PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ali Maskhadov (ranked 2872 p4p, 3909 weight class) and Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 253 weight class). Ali Maskhadov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maskhadov
vs
Horiguchi

168 cm
25
139
4 - 0 - 0

165 cm
24
140
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Sakura Style

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ali Maskhadov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maskhadov as he avoids it easily.

Maskhadov pushes Horiguchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Horiguchi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maskhadov pulls his leg out and moves away.

Maskhadov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Horiguchi, pushing him back against the cage.
Maskhadov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Horiguchi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maskhadov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ali Maskhadov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyoji Horiguchi.

Horiguchi tries to keep at a distance but Maskhadov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maskhadov has Horiguchi pushed against the cage.
Horiguchi can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maskhadov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maskhadov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maskhadov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Horiguchi backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Maskhadov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Horiguchi can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi goes for a takedown attempt but Maskhadov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horiguchi looks winded!
Maskhadov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Horiguchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horiguchi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Horiguchi misses with a takedown attempt - Maskhadov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Maskhadov clinches with his opponent.
Maskhadov controlling the action here for a moment.
Horiguchi is looking to take this one to the mat.
A right hand to the body from Maskhadov.
Horiguchi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maskhadov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Maskhadov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Maskhadov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Maskhadov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Horiguchi letting Maskhadov take a breather here.
Horiguchi letting Maskhadov take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maskhadov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maskhadov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Maskhadov cracks Horiguchi with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maskhadov is leaning against Horiguchi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Maskhadov lands an uppercut.
Maskhadov stalls.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Maskhadov digs a right hand into Horiguchi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Horiguchi's gas tank.
A short left from Maskhadov.
A nice left hand lands by Maskhadov.
Maskhadov slowing the pace effectively.
Maskhadov lands a hook that snaps the head of Horiguchi backwards.
Maskhadov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov pushes Horiguchi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maskhadov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Maskhadov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Horiguchi takes a shot to the head.

Horiguchi is rocked!
Maskhadov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Horiguchi is still on wobbly legs! Can Maskhadov finish him?
Maskhadov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Maskhadov stalling the fight.
A short uppercut from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands with a light punch inside.
Maskhadov digs a right hand underneath Horiguchi's ribcage. Horiguchi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maskhadov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Maskhadov scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maskhadov lands an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Maskhadov.
A shot in the inside from Maskhadov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maskhadov.
Good body shot from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maskhadov.
Maskhadov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Horiguchis head.
Still in the clinch, Maskhadov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maskhadov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Horiguchi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maskhadov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maskhadov lands a nice uppercut.
Maskhadov lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maskhadov lands a nice shot to the body.
Maskhadov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Maskhadov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maskhadov clinches up with Horiguchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Maskhadov works on Horiguchi's body with a couple of short punches.
Maskhadov cracks Horiguchi with a nice body shot.
Maskhadov stalling against the cage.
Maskhadov stalls.
Maskhadov lands a body punch.
Maskhadov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maskhadov lands with a left to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Maskhadov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A shot in the inside from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A body shot lands from Maskhadov.
Maskhadov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maskhadov creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Horiguchi with a big uppercut! Horiguchi tries to clinch up but Maskhadov pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Horiguchi to the mat! Horiguchi covers up and Maskhadov unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ali Maskhadov!