PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josip Horvat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horvat comes into the arena with Dubioza kolektiv - Kažu blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Horvat
vs
Swanson

170 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Josip Horvat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Horvat tests Swanson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Swanson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Swanson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Swanson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Swanson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Swanson throws a head kick that half lands.
Swanson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horvat shoots in but Swanson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Horvat.
Horvat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swanson sprawls well. Swanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Horvat gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josip Horvat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Horvat misses the target.
Swanson connects with a solid leg kick.
Horvat lands a head shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Swanson.
A nice inside leg kick there by Swanson. That's going to slow Horvat down.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Swanson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Swanson feints and then cracks Horvat's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Horvat down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Swanson. That's going to slow Horvat down.
Horvat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Swanson.
Horvat is breathing heavily.
Horvat misses with a looping left.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Swanson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice body kick from Swanson.
A slapping leg kick lands for Swanson.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swanson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Swanson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Horvat's calf.
Swanson throws a head kick that half lands.
Swanson lands a two punch combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Swanson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A shot to the liver by Swanson. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Swanson.
Swanson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Swanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Horvat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Swanson misses with a two punch combination.
Swanson scores with a leg kick.
Horvat is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Swanson lands a high kick!
Swanson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Horvat loads up on a big right hand but Swanson slips the punch.
Swanson connects with a leg kick. Horvat looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Swanson.
Horvat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swanson avoids it really well and circles away.
Swanson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Swanson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Horvat's head.
Ben Swanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson scores with a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Swanson.
Swanson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swanson wants it to stay on the feet.
Horvat tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Swanson cracks the inside of Horvat's front leg.
Both fighters circling a little - Swanson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Swanson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Horvat.
A big right from Horvat misses.
Swanson scores with a head kick. Horvat tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Swanson.
Swanson scores with a leg kick.
Swanson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Horrible takedown by Horvat or perhaps it was just good defense by Swanson which made him look bad.
Swanson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Horvat backs up against the cage.
Horvat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swanson but Swanson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swanson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horvat takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Swanson keeps Horvat at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Swanson.
Swanson is working the combinations to good effect here.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Horvat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swanson sprawls well. Swanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Horvat gets slowly back to his feet.
Horvat 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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Swanson.
Swanson connects with an inside leg kick.
Horvat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Swanson swivels and escapes.
Swanson stalks Horvat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Horvat's face. Horvat staggers backwards, shaken.
Swanson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Horvat has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Horvat throws an off balance right hand

and Swanson counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Swanson lands a damaging elbow.

Swanson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Horvat regains guard.

Horvat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Swanson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Swanson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horvat swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Swanson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horvat tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Horvat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swanson sprawls well. Swanson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Horvat gets slowly back to his feet.
A solid body kick from Swanson.
Swanson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Swanson scores with a head kick.
Swanson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Horvat.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Horvat. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A nice inside leg kick there by Swanson. That's going to slow Horvat down.
Ben Swanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Horvat misses the target.
Swanson moves away from the strike by Horvat.
Swanson lands a head kick. Horvat smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Horvat shoots in and drives through. Swanson sprawls well.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Horvat throws a big shot that misses.
Horvat is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Swanson throws a nice outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horvat on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Swanson gets a clinch.

Swanson has hold of one of Horvat's legs. Horvat is fighting the takedown attempt but Swanson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Swanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Swanson stopping the sweep attempt from Horvat.

Horvat is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Swanson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swanson postures up and lands a big shot to Horvat's brow.

Horvat has his foot on Swanson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Swanson works his way back into a safe position though.
Swanson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Swanson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Swanson stays in close to Horvat's body and controls the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Swanson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Swanson content to stall in guard here.

Horvat looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson tries to free his leg and advance position but Horvat is retaining full guard.

Swanson gets to his feet - Horvat follows without any prompting.
Swanson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horvat misses with a straight left.
Horvat is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Swanson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Swanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horvat will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Swanson.
Swanson cracks the inside of Horvat's front leg.
Horvat fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josip Horvat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Horvat takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Swanson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Swanson feints a jab promting Horvat to slip. Swanson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Horvat slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Horvat.
Swanson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Horvat.
Swanson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Horvat's calf.
Swanson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Horvat backs up against the cage.
Horvat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swanson's waist but Swanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Horvat off to one side.
Swanson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Horvat eats them both and turns towards Swanson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Swanson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Horvat misses with a takedown attempt

and Swanson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Horvat's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Horvat being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Horvat has his feet on Swanson's thighs here. He's pushed Swanson off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Swanson screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Josip Horvat!
Our winner, Josip Horvat, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.