PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yanker Funker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yanker Funker has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Donovan Hughes's chin.

Hughes
vs
Funker

189 cm
25
250 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

191 cm
21
260 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Donovan Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Yanker Funker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hughes closes the distance and pushes Funker back into the cage.
Funker is trying to force a seperation but Hughes has the dominant position.

Hughes pulls Funker into guard.
Funker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hughes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funker trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Hughes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Funker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Funker from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hughes's guard.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Funker from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes pulls Funker in close to his closed guard and prevents Funker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Funker wants to get up but he can't break Hughes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Funker wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Hughes pulls Funker in close to prevent any damage.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Funker is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Funker is fighting to break Hughes's control of his arms but Hughes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hughes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hughes tries to get out of the position.
Funker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Funker tries to free his leg and advance position but Hughes is retaining full guard.

Funker stands up and waves to Hughes to follow him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funker shoots in looking for a takedown. Hughes tries to sprawl out of it but Funker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hughes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Funker throws a head kick that misses.
Hughes throws a body punch but Funker moves out of range.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Funker tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Funker to the ground. Funker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Funker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hughes is fending him off so far but Funker persists. Nope, Hughes circles away and we're back to standing.
Funker throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Funker looks gassed!

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funker wants to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hughes tries to control but Funker wriggling away.
Funker wants to hold on but Hughes pushes him away.
Hughes wants to control the pace but Funker is squirming around nicely.
Hughes controlling from mount.
Funker manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Hughes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hughes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Funker can't do much from the bottom here.
Hughes wants to control but Funker is keeping him busy.
Funker can't do much from the bottom here.
Sloppy strikes there by Hughes.
Funker is breathing heavily.
Hughes trying to control the action but Funker is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Hughes's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Funker taking a bit of punishment here - Hughes scoring with strikes.
Funker is trying to buck Hughes off.
Hughes working away.

Hughes stands up.

Hughes closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries for a takedown. No joy.

Funker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hughes throws a head kick but Funker moves out of range.
Funker feints and then cracks Hughes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hughes down.
Funker tries for a takedown but Hughes circles away easily

and Hughes counters with a single leg into guard. Funker didn't expect that.

Funker has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hughes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Funker.
Funker takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Hughes is trying to get an arm triangle but Funker is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funker is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hughes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hughes is thwarting Funker's attempts to control the position.
Ground and pound from Hughes.
Hughes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hughes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Funker keeps working.

Hughes decides to stand and escape the position.
Funker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Hughes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Funker tries to clinch up.

Hughes scores with a takedown into Funker's guard.

Funker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Funker keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Funker wants to stand but Hughes is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hughes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Funker counters with a shoot takedown. Hughes fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hughes is proving hard to escape from.
Funker trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funker wants to pass the guard but Hughes is keeping the position.

Hughes manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Funker shoots in and bounces Hughes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Funker is looking to stand up but Hughes won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes controlling the position.
Funker preventing the sweep.
Hughes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Funker dives into side control.
Hughes is looking to reverse the position.
Funker wants to control but Hughes is keeping him busy.

Hughes throws Funker to one side and escapes!
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt

so Funker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Funker preventing the sweep.
Hughes is controlling Funker's posture.
Funker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hughes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hughes is trying to control the position but Funker postures up.
Funker looking to pass the guard.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Funker from controlling successfully.
Donovan Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hughes scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hughes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Funker counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donovan Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes doesn't manage to clinch there - Funker circles away.
Funker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donovan Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Funker with that takedown attempt.
Hughes throws a body kick the misses

and Funker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hughes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funker wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yanker Funker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hughes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donovan Hughes!