PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 248 p4p, 291 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 32 p4p, 37 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Futoshi Matsunaga has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Matsunaga
vs
Funaki

170 cm
37
145
37 - 19 - 2

180 cm
30
154
14 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
SynCity Fightwear

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 37 - 19 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsunaga paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Funaki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Funaki avoids it easily.
Matsunaga dips to his left and cracks Funaki with an uppercut!
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut.
Funaki scores with a decent looking hook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A jab from Matsunaga misses.
Funaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matsunaga's sensitive parts.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Funaki lands with a right hand.
Funaki throws a wild body kick that Matsunaga sees coming a mile off.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Funaki throws a front kick aimed at Matsunaga's knee but Matsunaga avoids it well.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick but Funaki moved away.
Funaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga takes a shot right to the bread basket.
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!
Matsunaga connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice body punch from Matsunaga.
Funaki tried to score with a low kick but Matsunaga checks it.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matsunaga seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Matsunaga throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Funaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Funaki throws a body kick that misses
and Funaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matsunaga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Funaki motions for Matsunaga to come forward. Funaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
An inside leg kick from Funaki misses.
Funaki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Matsunaga lands a glancing blow to the side of Funaki's head.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut. Funaki saw that one coming.
Funaki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Funaki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsunaga misses the target.
Matsunaga takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Matsunaga connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Funaki's hands.
Funaki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Funaki is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga avoids a kick to the body.
Funaki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsunaga takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsunaga throws the left hand but Funaki avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Funaki.
Matsunaga misses the jab.
Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsunaga is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Funaki throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsunaga scores with a hook.
Funaki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Matsunaga lands a nice hook to Funaki's body. Funaki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Funaki defending well as Matsunaga loads up on a big left hand.
Matsunaga misses with a two punch combination.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Matsunaga moved away.
Funaki blocks a head kick by Matsunaga.
A head kick by Matsunaga misses
and Funaki finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Matsunaga blocks the leg kick.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Funaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Funaki is trying to counter with his kicks.
Matsunaga tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice leg kick from Funaki, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsunaga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Funaki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsunaga checks it well.
Matsunaga closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Matsunaga.
A jab from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga looks to score with a jab to the body but Funaki is just out of range.
Crunch! Funaki slams his shin into Matsunaga's torso.
Funaki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Funaki slips a straight right by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga connects with a good right hand that stumbles Funaki. Funaki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Funaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Funaki misses the shot to the body.
Matsunaga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsunaga throws a low kick but it's checked well by Funaki.
Matsunaga slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Funaki.
Matsunaga lands with an uppercut that bounces Funaki off the cage and back into range.
Funaki throws a head kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Funaki 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 Matsunaga has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Matsunaga and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Funaki throws a sloppy head kick
and Matsunaga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Matsunaga is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Matsunaga has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Funaki.
Left hook, right uppercut from Matsunaga.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Matsunaga moved away.
Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the body kick from Funaki.
Matsunaga wants to slow Funaki down by chopping away at his legs.
Matsunaga misses with a looping right.
Funaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matsunaga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Matsunaga throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Funaki on the side of the head.
Matsunaga catches Funaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Funaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsunaga misses with a low kick.
Matsunaga lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsunaga cracks Funaki with a good jab.
Matsunaga misses the shot to the body.
Matsunaga is looking to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Decent striking displayed by Matsunaga there.
Matsunaga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Funaki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga feints and then cracks Funaki's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Funaki down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Funaki.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
A good leg kick by Funaki.
Funaki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matsunaga shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matsunaga checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matsunaga throws a right hand that Funaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Funaki also avoids with ease.
A leg kick checked by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga dips to his left and cracks Funaki with an uppercut!
Funaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsunaga manages to avoid it.
Funaki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Funaki lands an overhand right.
Funaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga moves out of range of the body kick.
Funaki throws a low kick but Matsunaga moves out of range easily.
Matsunaga throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matsunaga blocks a jab.
Matsunaga stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Funaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki throws a head kick that misses
and Matsunaga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Funaki.
Matsunaga lands a leg kick that knocks Funaki off balance momentarily.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Funaki might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Matsunaga has got the better of the exchanges.
Funaki does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Funaki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Funaki does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsunaga blocks a leg kick.
Funaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Matsunaga blocks a head kick by Funaki.
Funaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Funaki.
Funaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsunaga moves away.
Matsunaga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Funaki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Funaki takes a kick to the side of the head.
Matsunaga digs a good hook to Funaki's body.
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!
Matsunaga tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga blocks a low kick nicely.
Funaki missing with a left hand there. Matsunaga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Matsunaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsunaga is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsunaga. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Funaki steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A slapping leg kick lands for Funaki.
Funaki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matsunaga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsunaga throws a jab when Funaki was well out of range.
Funaki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Funaki misses with a straight left.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matsunaga appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses.
Funaki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range and Funaki settles back down.
Funaki delivers a nice body kick.
Matsunaga misses the shot to the body.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good work by Matsunaga as he checks the leg kick.
Matsunaga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matsunaga connects with a body shot that sends Funaki's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Matsunaga misses.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Matsunaga connects with a single shot there.
Matsunaga throws a wild body kick that Funaki sees coming a mile off.
Matsunaga throws a low kick but Funaki moves out of range easily.
Funaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsunaga lands a jab to Funaki's midsection.
Funaki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Funaki circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick misses from Funaki.
Matsunaga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A bone on bone clash there as Matsunaga blocks the leg kick.
Matsunaga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsunaga misses the target.
Matsunaga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Funaki lands with a kick to the ribs.
Funaki misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga moves out of range as Funaki throws a body kick.
Funaki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matsunaga tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Funaki is able to avoid easily.
Funaki has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Matsunaga with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A good leg kick by Funaki.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
Funaki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga is looking to slow Funaki down with leg kicks.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick which misses Funaki's front leg but catches the back leg as Funaki tries to avoid it.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Funaki. That's going to slow Matsunaga down.
Matsunaga thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Funaki if he has to take too many more of those.
Matsunaga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Funaki can pounce on him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsunaga throws a shot from downtown. Funaki moves away and avoids it.
Funaki scores with a shot to the body.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Matsunaga sees it coming and moves out of range.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Funaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Funaki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Futoshi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsunaga looks to land a combination but Funaki avoids it well.
Matsunaga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Funaki keeps Matsunaga at a distance using the push kick.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsunaga misses the target.
Matsunaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Matsunaga tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsunaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsunaga.
A solid body kick from Funaki.
Funaki slips under a jab.
Matsunaga chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matsunaga will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Funaki slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
Funaki throws a head kick but Matsunaga moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki misses with a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Matsunaga tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Futoshi Matsunaga is winning the standup battle so far.
Funaki lands a nice looking body kick.
Funaki with the inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Funaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matsunaga's sensitive parts.
Funaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a body shot.
Funaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Funaki throws a wild body kick that Matsunaga sees coming a mile off.
Matsunaga with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matsunaga connects with a body shot.
Matsunaga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsunaga lands with a kick to the temple. Funaki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Funaki tried to score with a low kick but Matsunaga checks it.
Matsunaga is looking to counter punch.
Matsunaga with a nice calf kick.
Matsunaga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Funaki misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Matsunaga was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Funaki.
Funaki throws a head kick that misses.
Matsunaga throws a shot to the body.
A left lands for Matsunaga.
Matsunaga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funaki.
Matsunaga misses with a wild body shot.
Matsunaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Matsunaga loads up on a big right hand but Funaki slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsunaga has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Funaki throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matsunaga throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Funaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Funaki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Funaki takes a swing at Matsunaga's ribcage but misses.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Matsunaga moves his leg out of the way.
Matsunaga fires out a quick counter leg kick but Funaki just manages to avoid it.
Funaki throws a wild body kick that Matsunaga sees coming a mile off.
A nice leg kick lands there from Funaki.
Funaki throws a jab when Matsunaga was well out of range.
Matsunaga digs a good hook to Funaki's body.
Funaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsunaga was well out of range. Poor timing from Funaki.
Funaki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsunaga checks it well.
Funaki's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsunaga under the eye.
A clash of legs there as Matsunaga blocks the low kick.
Funaki throws a lazy right hand but Matsunaga sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Masa Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsunaga checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matsunaga scores with a crisp jab that stopped Funaki in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Matsunaga misses with a hook.
Matsunaga stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Matsunaga throws a combination that misses
and Funaki counters with a nice body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Matsunaga as he connects with a hook.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Funaki ducks right into an uppercut from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga misses the shot to the body.
Funaki throws a solid leg kick but Matsunaga takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Funaki.
Matsunaga looks to land a left hand but Funaki moved out of range nicely.
Matsunaga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Funaki counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Matsunaga lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Funaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsunaga looks to score with a jab to the body but Funaki is just out of range.
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!
Funaki looks to throw the jab but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Funaki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It looked like Matsunaga wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Funaki's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matsunaga connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Funaki scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters circling a little - Funaki finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Futoshi Matsunaga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsunaga finds it's way round the side to connect with Funaki's head.
Funaki takes one on the button.
Matsunaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsunaga.
Funaki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Funaki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Matsunaga jabs Funaki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Matsunaga checks it.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a nice outside leg kick.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
A jab lands there for Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Funaki - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funaki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Funaki throws a leg kick
and Matsunaga counters with a nice uppercut.
Funaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsunaga has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Funaki throws out a leg kick but Matsunaga moves out of range and Funaki only half commits.

And that's the end of the fight!
Futoshi Matsunaga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matsunaga 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Futoshi Matsunaga!
Our winner, Futoshi Matsunaga, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.