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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 4579 p4p, 24705 weight class) and Timur Xhekaj (ranked 285 p4p, 324 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 165 cm
24
140
1 - 1 - 0 |
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176 cm
23
145
2 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power |
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Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined |
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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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Timur Xhekaj!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xhekaj shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Horiguchi but Horiguchi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Xhekaj with a poor takedown
and Horiguchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Xhekaj keeping moving, preventing Horiguchi from controlling successfully.
Horiguchi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Xhekaj really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Horiguchi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Xhekaj struggling a bit here.
Horiguchi wants to control but Xhekaj is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhekaj is looking for a sweep.
Xhekaj is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Horiguchi off and has taken his back!
Xhekaj throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Horiguchi!
Horiguchi is trying to break free.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi turns into Xhekaj and is now in his guard.
Xhekaj is trying to control the position but Horiguchi postures up.
Horiguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Xhekaj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horiguchi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Xhekaj's guard.
Horiguchi prevents Xhekaj from improving his position.
Horiguchi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xhekaj is looking for a sweep. Horiguchi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Horiguchi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Horiguchi wants to pass to mount but Xhekaj is defending the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Xhekaj can do anything to dispel that myth.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj trying to control from the bottom.
Xhekaj might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Horiguchi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Xhekaj wants to get back to full guard.
Horiguchi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Xhekaj is just riding it out for now. Horiguchi eventually gives up the hold.
Horiguchi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Horiguchi trying to control but Xhekaj is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi prevents Xhekaj from getting the reversal.
Xhekaj is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Horiguchi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Xhekaj manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Xhekaj prevents Horiguchi from moving into mount.
Horiguchi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Horiguchi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Horiguchi is trying to get an arm triangle but Xhekaj is defending well.
Xhekaj tries to bench press Horiguchi off him but Horiguchi keeps the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj keeps trying to improve his position.
Horiguchi wants to control but Xhekaj is keeping him busy.
Horiguchi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Xhekaj struggling a bit here.
Xhekaj is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kyoji Horiguchi dominated that round.
That's time! Horiguchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Xhekaj shoots for a takedown but Horiguchi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horiguchi walks into a straight right hand from Xhekaj.
Horiguchi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Horiguchi is keen to just control but Xhekaj is a slippery customer.
Horiguchi passes to full mount!
Kyoji Horiguchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Xhekaj is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Xhekaj is squirming around, avoiding Horiguchi's attempts to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horiguchi is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Horiguchi leaves Xhekaj with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhekaj tries for a takedown but Horiguchi circles away easily
and Horiguchi counters with a series of strikes. Xhekaj will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kyoji Horiguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Xhekaj.
Horiguchi leaves Xhekaj with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Xhekaj looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Horiguchi!
Horiguchi sneaks out the side door and pushes Xhekaj away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Horiguchi takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Xhekaj stops a takedown attempt from Horiguchi.
Xhekaj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Xhekaj shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Horiguchi counters with a three punch combo that has Xhekaj backing up. Xhekaj nods at Horiguchi to acknowledge the strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Xhekaj showed some decent athleticism there.
Xhekaj is nestled in close to Horiguchi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Xhekaj missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Xhekaj lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Horiguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xhekaj can do to turn this around?
Horiguchi gets back to full guard.
Xhekaj must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Xhekaj throwing strikes from guard but Horiguchi blocks nicely.
Xhekaj chips away with some ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Xhekaj cracks Horiguchi with a solid left hand.
Horiguchi is trying to hold Xhekaj in close to prevent damage but Xhekaj has managed to pass into half guard.
Xhekaj working over Horiguchi with some ground and pound. Horiguchi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Horiguchi is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xhekaj lands with a punch from half guard.
Oh Horiguchi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Xhekaj landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Xhekaj lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horiguchi is trying to stand back up but Xhekaj is controlling him
Xhekaj scoring with strikes to the body and head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhekaj landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Xhekaj lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Horiguchi! More strikes land and this one is all over! Xhekaj jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Timur Xhekaj!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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