PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kyoji Horiguchi (ranked 2631 p4p, 241 weight class) and John Eugemia (ranked 3611 p4p, 303 weight class). Kyoji Horiguchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Horiguchi
vs
Eugemia

164 cm
40
145 lbs
32 - 22 - 2

175 cm
32
137 lbs
21 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 22 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyoji Horiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, John Eugemia!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horiguchi misses with a wild combination.
Eugemia shoots in and drives through. Horiguchi sprawls well.
Horiguchi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Eugemia.
Horiguchi tried to counter with a leg kick but Eugemia avoided it.
Horiguchi throws a push kick but Eugemia slaps the foot to one side.
Horiguchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Eugemia.
Kyoji Horiguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Eugemia.
Eugemia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Horiguchi counters with an outside leg kick.
No luck for Eugemia with that takedown attempt.
Eugemia on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Horiguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Eugemia moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eugemia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Horiguchi counters with a straight right hand.
Horiguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Eugemia throws out the jab.
It looked like Horiguchi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Eugemia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Horiguchi's waist but Horiguchi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Eugemia off to one side.
Horiguchi tried to counter with a leg kick but Eugemia avoided it.
Horiguchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Eugemia's head backwards.
Eugemia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eugemia tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Horiguchi defends well and Eugemia ends up having to push Horiguchi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eugemia clinches.
Eugemia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Horiguchi prevents it.
Eugemia wants a takedown but no success here.
Eugemia misses with a knee strike.
Eugemia misses with an elbow strike.

Horiguchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A cross from Horiguchi lands.
Kyoji Horiguchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Eugemia tries to close the distance and clinch but Horiguchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horiguchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Eugemia tries to clinch up but Horiguchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Horiguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Horiguchi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horiguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Horiguchi stuffs the takedown attempt from Eugemia. Eugemia gets slowly back to his feet.
Horiguchi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Eugemia is out of range and Horiguchi settles back down.
We've been hearing reports that Horiguchi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Horiguchi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A lazy left from Horiguchi finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eugemia jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eugemia blocks a low kick nicely.
Eugemia tries to clinch up
and Horiguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horiguchi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Horiguchi wants it to stay on the feet.
Horiguchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horiguchi stuns Eugemia with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Horiguchi throws a right hand that Eugemia ducks under and follows up with a left that Eugemia also avoids with ease.
Eugemia tries to clinch there but Horiguchi circles away.
Horiguchi misses with a body kick.
Eugemia looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Horiguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Eugemia off balance momentarily.
Horiguchi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Eugemia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horiguchi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Horiguchi stuffs the takedown attempt from Eugemia. Eugemia gets slowly back to his feet.
Eugemia tries to clinch but Horiguchi is having none of it.
Horiguchi with a hook.
Eugemia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horiguchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horiguchi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
No luck for Eugemia with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eugemia tries for a takedown but Horiguchi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horiguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Eugemia.

Eugemia moves into range and clinches up with Horiguchi.
Eugemia misses with a knee strike.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Horiguchi is leaning against Eugemia and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Horiguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Eugemia misses with a knee to the head.
Eugemia takes a shot to the head.
Horiguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Eugemia backwards.
Eugemia wants a takedown.
Eugemia working aggressively here.
Eugemia misses with a knee strike.
Horiguchi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Eugemia backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Horiguchi.
Eugemia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Horiguchi blocks it with crossed arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Horiguchi has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Eugemia clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Horiguchi looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Horiguchi controlling the positon.
Horiguchi trying to control.
Eugemia takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Horiguchi controlling well, preventing Eugemia from escaping the position.
Eugemia manages to reverse the position and now he's in Horiguchi's guard. Nice work there by Eugemia.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horiguchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eugemia's guard.

Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Eugemia keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyoji Horiguchi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Eugemia takes a jab right on the kisser.
Eugemia moves in looking to clinch but Horiguchi pushes him off.
Horiguchi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Eugemia has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Eugemia gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Horiguchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horiguchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eugemia throws out a counter right but Horiguchi avoids it with no problem.
Horiguchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Eugemia shoots in looking for a takedown. Horiguchi tries to sprawl out of it but Eugemia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Horiguchi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Eugemia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Eugemia prevents Horiguchi from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eugemia misses with a head shot. Horiguchi uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horiguchi wants to sweep but no luck.
Horiguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eugemia can do to turn this around?
Eugemia looking to sit in guard and control but Horiguchi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Horiguchi wants to control from the top but Eugemia keeps moving.
Horiguchi wants to pass the guard but Eugemia is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Eugemia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Horiguchi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Horiguchi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Horiguchi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Eugemia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Horiguchi landing with the ground and pound.
Horiguchi trying to move into half guard but instead Eugemia has managed to sweep!

Horiguchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eugemia is one step ahead there.
Eugemia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Horiguchi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is looking to sweep but instead, Eugemia has passed into half guard.

Horiguchi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Eugemia pulls his head out easily.
Horiguchi wants to get back to full guard.
Horiguchi manages to get to full guard.
Horiguchi looking to control but Eugemia passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Horiguchi wants to get back to full guard.
Horiguchi trying to hold on to Eugemia's head to control him but Eugemia postures up.
Horiguchi is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Eugemia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyoji Horiguchi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Eugemia staying out of range there.
Eugemia shoots in but no luck this time.
Horiguchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Eugemia. That did some damage!

Eugemia clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Eugemia.
Eugemia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Eugemia can't get the takedown.
Kyoji Horiguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Eugemia.
Eugemia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Horiguchi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Eugemia's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Horiguchi gets through Eugemia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Eugemia prevents a body shot from Horiguchi.
A right hand to the body from Horiguchi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eugemia looking to throw knees to the head but Horiguchi is blocking nicely.
Horiguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Eugemia lands an elbow just above Horiguchi 's eye.
A short right from Horiguchi on the inside.
Kyoji Horiguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Horiguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horiguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Eugemia just misses with a elbow thrown towards Horiguchi's brow.
Horiguchi lands a left hand.
Horiguchi working aggressively here.
Eugemia can't get the takedown.
Horiguchi tries a body shot but Eugemia blocks it.
Eugemia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Horiguchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Eugemia misses with a knee to the head.
Horiguchi working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Eugemia is rocked!

Eugemia is trying to trip Horiguchi. He has hold of a leg but Horiguchi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Eugemia persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Eugemia is still in real trouble! Can Horiguchi finish him?
Horiguchi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Horiguchi working a defensive guard but Eugemia manages to pass into side control anyway.
Eugemia seems to have recovered his senses.
Horiguchi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
John Eugemia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horiguchi is controlling Eugemia's trapped leg to prevent Eugemia from advancing to side control.
Horiguchi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Horiguchi wants to sweep here but Eugemia controlling him for the moment.
Horiguchi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eugemia wants to stand but Horiguchi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Horiguchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eugemia's guard.

Kyoji Horiguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Eugemia can't keep his opponent in guard - Horiguchi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Eugemia trying to control from the bottom.
Horiguchi trying to control from half guard but Eugemia is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Eugemia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Horiguchi pulls his head out easily.
Kyoji Horiguchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Horiguchi content to control rather than advance.
Horiguchi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Horiguchi trying to control from half guard but Eugemia is working away.
Horiguchi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horiguchi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyoji Horiguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horiguchi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyoji Horiguchi!
Kyoji Horiguchi decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.