PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claes Horn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Horn
vs
Zala

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Claes Horn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Athrun Zala!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zala circles away quickly and effectively.

Zala gets a takedown into half guard.

Horn looking for submissions off his back.

Horn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Horn tries to kick Zala off but Zala keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Horn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zala landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zala landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala drops an elbow to the side of Horn's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zala connects with a nice short shot to Horn's temple.
Zala is keen to just control but Horn is a slippery customer.
Zala working over Horn with some ground and pound. Horn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zala lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Zala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Horn is refusing to be controlled, as Zala sits in half guard.
Horn is looking to escape.
Zala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Horn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zala working Horn over with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Zala there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Horn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zala defends well.

Horn has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zala is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Horn.
Horn is breathing heavily.
Horn taking a bit of punishment here - Zala scoring with strikes.
Horn tries to bench press Zala off him but Zala keeps the position.
Zala working the head and body with strikes.
Horn is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zala is controlling him well.
Zala cracks Horn with a big elbow.
Horn takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zala scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Horn to see if he's OK.
Zala cracks Horn with an elbow. That is naaassty.

It looks like Claes Horn has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horn keeps working.
Horn taking punishment in the form of punches.
Horn taking punishment in the form of punches.
Horn takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Horn is pushing Zala's head away, looking to escape. Zala manages to hold on to the position though.
Horn trying to remain calm as Zala controls from the top position.
Zala working the head and body with strikes.
Horn is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zala connects with a decent elbow.
Zala lands a few punches from side control.
Zala lands an elbow.
Zala scoring with punches from side control.
Zala working the ground and pound from side control.
Zala trying to control the action but Horn is working from the bottom.
Horn is looking to regain half guard here but Zala keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zala prevents Horn from escaping the position.
Horn is trying to improve his position.
Zala cracks Horn with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zala lands a nice forearm strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zala in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zala trying to control the action but Horn is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horn takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athrun Zala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claes Horn's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Horn lands a with a good body shot.

Zala shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Horn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Horn keeping moving, preventing Zala from controlling successfully.
Zala is working Horn over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Zala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Horn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zala lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Horn has his foot on Zala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zala works his way back into a safe position though.
Zala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Horn's head.

Horn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Horn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zala makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala is in close to Horn's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zala cracks Horn with a solid left hand.
Zala slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zala lands a few punches from side control.
Zala trying to control the action but Horn is working from the bottom.
Zala working the ground and pound from side control.
Horn taking a bit of punishment here - Zala scoring with strikes.
Zala working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zala works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Horn is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zala working the head with strikes.
Horn is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Athrun Zala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zala looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zala is trying to control. Horn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zala winds up and cracks Horn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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!
Zala scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Horn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Horn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala drops an elbow to the side of Horn's head.

Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zala looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Horn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zala not doing much here.
Zala winds up and cracks Horn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zala wants to take a breather but Horn is having none of it.

Horn actively working from the bottom here.
Zala lands with a punch from half guard.
Zala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horn wants to improve his position but Zala is controlling well.
Zala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zala lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zala connects with a nice short shot to Horn's temple.
Zala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zala stops Horn from getting back to his feet.
Zala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Horn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zala is nestled in close to Horn, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nice strikes from Zala there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horn is looking to improve his position.

Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athrun Zala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Claes Horn's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Horn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zala lands an elbow.
Zala landing strikes.
Zala trying to control the action but Horn is working from the bottom.
Horn is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zala's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Horn actively working from the bottom here.
Zala scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horn looking for submissions off his back.
Horn pushes Zala off but Zala dives into side control.
Zala grinds an elbow into Horn's temple.
Horn manages to get back to half guard.
Horn wants to get back to his feet.
Zala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Horn looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nice strikes from Zala there.
Zala performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Horn is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zala trying to control the pace.
Zala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zala working the head and body with strikes.

Horn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zala pulls his head out easily.
Zala is trying to control. Horn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Horn looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Zala seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Horn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zala working Horn over with strikes.

Horn actively working from the bottom here.
Zala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Horn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zala lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Zala there.
Zala prevents Horn from standing back up.
Horn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zala wants to pass the guard but Horn is defending well.
Zala content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zala winds up and cracks Horn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Horn actively working from the bottom here.

Horn looking for submissions off his back.
Zala looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Horn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zala winds up and cracks Horn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Horn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zala wants to take a breather but Horn is having none of it.
Claes Horn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Athrun Zala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Athrun Zala!