PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Craig Espiritu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyoji Horiguchi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Espiritu
vs
Horiguchi

184 cm
18
139 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

164 cm
18
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Craig Espiritu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Horiguchi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi lands a nice hook to Espiritu's body. Espiritu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Horiguchi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Espiritu backs up against the cage.
Horiguchi lands a front kick.

Espiritu throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Horiguchi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Espiritu is in Horiguchi's guard.
Espiritu is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Espiritu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Horiguchi is on top in guard.
Espiritu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Espiritu looking to control.
Horiguchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Espiritu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horiguchi is looking to work some ground and pound but Espiritu has wrist control.
Horiguchi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Espiritu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Espiritu wants to stand but Horiguchi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Horiguchi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Horiguchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Horiguchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Espiritu is retaining full guard.
Horiguchi is stalling in the full guard.
Horiguchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Espiritu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horiguchi throws a big elbow that misses.
Horiguchi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Espiritu keeping moving, preventing Horiguchi from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horiguchi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Horiguchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horiguchi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi scores with a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horiguchi lunges at Espiritu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Espiritu's hand.
Espiritu takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Horiguchi is looking to slow Espiritu down with leg kicks.
Espiritu takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Horiguchi lands with a nice body punch.
Horiguchi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Espiritu if he has to take too many more of those.
Horiguchi fakes the leg kick and cracks Espiritu in the body.
Horiguchi lands a jab to the nose.
Kyoji Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Espiritu with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Horiguchi to score with a decent uppercut.
Espiritu will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Espiritu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Espiritu takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A kick lands to the mid section there for Horiguchi.
Espiritu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Horiguchi. Horiguchi obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Espiritu's calf.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Horiguchi punishes Espiritu's body with a nice straight punch.
Horiguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Horiguchi - that will leave a mark!
Horiguchi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horiguchi throws a wild body kick that Espiritu sees coming a mile off.
Espiritu takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Horiguchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Horiguchi works over Espiritu's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters circling a little - Horiguchi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Donk. Horiguchi catches Espiritu right on the button with a cross.
Horiguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice leg kick lands there from Horiguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Horiguchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Espiritu shoots in for a takedown but Horiguchi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horiguchi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Horiguchi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Espiritu's hands.
A solid body kick from Horiguchi.
Nice body kick from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a series of punches but Espiritu moves out of range.
Horiguchi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horiguchi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Espiritu crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Horiguchi - the referee stops the clock and Espiritu gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Horiguchi. Espiritu manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Horiguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyoji Horiguchi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Horiguchi feints a jab promting Espiritu to slip. Horiguchi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Espiritu slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
No joy there for Horiguchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Espiritu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Horiguchi avoids the body shot from Espiritu.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
That kick from Horiguchi tenderised Espiritu's leg. Espiritu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Espiritu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Horiguchi moves out of range of the body kick from Espiritu.
Horiguchi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice uppercut lands for Horiguchi. That snapped Espiritu's head back.

Espiritu is rocked!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Horiguchi, as that shot connected.
Oh Espiritu is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espiritu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horiguchi plants his feet and throws a brutal three punch combo that sends Espiritu swiftly into unconsciousness! Right, left, right! Boom, boom, boom! Espiritu face plants, battered and bloodied! He might never be the same again after that finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Kyoji Horiguchi!