PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Remy Jacquard (ranked 1265 p4p, 1408 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 136 p4p, 149 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jacquard
vs
Funaki

170 cm
43
153
14 - 6 - 2

180 cm
31
154
14 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Remy Jacquard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funaki pushes Jacquard up against the cage in a clinch.

Jacquard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jacquard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Funaki is out of range.
Funaki swings for the body but Jacquard moves out of range.
Funaki throws a leg kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Jacquard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Funaki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jacquard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jacquard throwing a counter right hand but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Jacquard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jacquard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jacquard jabs Funaki right on the nose. Funaki blinks but takes it well.
Jacquard stuns Funaki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Funaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Decent striking displayed by Funaki there.
Jacquard tests Funaki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Funaki swings for the body but Jacquard moves out of range.
Jacquard avoids the body shot from Funaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funaki scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jacquard misses with an uppercut. Funaki saw that one coming.
Jacquard shoots in for a takedown but Funaki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Funaki tries to land a leg kick but Jacquard saw it coming and moves away.
A head kick misses from Funaki.
Jacquard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jacquard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jacquard tried to score with a low kick but Funaki checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacquard lands a jab to the nose.
Jacquard misses with an uppercut. Funaki saw that one coming.
Masa Funaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Jacquard has managed to clinch.
Jacquard wants to get back to striking at distance but Funaki won't allow it.
Funaki stalling in the clinch.
Funaki scores with a shot to the side of Jacquard's head.
Funaki lands a nice elbow.
Jacquard avoids a wild elbow strike from Funaki.
Funaki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Good body shot from Funaki.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Funaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Jacquard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jacquard throws a body shot but no joy.
Jacquard has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Doom's Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Jacquard moves his leg out of the way.
Funaki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Funaki lands with a kick to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jacquard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funaki.
Jacquard lands a slapping body shot.
Funaki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Funaki throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Funaki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Jacquard lets loose with a powerful body kick. Funaki will feel that in the morning.
Funaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jacquard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Jacquard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Funaki's guard.
Jacquard won't allow Funaki to sweep him here.
Funaki keeps trying to improve his position.

Jacquard gets to his feet - Funaki follows without any prompting.
Jacquard throws a shot from downtown. Funaki moves away and avoids it.
Jacquard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Funaki closes the distance and clinches.
Funaki gets through Jacquard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Funaki has Jacquard pressed against the cage, preventing Jacquard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Funaki is stalling here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacquard avoids a wild elbow strike from Funaki.

Jacquard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Funaki lands with a nice body punch.
Funaki throws a push kick but Jacquard slaps the foot to one side.
Funaki slips under a jab from Jacquard.
Jacquard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Funaki pushes Jacquard away with a front kick.
Jacquard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jacquard misses with a hook. Funaki ducked under it nicely.
Jacquard connects with a nice looking jab.
Jacquard misses with a looping right.
Funaki is looking to score with low kicks.
Funaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Funaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jacquard managing to block the knees to the body from Funaki.
Funaki has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Jacquard seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Funaki can turn it around.

Jacquard breaks the clinch.
Funaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A combination from Jacquard does no damage.
Remy Jacquard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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 is looking to slow Jacquard down with leg kicks.
Jacquard scores with a jab. Funaki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Funaki is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Funaki misses with a kick to the body.
Funaki stuffs the takedown attempt from Jacquard. Jacquard gets slowly back to his feet.
Funaki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Funaki slips a straight right by Jacquard.
Jacquard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Funaki throws a push kick but Jacquard slaps the foot to one side.
Funaki staying out of range there.
Funaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jacquard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jacquard lands a nice shot that snaps Funaki's head back.
Funaki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jacquard.
Jacquard is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Funaki darts in and clinches Jacquard up against the cage.
Funaki looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Funaki prevents Jacquard from breaking the clinch.
Funaki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jacquard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Funaki has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Masa Funaki will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Funaki jabs at Jacquard's body.
A jab from Jacquard misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Jacquard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Jacquard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Funaki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jacquard somewhat.
Jacquard lands with a good body shot.
Funaki staying out of range there.
Funaki tries to counter by closing the distance.
Jacquard throws a shot from downtown. Funaki moves away and avoids it.
Funaki scores with a kick to the midsection.
Funaki slips a jab from Jacquard.
Funaki is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jacquard rather than just go for the knockout.

Jacquard tries to keep at a distance but Funaki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Funaki lands a right hand.

Jacquard manages to break the clinch.
Funaki lands a leg kick that knocks Jacquard off balance momentarily.
Funaki slips under a jab from Jacquard.
Funaki is looking to chop away at Jacquard's legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funaki blocks a jab.
Funaki tries to counter with a clinch but Jacquard shakes him off and moves away.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Jacquard moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki is looking to chop away at Jacquard's legs.
Jacquard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Jacquard.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jacquard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Funaki.
Jacquard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Remy Jacquard is winning the standup battle so far.
Funaki throws a head kick but Jacquard moves out of range.
Jacquard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Funaki dips to his left and cracks Jacquard with an uppercut!
Funaki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jacquard takes a swing at Funaki's ribcage but misses.
Nice uppercut there from Funaki.
Funaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jacquard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Funaki.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jacquard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jacquard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Funaki moves out of range as Jacquard strikes.
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 Jacquard has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Jacquard and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Jacquard blocks the body kick.
Jacquard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Funaki with the inside leg kick.
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 tries a head kick but it misses.
Funaki gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Funaki.
Jacquard connects with a crisp jab.
Jacquard misses the jab.
Funaki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jacquard.
A head kick from Funaki lands but Jacquard takes it in his stride.
Jacquard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Funaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jacquard.
Jacquard walks forward, straight into a front kick from Funaki.
A low kick lands for Jacquard.
Jacquard blocks the body kick.
Funaki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jacquard will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Funaki closes the distance and clinches.
Jacquard lands with a light punch inside.
Jacquard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jacquard.
Funaki scores with a shoulder strike.
Funaki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Jacquard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Funaki lands an elbow just above Jacquard 's eye.
Funaki looking to stall.
Jacquard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacquard is trying to break free.
Funaki lands an elbow just above Jacquard 's eye.
Jacquard tries to break the clinch but Funaki is controlling the position.

Jacquard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jacquard connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Funaki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jacquard cracks Funaki with an open hand slap.
Jacquard throws a big shot that misses.
Funaki blocks a jab.
Funaki throws a leg kick which misses Jacquard's front leg but catches the back leg as Jacquard tries to avoid it.
Funaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jacquard throws a hook but Funaki avoids it easily.
Funaki throws a push kick but Jacquard slaps the foot to one side.
Funaki moves in looking to clinch but Jacquard pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Jacquard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A big right from Jacquard misses.

Jacquard has Funaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Jacquard wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki crunches a lovely knee into Jacquard's ribcage.
Funaki lands a body punch.
Funaki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jacquard has had enough of the clinch but Funaki keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Jacquard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Funaki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funaki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jacquards head.
Jacquard avoids a wild elbow strike from Funaki.
Funaki presses Jacquard against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jacquard can't break the clinch.
Jacquard is trying to force a seperation but Funaki has the dominant position.
Jacquard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Jacquard breaks the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Funaki.
Jacquard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Funaki on the side of the head.
Funaki lands with a kick to the ribs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jacquard. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jacquard manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from Jacquard.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Funaki throws a head kick but Jacquard moves out of range.
Funaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jacquard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Funaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Funaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Funaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Funaki throws a push kick but Jacquard slaps the foot to one side.
Jacquard misses with a straight right.
Funaki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jacquard checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Funaki scores with a nice body kick.
Jacquard throws the left hand but Funaki avoids the punch easily.
Funaki slips a jab from Jacquard.
Jacquard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Funaki looks for the body kick but Jacquard saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jacquard takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Jacquard misses the target.
Funaki connects with a solid leg kick.
Funaki throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jacquard with a nice calf kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jacquard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Funaki pushes Jacquard away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacquard tests Funaki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Funaki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Funaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Funaki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jacquard.
Jacquard moves out of range of the body kick from Funaki.
Funaki checks a low kick from Jacquard.
Funaki connects with a high kick.
Funaki is looking to score with low kicks.
Jacquard is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jacquard throws a looping overhand right but Funaki ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Jacquard misses its intended target.
Jacquard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Funaki blocks a low kick nicely.
Funaki tries to land a front kick but Jacquard steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Funaki keeps Jacquard at a distance using the push kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Funaki - that will leave a mark!
Funaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Funaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jacquard throws out the jab.
Funaki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Jacquard throws out a loose jab but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jacquard checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacquard throws a looping overhand right but Funaki ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jacquard takes a swing at Funaki's ribcage but misses.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jacquard, as that shot connected.
A big left from Jacquard misses.
Funaki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Funaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice defenses there by Funaki.
Funaki tries to counter with a clinch but Jacquard shakes him off and moves away.
Jacquard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jacquard connects with a nice looking jab.
Funaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jacquard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Funaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Jacquard in the body.
Jacquard throws a big shot that misses.
Funaki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jacquard.
Jacquard throws out a loose jab but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jacquard's sensitive parts.
Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jacquard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Funaki misses with a kick to the body.
Jacquard blocks a jab.
Jacquard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jacquard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funaki prevents Jacquard from breaking the clinch.
Funaki lands a right hand.
Jacquard tries to break the clinch but Funaki is controlling the position.
Jacquard can't break the clinch.
Funaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jacquard is defending well for now.
Funaki lands an elbow that stopped Jacquard in his tracks for a moment.
Jacquard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Funaki has him pressed against the cage.

Jacquard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Funaki throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Funaki tries to clinch but Jacquard is having none of it.
It looked like Jacquard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Jacquard uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Masa Funaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jacquard misses the jab.
Funaki moves away from the strike by Jacquard.
Jacquard scores with a jab.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Jacquard looks to throw the jab but Funaki is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Jacquard.
Jacquard throws a body shot but no joy.
Funaki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Jacquard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jacquard.
Funaki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funaki slips a straight right by Jacquard.
Jacquard blocks the body kick.
Funaki throws the kick towards the body but Jacquard avoids it.
Funaki throws a hook but Jacquard blocks it.
Jacquard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Funaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Jacquard blocks the body kick.
Jacquard looks to land a right hand but Funaki moved out of range.
Funaki wants to counter with a clinch but Jacquard pushes him away.
Remy Jacquard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jacquard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Funaki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jacquard scores with a kick to the midsection.
Funaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Jacquard.
Jacquard missing with a left hand there. Funaki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jacquard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Funaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jacquard.
Funaki thuds his shin into the meat of Jacquard's side.
Funaki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Funaki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Funaki thows a body kick. Jacquard tries to catch it but that hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Masa Funaki.
I've got Funaki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Masa Funaki!
After the fight, Masa Funaki was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.