phased though.
Horiguchi throws the left hand but Byrne avoids the punch easily.
Byrne avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Horiguchi misses.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horiguchi dips to his left and cracks Byrne with an uppercut!
Horiguchi throws a big shot that misses.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Byrne avoids it easily.
Horiguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Byrne's shoulder, as Byrne tries to avoid the shot.
Byrne bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi looks to land a left hand but Byrne moved out of range nicely.
Byrne ducks under a wild hook from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Byrne moves away and avoids it.
Byrne avoids the body shot from Horiguchi.
Byrne throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Byrne is defending well.
A short right from Horiguchi on the inside.
Byrne scores with a shoulder strike.
Byrne trying to control the position but instead, Horiguchi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Byrne into the cage.
Byrne blocks an uppercut.
Byrne is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Byrne is fighting off a takedown attempt but Horiguchi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Byrne to the mat. Byrne regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Byrne is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Horiguchi is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Akaro Horiguchi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Elijah Byrne's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Horiguchi lands a jab to the nose.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good shot there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi looks to land a left hand but Byrne moved out of range nicely.
Horiguchi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Byrne takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A chopping leg kick lands by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Byrne was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Horiguchi has his takedown stuffed
and Byrne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
Horiguchi lands with an overhand left.
Horiguchi throws a lazy right hand but Byrne sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Byrne connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Byrne scores with a jab to the body.
Horiguchi scores with a decent looking hook.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut.
Byrne is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Horiguchi with a body shot.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Byrne moves away and avoids it.
Byrne is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Horiguchi with a body shot.
Horiguchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Byrne doesn't seem bothered though.
Horiguchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Horiguchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Byrne circles away quickly and effectively.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut. Byrne saw that one coming.
Horiguchi misses with a hook to the body
and Byrne counters with a straight right hand.
Byrne staying out of range there.
Horiguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrne.
A swing and a miss from Horiguchi.
Elijah Byrne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akaro Horiguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horiguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byrne.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Byrne.
Horiguchi closes the distance but Byrne moves to the side
and Byrne counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horiguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrne.
A little jabbing left from Byrne on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Byrne takes a jab right on the kisser.
Horiguchi loads up on a big right hand but Byrne slips the punch.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Byrne scores with a nice right hand.
A combination from Horiguchi does no damage.
Horiguchi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Byrne's sensitive parts.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is looking to clinch but Byrne is avoiding it.
Byrne chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Horiguchi can pounce on him.
Horiguchi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byrne tries to avoid it but Horiguchi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byrne to the ground. Byrne escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horiguchi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Byrne avoids it easily.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Byrne.
Horiguchi lands a right hand.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Horiguchi pushes Byrne back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Byrne scores with a shot to the side of Horiguchi's head.
Horiguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byrne cracks Horiguchi with a nice body shot.
Byrne throws a head punch that misses.
Horiguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Byrne controls the action.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne lands a body punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Byrne lands a left hand.
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Horiguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Byrne scores with a shot to the side of Horiguchi's head.
Byrne blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Horiguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Byrne scores with a shoulder strike.
Horiguchi is rocked!
Byrne is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Oh Horiguchi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Byrne working aggressively here.
Byrne misses with the head strike.
Horiguchi seems to have got his legs back now.
A head punch on the inside from Horiguchi fails to land.
Byrne lands a left hand that snaps the head of Horiguchi backwards.
Byrne can't find room to land a body shot as Horiguchi controls the action.
Horiguchi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Horiguchi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Byrne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akaro Horiguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horiguchi lands a nice looking body shot.
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 Akaro 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akaro Horiguchi!
After winning the bout, Akaro Horiguchi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
76% |
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