PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akaro Horiguchi (ranked 96 p4p, 470 weight class) and Marchrius Rossi (ranked 11 p4p, 63 weight class). Horiguchi comes to the cage accompanied by Japanese Imperial Army Death March. Rossi has chosen Metal Slug Theme as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Horiguchi
vs
Rossi

176 cm
33
159
21 - 9 - 1

180 cm
31
165
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Akaro Horiguchi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Marchrius Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head but Horiguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Horiguchi tries to counter by clinching up but Rossi breaks away and moves out of range.
Rossi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Horiguchi. Horiguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rossi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Horiguchi.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Horiguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Far-Q Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Horiguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A low kick lands for Rossi.
Rossi moves forwards but Horiguchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head but Horiguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rossi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi thows a leg kick but Rossi checks it
enabling Rossi to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi works the jab nicely.
Horiguchi misses with an uppercut. Rossi saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi blocks the body kick.
Rossi throws a right hand that misses
and Horiguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rossi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head.
Horiguchi lands a nice looking body kick.
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Horiguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Horiguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rossi was well out of range. Poor timing from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rossi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Horiguchi.
Nice shot lands for Horiguchi.
Rossi misses the jab.
Horiguchi lunges at Rossi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rossi's hand.
Rossi misses with an attempted mid kick.
A big right from Horiguchi misses.
Horiguchi avoids the head kick by Rossi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rossi. Horiguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rossi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi with a hook.
Horiguchi lunges at Rossi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rossi's hand.
Rossi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Donk. Horiguchi catches Rossi right on the button with a cross.
Horiguchi connects with a right hand. Rossi shakes it off.
Horiguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Horiguchi scores with a jab. Rossi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Horiguchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rossi. That did some damage!
Rossi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horiguchi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nice shot lands for Horiguchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rossi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Horiguchi connects with a nice looking jab.
Horiguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rossi.
Horiguchi misses with a hook
and Rossi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Horiguchi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rossis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Horiguchi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Horiguchi throws a front kick aimed at Rossi's knee but Rossi avoids it well.
Horiguchi punishes Rossi's body with a nice straight punch.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Horiguchi misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Rossi coming out on top.
Horiguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rossi.
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Rossi down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horiguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Rossi.
Rossi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As Rossi tries to get set, Horiguchi tries to push him back and clinch up but Rossi manages to avoid the attempt.
Rossi misses with a left hand
and Horiguchi counters with a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi connects with a jab.
Horiguchi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rossi misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Horiguchi misses the target.
Akaro Horiguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horiguchi wants to land a leg kick but Rossi is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Horiguchi can pounce on him.
Horiguchi misses with a looping left.
It seemed like Rossi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akaro Horiguchi dominated that round.
That's time! Horiguchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rossi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Horiguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!

Horiguchi gets a clinch.
Horiguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Horiguchi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rossi walks away with a smile on his face. Horiguchi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horiguchi looks to land a body kick but Rossi moved away.
Akaro Horiguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Horiguchi throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Horiguchi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Horiguchi throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rossi! But no joy.
Horiguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rossi can do to turn this around?
Rossi throws a wild body kick that Horiguchi sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Rossi.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Rossi off balance momentarily.
Rossi just misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rossi counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi walks into a jab.
Rossi slips a straight right by Horiguchi.
Rossi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good exchange - Horiguchi coming out on top.
Horiguchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Horiguchi blocks a jab.
Horiguchi lands with a nice body punch.
Horiguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horiguchi motions for Rossi to come forward. Horiguchi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A left lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi's corner calls for a 1-2. Horiguchi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Horiguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rossi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi misses with a hook. Horiguchi ducked under it nicely.
Rossi throws a body kick that misses.
Horiguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi misses with a low kick as Rossi jumps back.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Horiguchi.
Rossi throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Horiguchi throws a right hand that misses
and Rossi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Horiguchi.
Rossi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Horiguchi scores with a jab.
Horiguchi connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horiguchi darts in and clinches Rossi up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands an uppercut.
Rossi tries to circle away but Horiguchi has him pinned against the cage.
Horiguchi takes a shot to the head.
Rossi is trying to break the clinch but Horiguchi has him pressed against the cage.
Rossi stalling.
Rossi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Horiguchi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
Horiguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rossi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Horiguchi's elbow.
Horiguchi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Horiguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rossi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horiguchi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Horiguchi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Horiguchi, as that shot connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horiguchi takes a swing at Rossi's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rossi! But no joy.
Horiguchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rossi. That did some damage!
Horiguchi looks to clinch
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
Good work by Rossi as he checks the leg kick.
Horiguchi staying out of range there.
Horiguchi works the jab nicely.
Rossi tests Horiguchi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Horiguchi misses with a hook
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
Horiguchi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Horiguchi throws a hook to the side of Rossi's head but Rossi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good leg kick by Horiguchi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akaro Horiguchi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Horiguchi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rossi to score with a decent uppercut.
Horiguchi works the jab nicely.
Rossi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Horiguchi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rossi just misses with a punch to the body.
Horiguchi is looking to counter punch.
Horiguchi slips under a jab from Rossi.
A slow jab from Horiguchi misses its intended target.
Horiguchi checks a leg kick.
A jab from Horiguchi finds it's way through Rossi's defenses.
Rossi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Horiguchi misses its intended target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Horiguchi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Rossi blocks it.
Horiguchi avoids the body shot from Rossi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Rossi misses
and Horiguchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rossi throws a shot from downtown. Horiguchi moves away and avoids it.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head but Horiguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Rossi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice defenses there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horiguchi throws a front kick that sends Rossi stumbling back into the cage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Horiguchi.
Rossi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rossi thuds his shin into the meat of Horiguchi's side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rossi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Horiguchi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rossi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Horiguchi's sensitive parts.
Rossi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rossi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rossi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Horiguchi blocks a jab.
Rossi throws a good cross that connects.
Horiguchi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rossi throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi cracks Rossi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Horiguchi scores with a jab. Rossi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Rossi down.
Horiguchi tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Rossi to counter with a crisp jab.
Horiguchi throws an off balance right hand
and Rossi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Horiguchi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rossi is able to avoid easily.
Rossi slips under a jab from Horiguchi.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Horiguchi moves away.
Rossi misses the jab.
Horiguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rossi momentarily.
Rossi scores with a nice right hand.
Horiguchi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Horiguchi.
Rossi walks into a stiff left hand from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rossi checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rossi's head backwards.
Horiguchi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Horiguchi throws a leg kick which misses Rossi's front leg but catches the back leg as Rossi tries to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid body kick from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi scores with a punch to the head.
Rossi throws an off balance right hand
and Horiguchi counters with a low kick, right behind Rossi 's knee.
Rossi misses with an uppercut.
Rossi misses with a straight right.
Rossi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rossi misses with a hook
and Horiguchi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Horiguchi saw that one coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akaro Horiguchi clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horiguchi lands with a good body shot.
Horiguchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rossi doesn't seem bothered though.
Rossi slips under a jab.
Horiguchi slips a jab from Rossi.
Rossi misses with an uppercut
and Horiguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Rossi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi is looking to clinch but Rossi is avoiding it.
Horiguchi misses with a looping left.
Horiguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi loads up on a big right hand but Rossi slips the punch.
Rossi misses with a kick to the body
and Horiguchi counters with an outside leg kick.
Horiguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi throws out a leg kick but Rossi moves out of range and Horiguchi only half commits.
Rossi misses with a right hand
and Horiguchi counters with a low kick, right behind Rossi 's knee.
Horiguchi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rossi throws an off balance right hand
and Horiguchi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rossi's knee momentarily.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi scores with a nice strike.
Rossi lunges at Horiguchi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Horiguchi's hand.
Horiguchi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rossi.
Horiguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rossi.
Rossi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Horiguchi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Horiguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rossi misses with a body shot
and Horiguchi counters with a good low kick that Rossi was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws a jab but it's blocked by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi cracks Rossi with a good jab.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horiguchi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A jab from Rossi misses.
Rossi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horiguchi connects with the punch.
Horiguchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rossi throws a right hand that misses
and Horiguchi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horiguchi is looking to chop away at Rossi's legs.
Rossi throws an overhand right that lands on Horiguchi's shoulder, as Horiguchi tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi cracks Rossi with a good jab.
Horiguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Horiguchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rossi's head.
Horiguchi tries to work over Rossi's front leg with a kick but Rossi checks it.
Horiguchi tries to clinch there but Rossi circles away.
Horiguchi throws a shot from downtown. Rossi moves away and avoids it.
Rossi moves out of range of the leg kick from Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws a hook but Rossi avoids it easily.
Horiguchi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Horiguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rossi.
Rossi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rossi throws a looping overhand right but Horiguchi ducks down to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Horiguchi misses its target.
A telegraphed right hand from Horiguchi misses the target.
Good shot there by Horiguchi.
Horiguchi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Horiguchi is looking to slow Rossi down with leg kicks.
Horiguchi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rossi checks it well.
Rossi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horiguchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rossi.
Rossi throws a sloppy head kick
and Horiguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horiguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.

Horiguchi darts in and clinches Rossi up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akaro Horiguchi had his way with Marchrius Rossi in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horiguchi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Horiguchi tries to clinch there but Rossi circles away.
Horiguchi moves out of range as Rossi strikes.
Rossi throws a body punch but Horiguchi moves out of range.
Horiguchi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
That kick from Horiguchi tenderised Rossi's leg. Rossi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Horiguchi throws a good cross that connects.
Rossi thows a leg kick but Horiguchi checks it
enabling Horiguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.
Horiguchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Horiguchi with a hook.
Horiguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Horiguchi's head but Horiguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Horiguchi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rossi.
Rossi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Rossi throws a right hand that misses
enabling Horiguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Horiguchi thuds a left hand into Rossi's body.
Rossi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rossi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Horiguchi clobbers Rossi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Marchrius Rossi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akaro Horiguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Horiguchi.
It seemed like Rossi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Horiguchi with the inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horiguchi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Rossi down.
A low kick lands for Horiguchi.
Horiguchi throws out a leg kick but Rossi moves out of range and Horiguchi only half commits.
Rossi throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rossi.
Rossi throws the left hand but Horiguchi avoids the punch easily.
Rossi checks a low kick from Horiguchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a hook
and Horiguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Horiguchi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rossi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice inside leg kick there by Horiguchi. That's going to slow Rossi down.
Horiguchi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horiguchi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Horiguchi checks a leg kick nicely.
Horiguchi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Rossi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Horiguchi can pounce on him.
Horiguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Horiguchi misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rossi.
Rossi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Horiguchi.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rossi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Horiguchi - the referee stops the clock and Rossi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Horiguchi. Rossi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rossi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horiguchi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Horiguchi is rocked!
Horiguchi cracks Rossi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Oh Horiguchi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Horiguchi throws a leg kick which misses Rossi's front leg but catches the back leg as Rossi tries to avoid it.
Horiguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Horiguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rossi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akaro Horiguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Horiguchi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 50:45
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 50:45
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akaro Horiguchi!
Akaro Horiguchi retains his lightweight title!
Akaro Horiguchi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Marchrius Rossi spoke after the fight, saying 'Stand Up If You Hate Tottenham'.