PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Will Whyte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Will Whyte has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Whyte
vs
Funakoshi

175 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

168 cm
19
154 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION
:: Happy Pills ::

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Will Whyte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gichin Funakoshi!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funakoshi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Whyte looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Funakoshi swings around for an armbar but Whyte sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Funakoshi's guard.
Whyte postures up.
Whyte trying to control the position from guard on top but Funakoshi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Funakoshi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whyte has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Whyte won't allow Funakoshi to sweep him here.
Whyte controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Whyte won't allow Funakoshi to sweep him here.
Whyte pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Funakoshi is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Funakoshi scores with a one two! Whyte had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whyte throws the left hand but Funakoshi avoids the punch easily.
Whyte goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Funakoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whyte manages to avoid it.
Whyte lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Funakoshi circles away quickly and effectively.
Whyte throws a hook but Funakoshi blocks it.
A punch combination from Funakoshi misses.
Whyte moves out of range as Funakoshi strikes.
Gichin Funakoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whyte rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funakoshi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Funakoshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whyte circles away quickly and effectively.
Whyte 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.
Funakoshi avoids the body shot from Whyte.
Whyte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Funakoshi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Whyte counters with a slapping leg kick.
Funakoshi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Whyte doesn't seem bothered though.
Funakoshi has his takedown stuffed
and Whyte counters with a three punch combo that has Funakoshi backing up. Funakoshi nods at Whyte to acknowledge the strikes.
Whyte is breathing heavily.
Whyte misses with the combination.
Funakoshi scores with a jab to the body.
Funakoshi takes a swing at Whyte's ribcage but misses.
Funakoshi scores with a body shot.
Whyte takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funakoshi lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funakoshi drops Whyte with a right and a left! Funakoshi comes rushing in but Whyte regains his composure and manages to keep Funakoshi in guard.
Funakoshi controlling from the top position.
Whyte knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Funakoshi on the ground.
Whyte is looking to stand up but Funakoshi isn't so interested in that idea.

Funakoshi gets to his feet. Whyte looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Funakoshi just misses with a punch to the body.
Funakoshi takes a swing at Whyte's ribcage but misses.
Funakoshi shoots in but no luck this time.
Funakoshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Funakoshi fails with the takedown
and Whyte counters with a low kick, right behind Funakoshi 's knee.
Will Whyte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gichin Funakoshi.
Funakoshi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Funakoshi tries to bum rush Whyte with a series of wild strikes but Whyte uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funakoshi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Will Whyte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi misses with a wild body shot.
Funakoshi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Whyte looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Funakoshi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Funakoshi looks to land a combination but Whyte avoids it well.
Funakoshi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Funakoshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whyte circles away quickly and effectively.
Whyte swinging wildly here.
Funakoshi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Whyte takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Funakoshi misses with a double jab
and Whyte counters with a nice leg kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot.
Funakoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Funakoshi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Whyte's half guard.

Funakoshi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Funakoshi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi trying to control from half guard but Whyte is working away.

Funakoshi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Whyte defends it well.
Funakoshi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Whyte defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Funakoshi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whyte doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Funakoshi.

Funakoshi seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whyte scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Funakoshi lands a nice hook to Whyte's body. Whyte takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Funakoshi shoots and misses
and Whyte counters with a right hand to the body.
Whyte takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Whyte on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Whyte showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Funakoshi misses with a wild body shot.
Funakoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whyte was well out of range. Poor timing from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi lands with a good body shot.
Whyte throws a series of punches but Funakoshi avoids them all with ease.
Whyte takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Funakoshi shoots in but no luck this time.
Funakoshi tries to bum rush Whyte with a series of wild strikes but Whyte uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Whyte avoids a punch combination nicely.
Funakoshi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Will Whyte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gichin Funakoshi.
Whyte throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Funakoshi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Funakoshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Whyte misses with a wild combination.
Whyte takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A slow jab from Funakoshi misses its intended target.
Funakoshi stalks Whyte and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Whyte's face. Whyte staggers backwards, shaken.
Whyte throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whyte manages to avoid it.
Funakoshi punishes Whyte's body with a nice straight punch.
Funakoshi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whyte's waist but Whyte gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Funakoshi off to one side.
A slow jab from Funakoshi misses its intended target.
Whyte looks to land a combination but Funakoshi avoids it well.
Whyte takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Funakoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Funakoshi misses with a double jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Whyte.
Funakoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Whyte is just out of range.
Funakoshi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Whyte throws a right hand that Funakoshi ducks under and follows up with a left that Funakoshi also avoids with ease.
Nice body punch from Funakoshi.

Funakoshi gets the takedown into side control.
Whyte wants to get back to his feet but Funakoshi drags him back down.

Funakoshi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Funakoshi stands up.
Funakoshi scores with a jab to the body.
Funakoshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Whyte takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Funakoshi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Whyte to score with a decent uppercut.
Funakoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whyte was well out of range. Poor timing from Funakoshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whyte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot.
Funakoshi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Whyte on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gichin Funakoshi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Whyte tries to land a front kick but Funakoshi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Whyte is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Funakoshi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Whyte stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Whyte moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Funakoshi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Funakoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whyte throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Whyte takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Funakoshi scores with a punch to the head.
Funakoshi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Funakoshi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Funakoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Whyte is just out of range.
Funakoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whyte manages to avoid it.
Funakoshi avoids the head kick by Whyte.
A punch lands to the side of Whyte 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whyte fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funakoshi manages to avoid it.
Funakoshi misses with a shot to the body
and Funakoshi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Funakoshi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Whyte.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Whyte misses with a double jab.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Whyte.
Funakoshi lands a nice looking body shot.

Funakoshi gets a takedown into half guard.
Funakoshi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Funakoshi is trying to work for a kimura but Whyte is defending well.
Funakoshi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Funakoshi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gichin Funakoshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

No joy there for Funakoshi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Funakoshi misses with a shot to the body
and Whyte counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Whyte looks to land a combination but Funakoshi avoids it well.
Funakoshi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Whyte.
Funakoshi misses with a jab to the body
and Whyte makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Whyte misses with a series of wild punches.
Whyte moves away from the strike by Funakoshi.
Whyte looks to land a combination. Funakoshi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Funakoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whyte moves away.
Whyte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whyte fails to land with a series of punches.
Whyte throws a head kick that misses.
Will Whyte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whyte showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Funakoshi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funakoshi lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funakoshi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Whyte.
Whyte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Whyte misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Funakoshi throws a series of punches but Whyte moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Whyte counters with a nice uppercut.

Funakoshi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Funakoshi showed some decent athleticism there.
Whyte looks like he's trying to stand up.
Funakoshi lands strikes from half guard.
Funakoshi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Funakoshi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Funakoshi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Whyte defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Whyte has one foot on Funakoshi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Whyte uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gichin Funakoshi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi thuds a left hand into Whyte's body.
Funakoshi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Funakoshi lands a two punch combo.
Funakoshi looks for a takedown but Whyte sprawls well.
Funakoshi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Whyte counters with a three punch combo that has Funakoshi backing up. Funakoshi nods at Whyte to acknowledge the strikes.
Funakoshi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Funakoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whyte moves away.
Funakoshi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Whyte lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Funakoshi circles away quickly and effectively.
Funakoshi lands with a nice combination. Whyte backs away looking to recover.
Whyte has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Funakoshi finds it's way round the side to connect with Whyte's head.
Funakoshi lands with a shot to the body.
Whyte slips a jab and a cross from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Funakoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Funakoshi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The fighters circle momentarily. Funakoshi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Whyte looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Funakoshi with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Funakoshi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Whyte did well to prevent Funakoshi getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Funakoshi decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whyte stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whyte wants it to stay on the feet.
Funakoshi works over Whyte's head and body with a nice combination.
Funakoshi looks to land a combination but Whyte avoids it well.
Whyte throws a right and a left that Funakoshi avoids nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Funakoshi.
Jab from Funakoshi.
Whyte keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Will Whyte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gichin Funakoshi.
Funakoshi scores with a jab to the head.
Funakoshi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Whyte on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Funakoshi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Whyte doesn't seem bothered though.
Funakoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whyte moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Whyte as Funakoshi shoots in.

Funakoshi scores a takedown into full mount!
Will Whyte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funakoshi controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gichin Funakoshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Funakoshi 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gichin Funakoshi!