PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dantae Funete (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Dantae Funete enters the cage!

Ho
vs
Funete

180 cm
23
184 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

179 cm
20
184 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

1337 ANZAC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Ho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dantae Funete!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funete shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Funete tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ho knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Funete is nestled in close to Ho, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Funete tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ho knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Funete thows a huge punch but Ho dodges it nicely.
Ho trying to control from the bottom.
Funete thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Funete tries to pass to full mount but Ho defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funete.
Funete takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Funete wants to free his trapped foot but Ho is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Funete not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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

Funete is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ho blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funete.
Funete thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ho's head.
Funete works his way into side control.

Funete goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ho has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Funete but great work by Ho.
Funete has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ho is looking to take a break and control but Funete is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funete is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ho's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ho seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Funete tries to roll over but Ho keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funete is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ricky Ho.
Funete fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Funete or perhaps it was just good defense by Ho which made him look bad.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Funete shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ho defends it nicely.
Ricky Ho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dantae Funete.
Ho misses with a kick to the body.
Funete misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Funete avoids the head kick by Ho.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Funete walks into a jab.
Funete has a takedown stuffed.
Funete dives in and grabs Ho's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ho pushes down on Funete's head and hops out.
Funete throws a head kick that misses
letting Ho counter with a right hand.
Dantae Funete seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ho cracks Funete with an open hand slap.
A jab lands there for Ho.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Funete tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ho swivels and escapes.
Funete tries for a takedown but Ho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ho scores with a crisp jab that stopped Funete in his tracks.
Nice takedown defense from Ho. No joy for Funete on that attempt.
Funete looks gassed!
Ho connects with the punch.
Funete throws an off balance right hand
and Ho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Funete is defended easily by Ho.

Funete moves into range and clinches up with Ho.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Funete drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ho pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funete moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ho fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Funete looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ho throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Funete stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ricky Ho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Funete is defended easily by Ho.
Nice sprawl there from Ho as Funete shoots in.
Ho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Funete with that takedown attempt.
Ho with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funete shoots in looking for a takedown. Ho tries to sprawl out of it but Funete keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Funete takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funete moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Funete has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ho finds it's way round the side to connect with Funete's head.
Ho connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Funete's hands.
Funete has a takedown stuffed.
Ricky Ho is winning the standup battle so far.
Ho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funete moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funete misses with a takedown attempt - Ho sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Funete shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Funete throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Funete passes into half guard.
Ho wants to control but Funete is keeping busy.
Funete throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funete throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Funete with the ground and pound but Ho uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Funete postures up in Ho's guard and throws a big left but Ho blocks it.
Funete is in close to Ho's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Funete trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funete connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funete pushing down on Ho's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funete looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ho with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Funete not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Funete passes the guard and advances to mount!
Funete throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Funete thowing shots but they're missing.
Ho is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ho avoids a series of strikes thrown by Funete.
Funete punching from mount but Ho doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Funete looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Ricky Ho has been cut.
Funete throwing strikes here but Ho is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Funete putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Ho is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Funete unloads with some shots from mount but Ho bucks and avoids them well.
Ho is working to get back to half guard.
Funete punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oh Ho is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Funete landing punches.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Funete! Ho is hurt baaadly! Funete is firing away with more strikes - Ho is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dantae Funete!