PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funakoshi comes to the cage accompanied by War Pimp Renaissance. Tony Ferguson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Funakoshi
vs
Ferguson

168 cm
29
157 lbs
20 - 8 - 1

183 cm
29
155 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%
Hopkins Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gichin Funakoshi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funakoshi doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferguson circles away.
Funakoshi loads up on a big right hand but Ferguson slips the punch.
Ferguson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi misses with a head kick.
Ferguson misses the body punch
and Funakoshi counters with a three punch combo that has Ferguson backing up. Ferguson nods at Funakoshi to acknowledge the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Ferguson.
Ferguson takes one on the button.
Ferguson missing with a left hand there. Funakoshi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good leg kick by Funakoshi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson misses the shot to the body.
Ferguson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Funakoshi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ferguson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Funakoshi moves away from the strike by Ferguson.

Ferguson clinches with his opponent.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ferguson.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
Ferguson lands an uppercut.
Funakoshi tries to score a body lock takedown but Ferguson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ferguson struggles to land a body shot inside as Funakoshi controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ferguson.
Funakoshi lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ferguson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Ferguson.
Funakoshi trying to control the position but instead, Ferguson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Funakoshi into the cage.
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Funakoshi.
Ferguson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ferguson tries a body shot but Funakoshi blocks it.
Ferguson throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Funakoshi.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Funakoshi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ferguson's brow.
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Funakoshi.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funakoshi.
Ferguson pushes Funakoshi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ferguson throws a head punch that misses.
Ferguson misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to work over Funakoshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ferguson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Funakoshi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funakoshi misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ferguson fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ferguson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Funakoshi backwards.
Funakoshi digs a right hand underneath Ferguson's ribcage. Ferguson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Funakoshi lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funakoshi throws an elbow but misses.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
Funakoshi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Ferguson.
Ferguson swings wildly with an uppercut but Funakoshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Funakoshi blocks an uppercut.
Ferguson scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funakoshi.
Ferguson being controlled against the cage.
Ferguson scores with a shot to the side of Funakoshi's head.
Ferguson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ferguson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funakoshi.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi lands with a left to the head.
Funakoshi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ferguson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Funakoshi backwards.
Ferguson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ferguson swings wildly with an uppercut but Funakoshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funakoshi stalling in the clinch but Ferguson improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ferguson is working Funakoshi over against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Funakoshi.
Ferguson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ferguson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ferguson misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ferguson misses with a body punch.
Ferguson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ferguson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ferguson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funakoshi lands with a light punch inside.
Funakoshi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fergusons head.
Funakoshi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gichin Funakoshi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Funakoshi tries to clinch but Ferguson moves out of range.
Funakoshi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ferguson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A swing and a miss from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi tries to work over Ferguson's front leg with a kick but Ferguson checks it.
Funakoshi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tony Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funakoshi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Funakoshi.
Ferguson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ferguson lands with an uppercut that bounces Funakoshi off the cage and back into range.
Funakoshi misses with a wild body shot.
Funakoshi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Funakoshi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ferguson loads up on a big right hand but Funakoshi slips the punch.
Ferguson misses with a left hand
letting Funakoshi counter with a right hand.

Ferguson is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funakoshi misses with a hook.
Ferguson ducks under a wild hook from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Funakoshi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ferguson sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson lands with a nice body punch.
Ferguson tries to clinch up but Funakoshi circles away and keeps his distance.
Ferguson throws an overhand right that lands on Funakoshi's shoulder, as Funakoshi tries to avoid the shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ferguson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Funakoshi. Ferguson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gichin Funakoshi is winning the standup battle so far.
Funakoshi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ferguson cracks Funakoshi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ferguson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Funakoshi misses with a hook. Ferguson ducked under it nicely.
Ferguson scores with a hook to the body. Funakoshi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tony Ferguson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Funakoshi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fergusons head.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
Funakoshi looking to slow down the pace here.
Funakoshi throws a punch but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Ferguson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi stalls.
Ferguson struggles to land a body shot inside as Funakoshi controls his hands.
Funakoshi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Funakoshi misses with the head strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funakoshi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Funakoshi blocks a body shot from Ferguson.
Funakoshi trying to stall but Ferguson improves his position.
Ferguson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funakoshi stalling in the clinch but Ferguson improves position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gichin Funakoshi.
Funakoshi misses with a hook.
Ferguson thuds a left hand into Funakoshi's body.
Funakoshi slips a straight right by Ferguson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ferguson. Funakoshi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Funakoshi misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Ferguson.
Funakoshi stuns Ferguson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ferguson cracks a nice hook into Funakoshi's ribs.
Ferguson slips a jab from Funakoshi.
Ferguson misses with a two punch combination.
Ferguson misses with a body shot.
Good shot there by Ferguson.
Ferguson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Funakoshi counters with a stiff right hand.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A left lands for Ferguson.
Ferguson lands a nice shot to the body.
Funakoshi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Funakoshi moves out of range.
A slow jab from Funakoshi misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Ferguson.
Funakoshi throws a looping overhand right but Ferguson ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi misses with a hook
and Ferguson counters with a nice uppercut.
Funakoshi throws a shot from downtown. Ferguson moves away and avoids it.
Funakoshi misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferguson jabs at Funakoshi's body.
Funakoshi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ferguson.
Ferguson digs a good hook to Funakoshi's body.
Ferguson lands with a cross.
Ferguson misses with a body shot.
Ferguson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ferguson just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Funakoshi does it's job there.
Funakoshi is looking to slow Ferguson down with leg kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funakoshi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ferguson.
Funakoshi slips a straight right by Ferguson.
Ferguson closes the distance but Funakoshi moves to the side
and Funakoshi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gichin Funakoshi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Funakoshi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ferguson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Funakoshi drops his hands momentarily and Ferguson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ferguson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ferguson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ferguson misses the body punch
and Funakoshi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ferguson checks the leg kick.
Ferguson thows a body shot but no joy.
Ferguson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ferguson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ferguson throws a big shot that misses.
Funakoshi blocks a jab.
Ferguson looks to land a right hand but Funakoshi moved out of range.
Funakoshi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ferguson.
Ferguson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Funakoshi finds it's way round the side to connect with Ferguson's head.
Funakoshi connects with an inside leg kick.
Funakoshi is looking to chop away at Ferguson's legs.
Ferguson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Funakoshi throws out the jab.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot.
Ferguson stuns Funakoshi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Funakoshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ferguson lands with a nice body punch.
Funakoshi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ferguson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ferguson swings for the body but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Ferguson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ferguson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ferguson blocks a leg kick.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Ferguson blocks the body kick.

Funakoshi clinches.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ferguson.
Funakoshi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funakoshi prevents a body shot from Ferguson.
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ferguson working aggressively here.
Funakoshi prevents a body shot from Ferguson.
Ferguson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ferguson throws a head punch that misses.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
Funakoshi is pushing Ferguson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ferguson blocking some punches.
Funakoshi lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funakoshi misses with the head strike.
Ferguson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Funakoshi fails to land.
Ferguson misses with a body punch.
Funakoshi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ferguson takes an elbow to the forehead.
A body shot lands from Ferguson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson misses with some punches.
Funakoshi pushes Ferguson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
Ferguson misses with a punch on the inside.
Ferguson misses with a body punch.
Funakoshi tries to stall but Ferguson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ferguson tries to work over Funakoshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funakoshi lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Funakoshi on the inside.
Funakoshi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ferguson fails to land.
Ferguson misses with some punches.
Funakoshi stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Funakoshi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi lands a nice elbow.
Funakoshi working aggressively here.
Ferguson blocks an elbow strike from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ferguson throws a head punch that misses.
Funakoshi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funakoshi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ferguson blocks it with crossed arms.
Funakoshi misses with a punch on the inside.
Funakoshi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ferguson.
Ferguson working aggressively here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ferguson tries to work over Funakoshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funakoshi wants to stall.
Maybe Funakoshi would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Gichin Funakoshi did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ferguson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Funakoshi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Funakoshi tries a low kick but Ferguson avoids it.
Ferguson throws a hook but Funakoshi avoids it easily.
Ferguson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Funakoshi.
Ferguson throws a hook but Funakoshi avoids it easily.
Ferguson looks to land a right hand but Funakoshi moved out of range.
Ferguson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funakoshi.
Ferguson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Funakoshi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Funakoshi needs to keep his hands up - Ferguson had a free shot at his head there.
Ferguson looks to land a right hand but Funakoshi moved out of range.
Ferguson looks to land a left hand but Funakoshi moved out of range nicely.
Ferguson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Funakoshi doesn't seem bothered though.
Ferguson throws out a loose jab but Funakoshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funakoshi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ferguson is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Funakoshi dodges the punch combination from Ferguson.
Ferguson throws the left hand but Funakoshi avoids the punch easily.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Funakoshi is having none of it.
Ferguson moves out of range of the strikes.
Ferguson scores with a hook.
Ferguson moves away from the strike by Funakoshi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ferguson. Funakoshi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Funakoshi throws a hook to the side of Ferguson's head but Ferguson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Funakoshi throws an overhand right that lands on Ferguson's shoulder, as Ferguson tries to avoid the shot.
Ferguson lands a right hook to the body.
Ferguson throws a looping overhand right but Funakoshi ducks down to avoid it.
Ferguson thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Funakoshi misses.
Ferguson lands with an uppercut that bounces Funakoshi off the cage and back into range.
Funakoshi throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ferguson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Funakoshi staying out of range there.
Funakoshi throws an off balance right hand
and Ferguson counters with a two punch combo.
Ferguson fails to land with a series of punches.
Ferguson misses with a wild body shot.
Funakoshi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Funakoshi there as he acknowledges the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson slips under a jab from Funakoshi.
Ferguson jabs Funakoshi right on the nose. Funakoshi blinks but takes it well.
Ferguson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ferguson misses the shot to the body.
Ferguson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Ferguson rushes Funakoshi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Funakoshi misses with the head strike.
Ferguson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi misses with some punches.
Ferguson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ferguson misses with some punches.
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Funakoshi throws an elbow but it misses.
Funakoshi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ferguson backwards.
Ferguson tries to throw a body punch but Funakoshi avoids it by throwing Ferguson back against the cage.
Funakoshi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ferguson is still on wobbly legs! Can Funakoshi finish him?
Ferguson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Funakoshi lands a damaging elbow.
Ferguson takes an elbow to the temple.
Ferguson misses with a punch on the inside.
Ferguson misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ferguson up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Funakoshi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
Ferguson tries to work over Funakoshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funakoshi throws a punch but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funakoshi pushes Ferguson against the cage. Funakoshi is working some dirty boxing. Funakoshi pushes off with a quick right hook! Ferguson goes down! Ferguson tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Funakoshi moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gichin Funakoshi!
Gichin Funakoshi is the new lightweight champion!
An out of breath Gichin Funakoshi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.