PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hoda Tawashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ginchin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tawashi
vs
Funakoshi

220 cm
22
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hoda Tawashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ginchin Funakoshi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funakoshi shoots in looking for a takedown. Tawashi tries to sprawl out of it but Funakoshi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Tawashi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Funakoshi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tawashi's waist but Tawashi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Funakoshi off to one side.
Tawashi connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Ginchin Funakoshi has been cut.
Funakoshi ducks straight into an uppercut from Tawashi and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Funakoshi maanges to regain guard straight away.
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!
Tawashi wants to get up but he can't break Funakoshi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Tawashi gets to his feet - Funakoshi follows without any prompting.
Hoda Tawashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tawashi misses with an uppercut. Funakoshi saw that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Tawashi as Funakoshi shoots in.
Hoda Tawashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ginchin Funakoshi.
Tawashi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Funakoshi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Funakoshi won't allow Tawashi to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tawashi kicks Funakoshi off and gets to his feet.
Tawashi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tawashi is looking to clinch.

Funakoshi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tawashi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Funakoshi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
You get the feeling that Tawashi really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi moves to back control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Tawashi is breathing heavily.
Tawashi wants to get back to his feet.

Funakoshi has got one arm under Tawashi's chin. This could be trouble... Tawashi trying to control the other hand but Funakoshi gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Tawashi has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ginchin Funakoshi!