Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Darrell Montague

Round 1
The flyweights take the better part of one minute to engage, and when they do, it’s Horiguchi coming down the center with a straight right and following with a leg kick. An overhand right from Horiguchi misses as Montague push-kicks him out of range. Two minutes in, Montague shoots low and easily floors Horiguchi with a takedown. Horiguchi plays with his open guard, controlling Montague’s wrists until the “Mongoose” allows him to stand. Horiguchi counters a low kick with a hard right hand over the top. Horiguchi is showing good movement in the latter half of the round, dipping in and out of range to land single strikes on Montague.

Sherdog Scores
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Javier Vazquez scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi

Round 2
Montague gets Horiguchi up against the fence and frames up a standing arm-triangle choke, then jumps guard with a guillotine. Horiguchi puts Montague’s back to the fence and frees his head before backing away and resetting to strike. Montague lands a leg kick, cuts angles on the outside and pops Horiguchi with a counter right hand. Horiguchi strikes back with a right hook and has a high kick blocked, then repeats the sequence. Horiguchi goes to the body, catches Montague leaning over and cracks him with a left hook. Montague sprints away, getting clipped with a right hand on the way out. Horiguchi shuts down a takedown attempt, puts Montague in a headlock and drills him with a knee. Montague is on his knees, eating right hands from Horiguchi, while referee Gary Copeland tells the American to defend himself. With two minutes left, Horiguchi gives up on punching and takes control of his kneeling opponent. When Montague tries to stand, Horiguchi hits a suplex and tacks on a couple more punches. Montague stands and pushes Horiguchi backward with a long left hand. Horiguchi sticks another good left hand up top and then hurts Montague with a hard right to the body. Both men are still firing at the horn, but it’s Montague who goes staggering back to his corner, barely standing.

Sherdog Scores
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Javier Vazquez scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi

Round 3
Montague misses as he lunges at Horiguchi with a flying knee, then chases after the former Shooto champion and eats a pair of hard counter rights. Horiguchi dives into range with a sweeping left hand and then rips a kick to the body. He dumps Montague to the ground and stands over him, stacking up the American and dropping punches with both hands. Montague escapes to his feet with about two minutes left in the fight. The “Mongoose” is trying to jab his way into range but can’t find the mark. He settles for a kick to the body, but Horiguchi is still landing clean counters when Montague steps into the pocket. Twenty seconds left and Montague connects with a hard right hand upstairs, then a right hook. Both guys are still throwing hands when the final horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)
Javier Vazquez scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)

The Official Result
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrell Montague via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) R3 5:00