PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantaro Hoshino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luzhin comes to the cage accompanied by Toccata and Fugue. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Luzhin
vs
Hoshino

181 cm
24
174 lbs
8 - 0 - 1

165 cm
24
174 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Luzhin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kantaro Hoshino!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luzhin misses with a low kick as Hoshino jumps back.
Luzhin misses with a body punch
and Hoshino counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Luzhin misses with a low kick as Hoshino jumps back.
Hoshino ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hoshino misses with a body shot.
Nikolai Luzhin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoshino avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luzhin misses with a few strikes there.
Luzhin misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Hoshino misses the target.
Luzhin staying out of range there.
Luzhin with a jab.
Luzhin lands a head kick!
Hoshino scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luzhin misses with a wild body shot.
Hoshino throws a hook but Luzhin avoids it easily.
Luzhin explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Luzhin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hoshino in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshino throws a looping overhand right but Luzhin ducks down to avoid it.
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoshino.
Luzhin throws out a leg kick but Hoshino moves out of range and Luzhin only half commits.
Luzhin throws a sloppy head kick and Hoshino moves out of range easily.
Hoshino throws a hook but Luzhin blocks it.
Luzhin feints and then cracks Hoshino's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hoshino down.
A shot to the liver by Luzhin. Beautiful body shot.
Hoshino swings for the body but Luzhin moves out of range.
Hoshino swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Luzhin.
Luzhin throws out a leg kick but Hoshino moves out of range and Luzhin only half commits.
Luzhin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A jab lands there for Luzhin.
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!
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoshino.
Hoshino staying out of range there.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luzhin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino misses with a body shot.
Luzhin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Decent striking displayed by Luzhin there.
Hoshino throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Luzhin with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hoshino to score with a decent uppercut.
Luzhin lands a nice hook to Hoshino's body. Hoshino takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hoshino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
Luzhin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoshino was well out of range. Poor timing from Luzhin.
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Hoshino.
Luzhin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.
Luzhin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hoshino checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hoshino scores with a sloppy right hand. Luzhin should have avoided that one.
Hoshino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hoshino pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Luzhin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin trying to land knees to the body.
Luzhin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hoshino backwards.
Luzhin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hoshino's face.
Hoshino goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Luzhin keeps control of Hoshino as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hoshino is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Luzhin - that landed with a thud.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hoshino.
Hoshino has Luzhin pressed against the cage.
Hoshino blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luzhin.
Luzhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hoshino has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luzhin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hoshino backwards.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but Hoshino blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hoshino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Luzhin is looking to land body kicks.
Luzhin slips a straight right by Hoshino.
Luzhin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hoshino lands a right hook to the body.

Luzhin moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoshino just leaning against Luzhin, taking a breather.
Hoshino wants to stall.
Hoshino lands a shot to the body.
Hoshino misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hoshino struggles to land a body shot inside as Luzhin controls his hands.
Luzhin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin misses with a body punch.
Luzhin swings wildly with an uppercut but Hoshino uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but Hoshino blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kantaro Hoshino will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Luzhin looks to throw the jab but Hoshino is out of range.
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Hoshino.
Luzhin cracks a nice hook into Hoshino's ribs.
Luzhin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Luzhin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Luzhin tries to land a leg kick but Hoshino saw it coming and moves away.
Hoshino scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hoshino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luzhin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Luzhin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hoshino.
Luzhin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hoshino takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hoshino on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hoshino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luzhin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hoshino has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hoshino ducks under a wild hook from Luzhin.
Luzhin slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshino thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luzhin works the jab nicely.
Luzhin takes a swing at Hoshino's ribcage but misses.
Luzhin is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Luzhin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luzhin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.
Luzhin tries to work over Hoshino's front leg with a kick but Hoshino checks it.
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoshino.
Luzhin misses with a hook.
Hoshino avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hoshino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Hoshino there.
Hoshino misses with a looping right.
Nikolai Luzhin is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoshino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luzhin was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoshino.
Hoshino throws a hook but Luzhin avoids it easily.
Hoshino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luzhin punishes Hoshino's body with a nice straight punch.
Hoshino is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin slips a jab and a cross from Hoshino.
Luzhin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luzhin takes a swing at Hoshino's ribcage but misses.
Luzhin throws a leg kick which misses Hoshino's front leg but catches the back leg as Hoshino tries to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Hoshino.
Hoshino bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Luzhin. Hoshino does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luzhin misses with a low kick.
Luzhin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoshino.
Luzhin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Luzhin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luzhin moves away from the strike by Hoshino.
Hoshino misses with a series of wild punches.
Luzhin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Hoshino. Beautiful body shot.
Hoshino throws a shot to the body.
Luzhin attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hoshino misses the jab.
Luzhin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hoshino doesn't seem bothered though.
Hoshino misses with a hook. Luzhin ducked under it nicely.
Hoshino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luzhin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hoshino. That did some damage!
Hoshino throws a big shot that misses.
Hoshino misses with a hook.
Luzhin slips under a jab from Hoshino.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoshino takes a swing at Luzhin's ribcage but misses.
Hoshino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Luzhin.
Luzhin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoshino lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Luzhin at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luzhin throws a leg kick but Hoshino sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Luzhin lands with a nice body punch.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Luzhin connects with a solid leg kick.
Hoshino throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Luzhin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hoshino is able to avoid easily.

Luzhin has closed the distance and engaged Hoshino in a clinch.
Hoshino can't find room to land a body shot as Luzhin controls the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hoshino blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hoshino manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Luzhin misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hoshino lands with an uppercut that bounces Luzhin off the cage and back into range.
Hoshino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luzhin is looking to wear down Hoshino with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Hoshino.
Luzhin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hoshino's head.
Hoshino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luzhin was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoshino.
Hoshino jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hoshino moves out of range of the strikes.
Hoshino misses with a wild body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Luzhin scores with a four punch combination!
Hoshino avoids a kick to the body.
Luzhin throws a low kick but Hoshino moves out of range easily.
Hoshino throws out a loose jab but Luzhin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoshino displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luzhin throws out the jab.
Luzhin throws a leg kick but Hoshino checks it.
Nice jab there from Luzhin.
Hoshino scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin misses with a shot to the body
and Hoshino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Luzhin throws a body punch but Hoshino moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Luzhin misses the target.
Luzhin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hoshino blocks a jab.
Luzhin tries to land a leg kick but Hoshino saw it coming and moves away.
Hoshino listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Luzhin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hoshino misses with a looping right.
Luzhin keeps Hoshino at a distance using the push kick.
A good leg kick by Luzhin.
Luzhin blocks a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoshino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luzhin manages to avoid it.
Hoshino throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luzhin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin slips a straight right by Hoshino.
Hoshino moves out of range of the leg kick from Luzhin.
Hoshino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luzhin manages to avoid it.
Luzhin wants to slow Hoshino down by chopping away at his legs.
Luzhin defending well as Hoshino loads up on a big left hand.
Hoshino takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Luzhin avoids the body shot from Hoshino.
Luzhin lands an overhand right.
Hoshino pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoshino takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hoshino ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Luzhin takes one to the side of the head.
Luzhin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hoshino's calf.
Hoshino fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Luzhin on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Hoshino.
Luzhin dodges the punch combination from Hoshino.
Hoshino connects with a nice looking jab.
Hoshino jabs Luzhin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hoshino throws out a loose jab but Luzhin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoshino moves out of range as Luzhin throws a body kick.
Luzhin throws a front kick aimed at Hoshino's knee but Hoshino avoids it well.
Hoshino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luzhin lands a jab to the nose.
Hoshino throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Luzhin misses with a double jab.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hoshino throws a looping overhand right but Luzhin ducks down to avoid it.
Hoshino jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin tries to land a front kick but Hoshino steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hoshino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luzhin was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoshino.
Hoshino looks to land a right hand but Luzhin moved out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luzhin throws a right and a left that both miss.
A slow jab from Hoshino misses its intended target.
Luzhin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Luzhin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.
A nice inside leg kick there by Luzhin. That's going to slow Hoshino down.
A big left from Hoshino misses.
Hoshino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin lands with a hook. Hoshino tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Luzhin scores with a jab to the body.
Luzhin lands a right hook to the body.
Luzhin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Nikolai Luzhin did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Luzhin tries to clinch up.
Hoshino changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoshino misses with a body shot.
Luzhin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hoshino has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Luzhin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Luzhin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Luzhin misses with a shot to the body
and Hoshino counters with a nice body shot.
Luzhin slips under a jab from Hoshino.
Luzhin throws a poor cross that misses
and Hoshino counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Luzhin moves into the clinch.
Luzhin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hoshino is defending well for now.
Luzhin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Luzhin has Hoshino pressed against the cage, preventing Hoshino from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hoshino escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab lands there for Hoshino.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshino throws a jab when Luzhin was well out of range.
Luzhin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoshino throws out the jab.
Luzhin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hoshino.
Luzhin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoshino takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hoshino connects with a single shot there.
Hoshino moves out of range of the leg kick from Luzhin.
Luzhin tries a low kick but Hoshino avoids it.
Luzhin tries to clinch there but Hoshino circles away.
Hoshino ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Luzhin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoshino manages to avoid it.
Hoshino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Luzhin moves out of range of the strikes.
Luzhin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino missing with a left hand there. Luzhin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Hoshino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luzhin.
Hoshino lands a nice looking body shot.
Hoshino lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Luzhin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Luzhin misses with a looping left.
Luzhin lands a jab to the head.
Luzhin tries to work over Hoshino's front leg with a kick but Hoshino checks it.
Hoshino stuns Luzhin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Luzhin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hoshino swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hoshino looks to throw the jab but Luzhin is out of range.
Hoshino's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Luzhin slips a jab from Hoshino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hoshino is able to avoid easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Luzhin. That's going to slow Hoshino down.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoshino throws an overhand right that lands on Luzhin's shoulder, as Luzhin tries to avoid the shot.
Luzhin avoids the body shot from Hoshino.
Luzhin darts in trying to clinch
and Hoshino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luzhin's corner calls for a 1-2. Luzhin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Luzhin lands with an uppercut that bounces Hoshino off the cage and back into range.
Hoshino has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Luzhin avoids the body shot from Hoshino.
Hoshino connects with the punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Luzhin.
Luzhin motions for Hoshino to come forward. Luzhin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin cracks Hoshino with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luzhin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luzhin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoshino was well out of range. Poor timing from Luzhin.
The fighters circling - Hoshino throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Luzhin scores with a shot to the body.
Luzhin wants to slow Hoshino down by chopping away at his legs.
Luzhin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Luzhin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Luzhin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hoshino if he has to take too many more of those.
Hoshino feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Luzhins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hoshino moves out of range of the leg kick from Luzhin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin misses the shot to the body.
Luzhin throws a leg kick but Hoshino sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hoshino shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Kantaro Hoshino will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Luzhin tries to work over Hoshino's front leg with a kick but Hoshino checks it.
Hoshino misses with a straight right.
Hoshino scores with a hook to the body. Luzhin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Luzhin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Luzhin misses with a hook.
Hoshino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoshino digs a good body shot into Luzhin's ribs.
Hoshino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luzhin misses the shot to the body.
Luzhin cracks Hoshino with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Luzhin throws a chopping leg kick but Hoshino manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Luzhin throws a body punch but Hoshino moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Luzhin scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin lands with a cross.
Hoshino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luzhin manages to avoid it.
Hoshino avoids the body shot from Luzhin.
Hoshino misses with a looping left.
Hoshino doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Luzhin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Luzhin misses with a two punch combination.
Luzhin defending well as Hoshino loads up on a big left hand.
Luzhin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hoshino back to the cage. Luzhin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hoshino throws a jab when Luzhin was well out of range.
Hoshino lands a head shot.
Luzhin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Luzhin misses the shot to the body.
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Hoshino.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hoshino crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Luzhin - the referee stops the clock and Hoshino gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Luzhin. Hoshino manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hoshino misses with a straight right.
Luzhin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luzhin misses with a kick to the body.
Hoshino bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Luzhin's head.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luzhin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luzhin moves forwards but Hoshino connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Luzhin is rocked!
Hoshino walks into a stiff left hand from Luzhin.
Oh Luzhin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Luzhin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hoshino has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hoshino and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hoshino takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luzhin seems to have got his legs back now.
Luzhin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoshino.
Hoshino misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino throws a right and a left that both miss.
A cross from Luzhin lands.
Hoshino checks a leg kick.
Luzhin cracks Hoshino with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoshino.
Luzhin lands a leg kick that knocks Hoshino off balance momentarily.

Luzhin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hoshino prevents a body shot from Luzhin.
Luzhin struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoshino controls his hands.
Hoshino blocking some punches.
Luzhin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Luzhin keeps control of Hoshino as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Luzhin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Luzhin lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino is looking to break free of the clinch but Luzhin has double underhooks.
Hoshino is trying to push Luzhin away but Luzhin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A knee to the head by Luzhin.

Hoshino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Luzhin throws a push kick but Hoshino slaps the foot to one side.
Luzhin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoshino fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Luzhin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some bone on bone action there as Hoshino checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A swing and a miss from Hoshino.
Luzhin digs a good body shot into Hoshino's ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luzhin slips under a jab from Hoshino.
Luzhin just misses with a punch to the body.
Luzhin moves into range and connects with a jab.

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 Nikolai Luzhin.
Well Luzhin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 49:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kantaro Hoshino!
Kantaro Hoshino is the new welterweight champion!
Kantaro Hoshino gave a mention to Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).