PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funakoshi comes to the cage accompanied by War Pimp Renaissance. Oliveira has chosen Far East Movement - Like a G6 as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Funakoshi
vs
Oliveira

168 cm
31
159 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

179 cm
31
157 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gichin Funakoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funakoshi connects with a solid leg kick.
Oliveira lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Oliveira defending well as Funakoshi loads up on a big left hand.
Funakoshi scores with a hook.
Oliveira shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Funakoshi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Funakoshi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Oliveira.
Oliveira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Funakoshi scores with a shot to the side of Oliveira's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Funakoshi on the inside.
Funakoshi misses with a punch to the body.
Funakoshi pushes Oliveira back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Funakoshi has Oliveira pressed against the cage.
Funakoshi cracks Oliveira with a nice body shot.
Oliveira tries to pull guard but Funakoshi won't allow it.
Funakoshi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Funakoshi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funakoshi effectively controlling the action here.
Funakoshi throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Funakoshi.
Oliveira stalling the fight.
Oliveira misses with some punches.
Oliveira blocks a body shot from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi looking to slow down the pace here.
Oliveira misses with some punches.
Oliveira lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi is trying to stall.
Oliveira misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Oliveira.
Oliveira taking a breather.
Funakoshi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Oliveira backwards.
Oliveira misses with a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A shot in the inside from Oliveira.
Oliveira tries to pull guard but Funakoshi holds him up against the cage and eventually Oliveira drops back down to his feet.
Gichin Funakoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Oliveira.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Oliveira is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Oliveira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Funakoshi.
Oliveira jumps guard but Funakoshi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Oliveira fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Funakoshi misses with a body punch.
Funakoshi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Funakoshi blocks an uppercut.
Oliveira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Funakoshi's elbow.
Funakoshi swings wildly with an uppercut but Oliveira uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oliveira jumps guard but Funakoshi stands there with Oliveira around his waist. Oliveira gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Oliveira has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Oliveira takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Oliveira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Funakoshi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funakoshi.
Oliveira looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi lands a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Oliveira.
Funakoshi lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funakoshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Oliveira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Oliveira stalling the fight.
Funakoshi gets underhooks to prevent Oliveira's takedown attempt.
Oliveira swings wildly with an uppercut but Funakoshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funakoshi has a couple of punches blocked by Oliveira.
Funakoshi is trying to maintain a safe position but Oliveira gets an underhook and turns Funakoshi into the cage.
Funakoshi tries to work over Oliveira's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Oliveira throws a head punch that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funakoshi lands a right hand.
Funakoshi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funakoshi gets through Oliveira's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Funakoshi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gichin Funakoshi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Funakoshi cracks a nice hook into Oliveira's ribs.
Oliveira takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Oliveira with a poor takedown
and Funakoshi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Funakoshi digs a good hook to Oliveira's body.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Funakoshi as he jumps to the side.
Oliveira shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Funakoshi defends it nicely.
Gichin Funakoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Oliveira.
Funakoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Oliveira has time to react.
Oliveira displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Funakoshi throws out the jab.
Funakoshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Oliveira blocks a leg kick.
Funakoshi lands with a slapping head kick.
Funakoshi scores with the left hand. Oliveira knows he should have avoided that one.
Oliveira slips under a jab.
Nice shot by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi throws a sloppy head kick
letting Oliveira counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira avoids the head kick by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi misses with a looping left.
Funakoshi throws out a loose jab but Oliveira uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funakoshi throws a jab when Oliveira was well out of range.
Funakoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Oliveira is just out of range.
A big left from Funakoshi misses.
Oliveira shoots in for a double leg but Funakoshi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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!
Funakoshi thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Funakoshi looks to land a right hand but Oliveira moved out of range.
Gichin Funakoshi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oliveira takes one to the chin there.
Funakoshi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Oliveira has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Funakoshi.
Oliveira on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Funakoshi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Funakoshi but Funakoshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Oliveira shoots for a takedown but Funakoshi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oliveira.
Funakoshi scores with a shot to the body.
Funakoshi throws a hook but Oliveira blocks it.
Funakoshi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Oliveira counters with a stiff right hand.
Gichin Funakoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Funakoshi.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funakoshi throws a leg kick but Oliveira checks it.
Gichin Funakoshi is winning the standup battle so far.
Oliveira takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gichin Funakoshi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Funakoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oliveira was well out of range. Poor timing from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi scores with a hook.
Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown. Funakoshi tries to sprawl out of it but Oliveira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Funakoshi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi misses with a body punch
and Oliveira counters with a straight right hand.
Funakoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Oliveira moves away.
Funakoshi needs to keep his hands up - Oliveira had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi misses with the body kick
and Oliveira counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Funakoshi as he jumps to the side.
Funakoshi throws a sloppy body shot

and Oliveira counters with a shoot takedown. Funakoshi fights it but they end up in guard.
Oliveira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Oliveira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Funakoshi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oliveira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Oliveira is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Oliveira drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Funakoshi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Oliveira has Funakoshi in his guard.
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!
Funakoshi passes Oliveira's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gichin Funakoshi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira wants to get back to full guard.
Funakoshi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oliveira is controlling Funakoshi's trapped leg to prevent Funakoshi from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funakoshi wants to pass the guard but Oliveira is defending well.
Funakoshi is looking to take a break and control but Oliveira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oliveira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Funakoshi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Oliveira works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi postures up in Oliveira's guard and throws a big left but Oliveira blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funakoshi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Funakoshi trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Funakoshi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Funakoshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Oliveira controls Funakoshi momentarily but Funakoshi frees himself.
Oliveira working a defensive guard but Funakoshi manages to pass into side control anyway.
Oliveira struggling a bit here.
Funakoshi wants to control but Oliveira is keeping him busy.
Oliveira is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi trying to control the action but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Oliveira wants to control but Funakoshi postures up.
Oliveira is not content to let Funakoshi control the position.
Funakoshi is trying to ground and pound but Oliveira uses the momentary lack of control by Funakoshi to regain half guard.
Funakoshi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oliveira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Funakoshi is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charles Oliveira.
I think Funakoshi 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gichin Funakoshi!
After winning the bout, Gichin Funakoshi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.