PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daouda Diakite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diakite
vs
Funk

190 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

196 cm
16
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Namunamu Clothing
Nutrition Your Way!

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Daouda Diakite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robin Funk!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funk closes the distance but Diakite moves to the side

and Diakite counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Diakite wants to pass the guard but Funk is keeping the position.
Diakite could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Funk is looking to stand up but Diakite isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Diakite drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Funk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Diakite has Funk in his guard.
Funk has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Diakite is proving hard to escape from.
Diakite looking to hit a scissor sweep but Funk is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Diakite's guard.
Funk won't allow Diakite to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Funk being controlled here momentarily.

Daouda Diakite has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Funk tries to clinch but Diakite is having none of it.

Funk drives through and clinches with Diakite against the cage.
Diakite is trying to maintain a safe position but Funk gets an underhook and turns Diakite into the cage.
Nice body punch from Funk - that landed with a thud.
Funk softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Funk works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Funk working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Funk lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Funk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diakite keeps the fight on the outside.
Diakite shoots in looking for a takedown. Funk tries to sprawl out of it but Diakite keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Funk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Funk closes the distance but Diakite moves to the side
and Diakite counters with a one-two to the body.
Funk moves in looking to clinch but Diakite pushes him off.

Funk has managed to clinch.

Funk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funk tries to clinch up.
Diakite fails with a takedown attempt.
Diakite is breathing heavily.
Funk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Funk leaves Diakite with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daouda Diakite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diakite circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diakite has a takedown stuffed.
Funk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diakite manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Funk doesn't manage to clinch there - Diakite circles away.
Diakite fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Funk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diakite throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Funk's waist but Funk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diakite off to one side.

Funk clinches with his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funk misses with a knee strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice left hand lands by Funk.
Funk stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Funk lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robin Funk dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Funk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diakite paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diakite fails to land the takedown.
Funk wants to clinch.
Funk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Funk is looking to clinch but Diakite is avoiding it.
Funk wants to clinch up but Diakite keeps it at a distance.
Funk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diakite manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diakite is trying hard to land a takedown here. Funk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Diakite swats away the attempt to clinch by Funk.
Daouda Diakite is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diakite paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Funk tries to clinch

and Diakite decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funk's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite prevents Funk from getting back to his feet.
Diakite throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diakite is controlling him.
Diakite postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Funk wants to stand but Diakite is controlling the position.
Funk is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Diakite dives into side control.
Funk pushes Diakite away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diakite gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diakite is looking to take a break and control but Funk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Funk taking a bit of punishment here - Diakite scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Daouda Diakite overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diakite creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The referee asks Diakite politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Diakite prefers to stall for the moment though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diakite working the body and head with strikes.
Funk is trying to buck Diakite off.
Diakite lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Funk down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diakite stands up.

Diakite darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diakite sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Funk defending well though.
Funk is trying to stand back up but Diakite is controlling him
Diakite trying to control the action but Funk is working from the bottom.
Diakite stops Funk from getting back to his feet.
Diakite has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diakite looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diakite throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diakite drops an elbow to the side of Funk's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funk wants to get back to his feet.
Diakite is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diakite missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diakite stops Funk from getting back to his feet.
Diakite 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daouda Diakite dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diakite tries to score a power double leg takedown but Funk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diakite somewhat.
Diakite changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Funk tries to avoid it but Diakite manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Funk to the ground. Funk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Funk leaves Diakite with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daouda Diakite. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Funk wants it to stay on the feet.
Funk tries to clinch but Diakite is having none of it.
Funk is looking to clinch.
Diakite avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funk wants to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Funk as Diakite shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diakite shoots for a takedown but Funk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Funk is looking to clinch.
Funk tries to clinch up.
Diakite tries to clinch but Funk moves out of range.
Funk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Diakite.
Robin Funk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funk is looking to clinch but Diakite is avoiding it.
Funk moves in looking to clinch but Diakite pushes him off.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diakite paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diakite fails with a takedown attempt.

Funk closes the distance and clinches.
Diakite takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short left from Funk.

Funk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Robin Funk seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk wants to clinch.
Funk tries to clinch up but Diakite circles away and keeps his distance.
Diakite swats away the attempt to clinch by Funk.
Funk moves in looking to clinch but Diakite pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Funk scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funk pushes Diakite back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Funk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Funk tries to clinch but Diakite is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Funk tries to clinch but Diakite is having none of it.
Funk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diakite manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Funk moves in looking to clinch but Diakite pushes him off.
Diakite dives in and grabs Funk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Funk pushes down on Diakite's head and hops out.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diakite paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Funk tries to clinch but Diakite is having none of it.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch but Diakite swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diakite keeps the fight on the outside.
Funk moves to clinch but Diakite breaks away

and Diakite counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Diakite.
Diakite won't allow Funk to get back to his feet.
Funk keeping moving, preventing Diakite from controlling successfully.

Diakite postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Funk is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Diakite, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Funk wants to stand but Diakite has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Diakite wants to stand up but Funk is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Funk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Funk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robin Funk!
Robin Funk thanked the fans post fight for their support.