PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John YJ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thorstein Horgmo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

YJ
vs
Horgmo

200 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
24
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John YJ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thorstein Horgmo!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Horgmo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging YJ to the ground. Horgmo is now in YJ's guard.
YJ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Horgmo wants to control from the top but YJ keeps moving.
YJ wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Horgmo preventing the sweep.

Thorstein Horgmo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

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

Horgmo tries for a kimura but YJ is defending well.
Horgmo fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horgmo trying to control the position but YJ is working away.
YJ is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Horgmo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
YJ manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
YJ trying to control but Horgmo postures up.
YJ is breathing heavily.

Horgmo seems to be working for a kimura but YJ defends the submission attempt.

Horgmo decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
YJ avoids a kick to the body.
Horgmo throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Horgmo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Horgmo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
YJ avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Horgmo.
YJ tries to get to full guard but Horgmo has control of the leg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horgmo tries to stand and escape but YJ is controlling the position.
Horgmo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Horgmo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so YJ is just riding it out for now. Horgmo eventually gives up the hold.
Horgmo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horgmo wants to work for an arm triangle but YJ is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
YJ wants to get back to full guard.

YJ is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Horgmo pulls his head out easily.
Horgmo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Horgmo moves into full mount! YJ won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horgmo with good strikes from the mount here!
YJ is looking to improve his position but Horgmo isn't that keen on the idea.
Horgmo wants to control the pace but YJ is squirming around nicely.

Horgmo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. YJ can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Horgmo lands with some strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horgmo trying to control but YJ is having none of it.

Horgmo gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Horgmo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching YJ on his heels. He'll look to pass YJ's guard now, I'm sure.
Horgmo wants to stand but YJ is controlling his posture from full guard.
Horgmo stays in close to YJ's body and controls the position.

YJ is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Horgmo is aware though and is defending well.
YJ trying to control the position.
YJ keeping moving, preventing Horgmo from controlling successfully.
Horgmo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. YJ swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Horgmo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Horgmo drops back looking for a leg! YJ is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and YJ manages to kick Horgmo off! Horgmo jumps back into YJ's guard.
YJ manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Horgmo tries to lock up and control but YJ gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horgmo is desperately trying to improve his position but YJ has a good base and remains in mount.
YJ throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
YJ will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
YJ misses with a head shot.
Horgmo is looking to improve his position but YJ isn't that keen on the idea.
YJ tries to control but Horgmo wriggling away.
Horgmo is looking to improve his position but YJ isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horgmo looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
YJ not allowing Horgmo to control his hands.
YJ tries to keep control of the position but Horgmo is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Horgmo right now.
YJ lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Horgmo.
YJ doesn't have the hooks in and Horgmo manages to turn into his guard.

YJ escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Horgmo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
YJ looking for a sweep. Not yet YJ, not yet.
Thorstein Horgmo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Horgmo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorstein Horgmo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Horgmo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging YJ to the ground. Horgmo is now in YJ's guard.
Horgmo throwing strikes but missing.

Horgmo gets to his feet - YJ follows without any prompting.
YJ tries to clinch but Horgmo moves out of range.
YJ shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Horgmo defends it nicely.

Horgmo looking to score a takedown here. YJ is defending well but Horgmo drives through and ends up in YJ's guard.
Horgmo throwing strikes from guard but YJ blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horgmo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horgmo lands a couple of elbows.
Horgmo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of YJ's head.
Horgmo pushing down on YJ's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Horgmo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Horgmo decides to return to a standing position.
John YJ is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Horgmo drives through with a takedown into YJ's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
YJ keeping full guard, as Horgmo tries to pass.
Horgmo works over YJ with some ground and pound from guard.
Horgmo postures up in YJ's guard and throws a big left but YJ blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horgmo trying to control the position from guard on top but YJ is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Horgmo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on YJ, up you get!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horgmo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Horgmo. YJ shrugs it off though.

Horgmo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for YJ!
Horgmo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
YJ working to try and regain half guard.
Horgmo wants to control the pace but YJ is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
YJ tries to lock up and control but Horgmo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Horgmo working for a guillotine from mount but YJ is in no mood to give up.
Horgmo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Horgmo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
YJ is looking to get to half guard.
Horgmo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as YJ is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horgmo is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. YJ is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. YJ flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Horgmo anticipates the leg and manages to get behind YJ and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Horgmo slips an arm under YJ chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Horgmo has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Horgmo is squeezing on YJ like an anaconda would it's prey. YJ fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thorstein Horgmo!