PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaq Champlain (ranked 3074 p4p, 1730 weight class) and Tobias Funke (ranked 116 p4p, 70 weight class). Tobias Funke will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Champlain
vs
Funke

192 cm
28
270
5 - 4 - 0

200 cm
23
275
6 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shaq Champlain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tobias Funke!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Champlain throws a head kick that misses
and Funke counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Shaq Champlain has been cut.
Funke connects with an inside leg kick.
Champlain throws a right hand that misses
and Funke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Funke drops Champlain with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Champlain looks back up at him and smiles so Funke waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Champlain is rocked!
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!
Champlain on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Funke. Funke obviously looking to wear him down.

Champlain gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Funke misses with a hook from the clinch.
Champlain changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Funke fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Champlain forces Funke back against the cage and clinches.
Champlain definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Funke working aggressively here.
Funke misses with the head strike.
Funke misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funke.
Funke misses with some punches.
Champlain misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Funke on the inside.
Champlain is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Funke to keep the fight standing.
Champlain misses with a punch to the body.
Funke lands a hook that snaps the head of Champlain backwards.
Funke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funke lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Champlain jumps guard but Funke turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaq Champlain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funke misses with a punch to the body.
Champlain wants a takedown but no success here.
Funke is pressed up against the cage. Champlain has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Funke down to the mat. Funke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Champlain shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Champlain showed some decent athleticism there.
Champlain is thwarting Funke's attempts to control the position.
Funke is trying to get back to full guard.
Funke has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Champlain trying to control from half guard but Funke is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champlain sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Funke defending well though.
Funke is positioning himself well to prevent Champlain advancing to mount.
Funke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Funke is pressing down on Champlain's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funke wants to sweep here but Champlain controlling him for the moment.
Funke is trying to control the position but Champlain postures up.
Champlain trying to control the position from guard on top but Funke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Champlain is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Champlain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Champlain pushes down on Funke's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champlain moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Funke's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Funke prevents Champlain from improving position.

Champlain is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Funke has escaped the position, nice work there.
Funke prevents Champlain from moving into mount.
Funke manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Champlain looking for submissions off his back.
Champlain taking some punishment here, with Funke in his half guard.
Champlain trying to control but Funke postures up.
Funke sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Champlain looking for a kimura from the bottom but Funke passes into side control!
Funke lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Champlain down.
Funke is working Champlain over with some ground and pound from side control.
Champlain gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Funke working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Champlain tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Funke scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Champlain is looking to improve his position but Funke isn't that keen on the idea.
Champlain is squirming around, avoiding Funke's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funke unloading with bombs!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tobias Funke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shaq Champlain's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Champlain throws a sloppy body shot
and Funke counters with a big right hand! Oh Champlain is in trouble here! Funke follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tobias Funke!
After winning the bout, Tobias Funke thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.