PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masa Funaki (ranked 1669 p4p, 2675 weight class) and Marchrius Rossi (ranked 205 p4p, 296 weight class). Rossi has chosen Metal Slug Theme as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Funaki
vs
Rossi

180 cm
32
154
15 - 17 - 0

180 cm
30
165
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 15 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Marchrius Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Darius Henderson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Funaki misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Funaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rossi! But no joy.
Funaki throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rossi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That kick from Funaki tenderised Rossi's leg. Rossi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rossi lands a nice shot that snaps Funaki's head back.
Funaki is looking to slow Rossi down with leg kicks.

Funaki rushes Rossi and presses him up against the cage.
Funaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Rossi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Funaki.
Funaki prevents Rossi from breaking the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Rossi.
I was talking to Funaki's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A hook to the body from Funaki.
Funaki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rossi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rossi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki lands a nice elbow.
Funaki can't find room to land a body shot as Rossi controls the action.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
Funaki slowing the pace effectively.

Rossi manages to break the clinch.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Rossi.
As Rossi tries to get set, Funaki tries to push him back and clinch up but Rossi manages to avoid the attempt.
A low kick from Rossi is predictable there

and Funaki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Funaki.
Rossi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Funaki catches Rossi right on the button with a cross.
Rossi avoids the body shot from Funaki.
Decent striking displayed by Funaki there.
Funaki lands a slapping body shot.
Funaki tries to clinch there but Rossi circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Funaki.
Funaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rossi.
Funaki's corner calls for a 1-2. Funaki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki is looking to chop away at Rossi's legs.
Rossi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Rossi tries to get set, Funaki tries to push him back and clinch up but Rossi manages to avoid the attempt.
Rossi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki just misses with a punch to the body.
Funaki looks for the body kick but Rossi saw that one coming.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Funaki misses with a low kick.
Funaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rossi.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Rossi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Funaki throws a jab when Rossi was well out of range.
Funaki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rossi misses with a wild body shot.
Masa Funaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki throws the kick towards the body but Rossi avoids it.
Rossi throws a big shot that misses.
Rossi swats away the attempt to clinch by Funaki.
Rossi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Funaki wants to land a leg kick but Rossi is out of range.
Rossi moves forwards but Funaki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rossi throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Funaki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rossi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big left from Rossi misses.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Rossi.
Funaki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rossi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Funaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rossi.
Rossi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A low kick lands for Funaki.
Rossi swings for the body but Funaki moves out of range.
Funaki is looking to clinch but Rossi is avoiding it.
Funaki scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rossi. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rossi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Funaki.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funaki throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rossi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Funaki.
Funaki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Funaki thows a body kick. Rossi tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Funaki punishes Rossi's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rossi throws an overhand right that lands on Funaki's shoulder, as Funaki tries to avoid the shot.
Funaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Funaki swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rossi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Funaki blocks a head kick by Rossi.
Rossi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A good leg kick by Funaki.
Funaki moves to clinch but Rossi breaks away
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
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 Rossi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rossi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Funaki scores with a nice right hand.
Funaki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rossi.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Funaki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rossi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funaki motions for Rossi to come forward. Funaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki throws a shot from downtown. Rossi moves away and avoids it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rossi checks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Rossi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Funaki lands with a kick to the ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Funaki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Funaki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rossi scores with a nice right hand.
Rossi scores with a nice strike.
Rossi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Funaki cracks Rossi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Funaki with a nice calf kick.
Funaki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Rossi moves his leg out of the way.
Masa Funaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi throws a low kick but Funaki avoids it.
A big left from Rossi misses.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Funaki saw that one coming.
Funaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Funaki throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Funaki's head but Funaki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rossi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Funaki cracks a nice hook into Rossi's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funaki slips under a jab from Rossi.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rossi. That's going to slow Funaki down.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Funaki darts in and clinches Rossi up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Rossi controls his hands.
Rossi has a couple of punches blocked by Funaki.
Rossi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Funaki backwards.

Rossi manages to break the clinch.
Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rossi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Funaki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Funaki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Funaki moves away from the strike by Rossi.
Funaki misses with a leg kick.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
Rossi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Funaki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Funaki tests Rossi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rossi throws a shot from downtown. Funaki moves away and avoids it.
Funaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rossi.
Rossi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rossi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Funaki keeps Rossi at a distance using the push kick.
Funaki scores with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rossi throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Funaki tenderised Rossi's leg. Rossi is trying to keep his angry face on.
The fighters circling - Rossi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick lands from Funaki.
Funaki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Funaki checks a leg kick.
Funaki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rossi misses with a straight left.
Funaki is looking to counter the offense by Rossi and move into the clinch.
Rossi throws a head kick but Funaki moves out of range.
Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rossi misses with a hook.
Rossi misses with the combination.
Funaki scores with a sloppy right hand. Rossi should have avoided that one.
Rossi steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Funaki. That one must have hurt.
Funaki throws the kick towards the body but Rossi avoids it.
Funaki with a nice calf kick.
Rossi throws out a loose jab but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki tries to counter by clinching up but Rossi breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki lands a glancing blow to the side of Rossi's head.
Funaki throws a front kick aimed at Rossi's knee but Rossi avoids it well.
Funaki lands a jab to the nose.
Funaki tries to land a front kick but Rossi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rossi lands with a right hand.
Funaki misses with a leg kick.
Rossi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Funaki scores with a shot to the body.
Funaki misses with a wild body shot.
Rossi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Funaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Funaki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Funaki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Funaki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Funaki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Funaki throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Funaki throws a good cross that connects.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Rossi in the body.
Rossi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Funaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws the left hand but Funaki avoids the punch easily.
Rossi throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Funaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Funaki defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
Funaki tries to counter by clinching up but Rossi breaks away and moves out of range.
Funaki tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rossi is able to avoid easily.
Jab by Rossi.
Nice shot by Rossi.
Rossi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Funaki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Funaki blocks a jab.
Funaki connects with a leg kick.
Funaki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Funaki defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good shot there by Funaki.
Funaki thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rossi if he has to take too many more of those.
Nice shot by Funaki.
Rossi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Funaki.
Funaki is looking to slow Rossi down with leg kicks.
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 Masa Funaki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Funaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Funaki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Funaki slips under a jab.
Funaki slips under a jab.
Rossi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Funaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rossi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Funaki throws a low kick but Rossi avoids it.
Rossi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rossi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Funaki.
A nice leg kick from Funaki, right into the meat of the thigh.
Funaki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rossi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Funaki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rossi finds it's way round the side to connect with Funaki's head.
Rossi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Funaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rossi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Funaki throws a wild body kick that Rossi sees coming a mile off.
A swing and a miss from Rossi.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Funaki sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Funaki seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Funaki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice leg kick lands there from Funaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki digs a good body shot into Rossi's ribs.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Rossi moves his leg out of the way.
Rossi throws the left hand but Funaki avoids the punch easily.
Sloppy strikes from Rossi. Those never looked like landing.
Rossi fails to land with a series of punches.
Funaki lands with a hook. Rossi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Funaki scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Funaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Funaki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rossi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Rossi.
Rossi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Funaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Rossi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
An inside leg kick from Funaki misses.
Rossi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A lazy left from Rossi finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Rossi misses.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses.
Funaki is looking to slow Rossi down with leg kicks.
Masa Funaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rossi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Funaki blocks a jab.
Funaki misses with a body kick.
Funaki throws a lazy body kick
and Rossi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Funaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rossi's sensitive parts.
A slapping leg kick lands for Funaki.
Funaki lands a front kick.
Rossi misses with a straight left.
Funaki moves out of range of the leg kick from Rossi.
Funaki's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rossi under the eye.

Funaki moves into the clinch.
Funaki prevents a body shot from Rossi.
Rossi wants to break the clinch but can't.
The referee calls for Rossi to work.
The referee calls for Rossi to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a punch to the body.
Rossi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rossi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rossi breaks from the clinch.
Rossi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Funaki.
Funaki motions for Rossi to come forward. Funaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick from Funaki misses.
Funaki moves out of range as Rossi strikes.
Rossi scores with a sloppy right hand. Funaki should have avoided that one.
A clash of legs there as Rossi blocks the low kick.
Funaki lands a leg kick that knocks Rossi off balance momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Rossi blocks the low kick.
Funaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rossi on the side of the head.
That kick from Funaki tenderised Rossi's leg. Rossi is trying to keep his angry face on.
A jab from Rossi misses.
Funaki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Funaki drives through and clinches with Rossi against the cage.
Funaki tries to throw a body punch but Rossi avoids it by throwing Funaki back against the cage.
Rossi can't break the clinch.
Rossi is leaning against Funaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Funaki.
Nice shot lands for Funaki.
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!
A big right from Rossi misses.
A low kick from Funaki misses
and Rossi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rossi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Funaki.
Marchrius Rossi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funaki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

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 Masa Funaki.
Well Funaki 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masa Funaki!
Masa Funaki decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
In defeat, Marchrius Rossi stepped up to the mic, saying 'Stand Up If You Hate Tottenham'.