PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Gracie (ranked 4188 p4p, 6402 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 468 p4p, 572 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Funaki

180 cm
27
167
5 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
159
5 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauricio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a right hand that Funaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Funaki also avoids with ease.
Funaki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Funaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Funaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Funaki with a jab.
Gracie moves out of range as Funaki throws a body kick.
Gracie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Funaki slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki blocks an uppercut.
Funaki has Gracie pushed against the cage.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Funaki prevents it.
Funaki lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lands a body punch.
Funaki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Gracie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Funaki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike.
Funaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie gets through Funaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.
Funaki avoiding damage.
Funaki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gracie trying to stall but Funaki improves his position.
Funaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funaki tries to stall but Gracie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Funaki utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Funaki pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funaki stalling in the clinch but Gracie improves position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short left from Funaki.
Funaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Funaki.
Funaki avoiding damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Funaki tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funaki stalls.
Funaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Funaki as Gracie tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funaki.
Funaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
Gracie lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Funaki displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gracie up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Gracie.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Funaki gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Funaki stalls.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Funaki.
Funaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Funaki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Funaki is stalling here.
Funaki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funaki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Funaki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Funaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Funaki misses with a hook from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie lands a left hand.
Gracie lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Funaki or not.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funaki is trying to maintain a safe position but Gracie gets an underhook and turns Funaki into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Funaki backwards.
Funaki scores with a hook to the body.
Funaki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gracie letting Funaki take a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Funaki dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Funaki throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funaki.
Funaki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gracie is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Funaki throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Funaki!

Funaki sneaks out the side door and pushes Gracie away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Funaki tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Funaki's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is working Funaki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Funaki trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Funaki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Funaki keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Funaki keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Funaki tries to counter with a clinch but Gracie shakes him off and moves away.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Funaki.
Funaki connects with a solid leg kick.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Funaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Funaki.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki seems a little lost for a moment, as Gracie dominates the positioning.
Gracie trying to control the position but Funaki is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Funaki is defending well.
Funaki wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Funaki is holding Gracie down, trying to stall.
Funaki is not content to let Gracie control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie working away.
Gracie trying to control the action but Funaki is working from the bottom.
Funaki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Funaki's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masa Funaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Funaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Gracie is trying to stall.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gracie wants to take the fight to the mat but Funaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Funaki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Funaki is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gracie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Funaki.
Funaki gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Funaki has Gracie pressed against the cage.
Funaki crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Funaki controlling the action here for a moment.
Funaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Funaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Funaki works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Funaki trying to control the position but instead, Gracie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Funaki into the cage.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Funaki can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie tries to work over Funaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie working aggressively here.
Mauricio Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Funaki stalling in the clinch.
Funaki wants to stall.
Funaki tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gracie working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Funaki.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Funaki.
A bit of stalling here from Funaki.
Gracie looking to slow down the pace here.
Gracie tries to stall but Funaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Funaki is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Funaki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks the elbow strike.
Gracie stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from Gracie.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Masa Funaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Funaki tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gracie working aggressively here.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Gracie trying to stall but Funaki improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Funaki or not.
Gracie controlling the action here for a moment.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Funaki controls his hands.
Gracie letting Funaki take a breather here.
Nice body punch from Gracie - that landed with a thud.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie gets through Funaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Funaki.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mauricio Gracie.
I think Funaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Masa Funaki!