PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Horn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa comes to the cage accompanied by The Eye of the Tiger. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balboa
vs
Horn

180 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Otto Horn!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horn stalks Balboa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Balboa's face. Balboa staggers backwards, shaken.
Horn connects with a right hand. Balboa shakes it off.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses.
Horn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Balboa's hands.
Balboa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Horn finds it's way round the side to connect with Balboa's head.
Horn wants to clinch.
Horn throws a series of punches but Balboa moves out of range.
Horn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balboa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice cross by Horn.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Horn but Horn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horn lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Balboa is rocked!
Horn swats away the attempt to clinch by Balboa.
A punch combination from Balboa misses.
Horn cracks a nice hook into Balboa's ribs.

Horn drops Balboa with a left and a right! Oh, Balboa is hurt - Horn dives into side control looking to finish!
Oh Balboa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balboa is trying to escape the position but Horn is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa seems to have got his legs back now.
Balboa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balboa tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Horn decides to stand back up. Horn steps back and let's Balboa get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries a head kick but it misses.
Balboa tries to clinch
and Horn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice straight punches there by Horn. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Horn.
Horn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Balboa misses with a combination

and Horn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
Horn digs a right hand into Balboa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Balboa's gas tank.
Horn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balboa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Balboa is looking to break free of the clinch but Horn has double underhooks.
Horn slows down the pace here.
Good body shot from Horn.

Horn jumps into guard, dragging Balboa to the mat.
Horn tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horn prevents Balboa from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Horn there.
Horn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Horn stops Balboa from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Well, if Horn is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Horn stops Balboa from getting back to his feet.
Horn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Horn is controlling the pace.
Horn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A left and a right from Balboa both land. Nice combination.
Rocky Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horn throws a right and a left that both miss.

Horn instigates a clinch.
Horn lands a shot to the body.
Horn wants a takedown but no success here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Horn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balboa tries to circle away but Horn has him pinned against the cage.
Horn lands a hook to the side of the head.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horn tries to clinch but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa misses with a wild combination.
Balboa closes the distance looking to clinch
and Horn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balboa misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horn slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa darts in trying to clinch
and Horn counters with a left and a right that stings Balboa.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balboa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horn scores with a one two! Balboa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Horn avoids them all with ease.
Horn is looking to clinch but Balboa is avoiding it.
Horn wants to clinch up but Balboa keeps it at a distance.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balboa misses with a double jab
and Horn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Balboa thinking.
Horn looks to land a combination but Balboa avoids it well.
Otto Horn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Horn.
Good standup being displayed there by Horn as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa drops his hands momentarily and Horn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Horn tries to bum rush Balboa with a series of wild strikes but Balboa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Horn avoids them all with ease.
Horn lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Horn pushes Balboa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Horn content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Horn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Horn lands with a short shot to the head.
Balboa tries to circle away but Horn has him pinned against the cage.
Balboa tries to circle away but Horn has him pinned against the cage.
Horn tries to pull guard but Balboa won't allow it.
Horn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Balboa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rocky Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Horn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Horn.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Horn counters with a nice uppercut.
Otto Horn seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Balboa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Horn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Horn manages to get underhooks.
Horn wants to stall.
Horn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.
Balboa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Horn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balboa misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Horn connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Balboa throws a right hand that Horn ducks under and follows up with a left that Horn also avoids with ease.
Balboa misses with a series of wild punches.
Horn throws a right hand that Balboa ducks under and follows up with a left that Balboa also avoids with ease.
A jab from Balboa misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Horn.
Balboa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balboa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The fight stays on the outside here - Horn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balboa staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balboa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto Horn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Balboa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horn clinches up against the cage.
Horn fails to pull guard.
Nice body punch from Horn - that landed with a thud.
Horn has Balboa pushed against the cage.
Balboa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Horn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Balboa.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Horn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Balboa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Horn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rocky Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Horn.
Horn has Balboa pressed against the cage, preventing Balboa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Balboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Balboa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Horn counters with a left to the body.
Balboa wants to clinch but Horn slips to the side
and Horn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa misses with the body kick
enabling Horn to counter with a crisp jab.
Horn is looking to clinch.
Balboa throws a wild body kick that Horn sees coming a mile off.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Horn circles away easily
and Horn counters with a two punch combo.
Horn lands a nice looking body shot.
Balboa tries to bum rush Horn with a series of wild strikes but Horn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horn throws a one two combo.
Horn lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Balboa backs up against the cage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Horn in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Horn circles away easily
and Horn counters with a straight right hand.
Balboa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Horn counters with a left and a right that stings Balboa.
Balboa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Horn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Horn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Horn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Horn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balboa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Horn thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Horn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Horn moves into the clinch successfully.

Horn is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Balboa can't fight it off and eventually Horn manages to take the fight to the floor. Balboa looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Horn.
Balboa is trying to keep Horn in close.
Horn stands and throws Balboa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Horn trying to control the position but Balboa is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa prevents Horn from moving into mount.
Balboa dodges the ground and pound from Horn.
Horn trying to control the position but Balboa is working away.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balboa tries to land a front kick but Horn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balboa tries to clinch but Horn is having none of it.
Balboa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Horn swings for the body but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses.
Balboa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Horn backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Balboa scores with a three punch combo!
Balboa staying out of range there.
Horn throws a predictable looking body shot

and Balboa counters with a single leg into guard. Horn didn't expect that.
Horn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Horn slows the pace down in half guard.
Otto Horn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto Horn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Horn has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otto Horn!