PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Tikhonov (ranked 2747 p4p, 4416 weight class) and Vinni Horn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viktor Tikhonov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tikhonov
vs
Horn

184 cm
25
195
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Viktor Tikhonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vinni Horn!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tikhonov jabs at Horn's body.
Horn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Horn bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tikhonov wants to control but Horn postures up.
Tikhonov is looking to reverse the position.
Horn trying to control the position but Tikhonov is working away.

Horn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tikhonov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tikhonov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tikhonov is not content to let Horn control the position.
You can see the frustration on Tikhonov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tikhonov is trying to get back to half guard.

Horn stands up and beckons Tikhonov to his feet.
Tikhonov cracks Horn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tikhonov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Horn looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Horn stands up out of the half guard.
Viktor Tikhonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Tikhonov finds it's target.
Tikhonov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Horn gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tikhonov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tikhonov tries to sprawl but Horn drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Horn thows a huge punch but Tikhonov dodges it nicely.
Tikhonov is trying to control but can't.
Tikhonov moves into full guard.
Horn postures up.

Tikhonov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Horn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Horn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tikhonov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tikhonov wants to sweep but no luck.
Horn postures up.
Tikhonov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Horn.
Horn showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tikhonov wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horn throws a strike but Tikhonov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vinni Horn will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horn decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Horn is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Horn trying to mount his opponent but Tikhonov defends it.
Horn working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tikhonov's thigh. Tikhonov counters though and makes it back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tikhonov is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horn looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tikhonov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov prevents Horn from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horn tries to kick Tikhonov off but Tikhonov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tikhonov controlling the action here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Horn can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tikhonov stops Horn from getting back to his feet.
Tikhonov is trying to control. Horn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tikhonov slows the pace down in half guard.
Horn wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Horn gets full guard.

Tikhonov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Horn, up you get!
Tikhonov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Horn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tikhonov tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Horn easily slips into full mount!
Tikhonov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Horn.
Horn pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
The referee warns Tikhonov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tikhonov is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horn avoids the attempt from Tikhonov to control.
Horn prevents Tikhonov from getting the reversal.
Horn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tikhonov is looking to escape.
Horn breaks from Tikhonov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tikhonov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tikhonov is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horn is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Tikhonov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Tikhonov!
Tikhonov wants to control from the top but Horn keeps moving.
Horn controlling the position.
Horn keeping moving, preventing Tikhonov from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tikhonov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tikhonov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Viktor Tikhonov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tikhonov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tikhonov tries to clinch up.

Horn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Tikhonov.
Tikhonov misses with some punches.
A short left from Tikhonov.
Horn wants to take the fight to the mat but Tikhonov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Horn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tikhonov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Horn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tikhonov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Horn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Tikhonov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Horn keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tikhonov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Tikhonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov lands an elbow just above Horn 's eye.
Horn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tikhonov scores with a shoulder strike.
Tikhonov trying to stall but Horn improves his position.
A nice left hand lands by Tikhonov.
Tikhonov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tikhonov lands an elbow just above Horn 's eye.

It looks like Vinni Horn has been cut.
Tikhonov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tikhonov gets through Horn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Tikhonov.
Horn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tikhonov lands an elbow that stopped Horn in his tracks for a moment.
A nice left hand lands by Tikhonov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tikhonov lands a damaging elbow.
A shot in the inside from Tikhonov.

Horn is rocked!
Tikhonov digs a right hand underneath Horn's ribcage. Horn let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Horn is still on wobbly legs! Can Tikhonov finish him?
Tikhonov lands a nice shot to the body.
Horn seems to have recovered his senses.
A right hook to the body lands for Tikhonov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Tikhonov.
A short uppercut from Tikhonov.
Tikhonov lands an elbow that stopped Horn in his tracks for a moment.
Tikhonov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Horn can do to turn this around?
Tikhonov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Viktor Tikhonov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tikhonov struggles to land a body shot inside as Horn controls his hands.
Tikhonov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tikhonov throws a big uppercut that drops Horn! More strikes from Tikhonov and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Horn lies dazed against the cage as Tikhonov celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Viktor Tikhonov!
During a confident post fight interview, Viktor Tikhonov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.