PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Horacio Hornblower (ranked 926 p4p, 1630 weight class) and Daizen Kuroda (ranked 126 p4p, 213 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hornblower
vs
Kuroda

180 cm
21
155
9 - 4 - 0

182 cm
20
156
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Horacio Hornblower !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daizen Kuroda!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hornblower pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kuroda! But no joy.

Hornblower takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuroda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuroda wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hornblower has him pressed against the cage.
Kuroda is trying to pull guard but Hornblower has him pressed against the cage.
Hornblower working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kuroda is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hornblower to keep the fight standing.
Kuroda being controlled against the cage.
Kuroda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuroda tries to circle away but Hornblower has him pinned against the cage.

Hornblower manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuroda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hornblower .

Kuroda drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hornblower is trying to control the position but Kuroda postures up.
Kuroda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hornblower is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuroda is aware though and is defending well.
Hornblower seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hornblower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuroda wants to control from the top but Hornblower keeps moving.
Hornblower pulls Kuroda in close to his closed guard and prevents Kuroda from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kuroda stopping the sweep attempt from Hornblower .
Hornblower keeping moving, preventing Kuroda from controlling successfully.
Hornblower is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuroda trying to control but Hornblower is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hornblower is looking to land body kicks.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kuroda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Horacio Hornblower is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hornblower instigates a clinch.
Kuroda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hornblower gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Horacio Hornblower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.
Kuroda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hornblower creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Hornblower .
Kuroda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A shot in the inside from Hornblower .
A short uppercut from Hornblower .
Hornblower lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuroda backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hornblower .
Kuroda is trying to pull guard but Hornblower turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hornblower has Kuroda pushed against the cage.
Hornblower is pushing Kuroda up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hornblower is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kuroda wants to get back to striking at distance but Hornblower won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hornblower avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Horacio Hornblower .
Hornblower throws a wild body kick that Kuroda sees coming a mile off.
Kuroda throws out a counter right but Hornblower avoids it with no problem.

Hornblower drives through and clinches with Kuroda against the cage.
Hornblower softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hornblower lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuroda backwards.
Hornblower lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hornblower lands a body shot.
Hornblower stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kuroda takes a shot to the head.
Hornblower leaning against his opponent.
Kuroda is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kuroda goes for a takedown attempt but Hornblower pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hornblower takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A punch combination from Hornblower misses.
It seemed like Kuroda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice body punch from Hornblower .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hornblower scores with a jab to the body.
Kuroda tries for a takedown but Hornblower circles away easily
and Hornblower counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Hornblower as Kuroda shoots in.
Hornblower jabs at Kuroda's body.
Hornblower lands with a straight right. Kuroda didn't see that one coming.
Hornblower lands a nice hook to Kuroda's body. Kuroda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hornblower misses with a kick to the body.
Hornblower throws a wild body kick that Kuroda sees coming a mile off.
Hornblower misses with a hook. Kuroda ducked under it nicely.
Hornblower tries to land a front kick but Kuroda steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hornblower moves out of range as Kuroda strikes.
Hornblower tries to work over Kuroda's front leg with a kick but Kuroda checks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Hornblower dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hornblower is looking to land body kicks.
Kuroda takes one to the side of the head.
Hornblower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horacio Hornblower is winning the standup battle so far.
Hornblower misses the jab.
Hornblower misses with a straight right.
Kuroda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hornblower avoids it really well and circles away.
Hornblower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuroda throws out the jab.
Hornblower clobbers Kuroda with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuroda shoots in and drives through. Hornblower sprawls well.
Hornblower appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kuroda with a poor takedown
and Hornblower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Horacio Hornblower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.

Oooooh!!! Hornblower has knocked Kuroda down with a huge combo! Hornblower steps away and waves a wobbly Kuroda back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Kuroda is rocked!
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!
Hornblower cracks Kuroda with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Kuroda tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Hornblower pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Kuroda is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Horacio Hornblower !
Horacio Hornblower retains his lightweight title!