PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eric Draven (ranked 2239 p4p, 2464 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 249 p4p, 271 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Draven
vs
Funaki

175 cm
37
158
23 - 11 - 2

180 cm
27
159
8 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 23 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Eric Draven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Funaki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Draven throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Funaki misses with an uppercut.
Draven takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Funaki feints and then cracks Draven's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Draven down.

Funaki forces Draven back against the cage and clinches.

Draven breaks the clinch.
Masa Funaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki tries to land a front kick but Draven steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Draven tries a low kick but Funaki avoids it.
Funaki avoids the head kick by Draven.
Some wild striking there from Draven.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Draven has closed the distance and engaged Funaki in a clinch.

Draven breaks from the clinch.
Good work by Draven as he checks the leg kick.
Funaki avoids the head kick by Draven.
Funaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Draven.
Funaki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Draven is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draven misses with a low kick.

Draven gets a clinch.
Draven is trying to break the clinch but Funaki is controlling him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Funaki obliges.
Funaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Draven's defenses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.
Draven takes an elbow to the forehead.
Draven has had enough of the clinch but Funaki keeps him there for the moment.
Funaki unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Funaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Draven is defending well for now.
Funaki misses with an elbow over the top.
Draven looking to slow down the pace here.
Funaki putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Draven in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Draven managing to block the knees to the body from Funaki.
Funaki pushes off an throws an elbow but Draven leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Draven.
Funaki lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Draven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Funaki is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Draven is looking to control Funaki's arms but Funaki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Draven has his back to the cage.
Funaki lands an elbow that stopped Draven in his tracks for a moment.
Funaki throws an elbow but it misses.
Funaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Draven on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Draven is looking to control Funaki's arms but Funaki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Draven has his back to the cage.
Funaki has Draven pushed against the cage.
Draven trying to control the position but instead, Funaki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Draven into the cage.
Funaki scores a nice knee to the body.
Funaki lands a body shot.
Draven managing to block the knees to the body from Funaki.
Funaki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funaki.
Draven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Funaki is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki trying to stall but Draven improves his position.
Funaki is pushing Draven up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Funaki throws an elbow but it misses.
Draven has had enough of the clinch but Funaki keeps him there for the moment.

Draven escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Funaki wants to clinch.
Draven takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Funaki throws a body shot but no joy.

Draven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Funaki leaning his opponent against the cage.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Draven breaks the clinch.
Funaki avoids a kick to the body.
Draven tried to score with a low kick but Funaki checks it.
Funaki misses with a low kick as Draven jumps back.
A jab from Draven misses.
Funaki feints a counter leg kick.
Draven keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Funaki feints and then cracks Draven's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Draven down.
Funaki scores with a jab to the body.
Draven keeps the fight on the outside.

Funaki gets tackled into the cage by Draven. Draven maintains the clinch.
Draven on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funaki has Draven pressed against the cage, preventing Draven from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Funaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Draven avoids a wild elbow strike from Funaki.
Draven controlling the action here for a moment.
Draven stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Funaki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Draven throws a right hand that Funaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Funaki also avoids with ease.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Draven moved away.
Draven just misses with a punch to the body.
Funaki lands with a shot to the body.
Funaki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Draven closes the distance and clinches.
Draven tries to land knees in the clinch but Funaki avoids the damage to the body.
Draven controlling the action here for a moment.
Funaki putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Draven in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Funaki lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Draven breaks the clinch.
Funaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A solid body kick from Funaki.
A looping hook to the body misses from Draven. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Funaki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Draven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Funaki.

Funaki moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a knee strike.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Funaki lands a nice shot to the body.
Funaki pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funaki lands an elbow inside that Draven shrugs off.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Draven is trying to stall.

Draven breaks from the clinch.
Draven connects with a body shot.
Funaki is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Draven rather than just go for the knockout.
Funaki lunges at Draven with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Draven's hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Draven.
Funaki scores with a jab. Draven acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Funaki pushes Draven away with a front kick.
Draven lands a nice looking body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Draven pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Funaki back to the cage. Draven follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A leg kick checked by Draven.

Draven gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Funaki looking to throw knees to the head but Draven is blocking nicely.
Funaki lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Funaki as Draven tries to tie him up.
Funaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Draven's defenses.

Draven breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Draven avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Draven tries to bum rush Funaki with a series of wild strikes but Funaki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funaki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Draven.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Draven moved away.
Draven catches Funaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Draven moves out of range of the leg kick from Funaki.
Funaki tried to score with a low kick but Draven checks it.
Funaki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draven moves away from the strike by Funaki.
Funaki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Draven checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Draven checks a leg kick.
Funaki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Funaki motions for Draven to come forward. Funaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A clash of legs there as Funaki blocks the low kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Draven lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Funaki has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Funaki and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Funaki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Draven is out of range and Funaki settles back down.
Eric Draven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Funaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Funaki.
Draven tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Draven moves his leg out of the way.
Funaki takes one to the chin there.
Funaki slips a jab from Draven.
Funaki keeps Draven at a distance using the push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Funaki.
Funaki throws the kick towards the body but Draven avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Draven blocks the leg kick.
Funaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Funaki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Funaki looks to throw the jab but Draven is out of range.
Masa Funaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Draven lands a head kick. Funaki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Draven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funaki lands an elbow that stopped Draven in his tracks for a moment.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Draven avoids the elbow strike from Funaki, against the cage.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Funaki as Draven tries to tie him up.

Draven's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Funaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Draven has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Funaki tries to clinch but Draven moves out of range.
Funaki tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Funaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Draven throws a wild body kick that Funaki sees coming a mile off.
Draven lands a high kick!

It looks like Masa Funaki has been cut.
Funaki misses with a low kick as Draven jumps back.
Draven misses with a jab, cross combination.

Draven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Draven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Funaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Draven in the body.
Draven throws a lazy head kick

and Funaki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Draven will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Funaki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Draven has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Funaki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.
Funaki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Draven backwards.
Draven looking to stall.
A left hand lands to the body for Funaki.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funaki connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Funaki as Draven tries to tie him up.
Funaki lands a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Funaki landing knees to the body.
A short right from Draven on the inside.
Draven tries to stall but Funaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Funaki with a knee to the head.
Funaki will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Draven up against the cage.
Masa Funaki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Draven looking to slow down the pace here.
Funaki lands an elbow inside that Draven shrugs off.
Funaki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Funaki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Draven is looking to control Funaki's arms but Funaki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Draven has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki stalling.
Funaki looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Draven breaks from the clinch.
Funaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Draven throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Funaki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Funaki moves out of range of the body kick.
Draven moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Funaki.
Funaki tries to clinch there but Draven circles away.
Funaki throws a half hearted mid kick.

Draven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funaki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Funaki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Draven avoids the damage to the body.
Draven tries to break free but Funaki pushes him back against the cage.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but Draven blocks with his arms.
Funaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Draven's defenses.
Draven has Funaki pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Draven stalling against the cage.
Eric Draven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Draven blocks a body shot from Funaki.
Draven trying to stall but Funaki improves his position.
Draven trying to stall but Funaki improves his position.
Draven can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eric Draven.
Funaki bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Draven's head backwards.
Draven tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Draven.
An inside leg kick lands from Funaki.
Funaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Draven tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Funaki slips a straight right by Draven.
Funaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Draven moves away.
Funaki lands a high kick!
Funaki feints and then cracks Draven's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Draven down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Draven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Funaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Draven trying to control the position but instead, Funaki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Draven into the cage.
Draven takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Funaki.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but Draven blocks with his arms.
Funaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Draven controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masa Funaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Funaki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

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