PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kid Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Faber
vs
Funkyama

170 cm
34
141 lbs
15 - 12 - 1

165 cm
28
140 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kid Funkyama!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funkyama doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Faber has his takedown stuffed
and Funkyama counters with a straight right hand.
Faber loads up on a big right hand but Funkyama slips the punch.
Funkyama is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Faber.
Faber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Faber shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Funkyama manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Funkyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Funkyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Funkyama is working from the bottom.
Faber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Funkyama is keeping the position for now.
Faber trying to control but Funkyama is working from the bottom.

Urijah Faber has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Funkyama lands a nice shot that snaps Faber's head back.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Funkyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama scores with a jab to the jaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Faber.
Funkyama thuds a left hand into Faber's body.
Funkyama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Faber.
Kid Funkyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Funkyama scores with a jab to the head.
A big left from Faber misses.
A big left from Funkyama misses.

Funkyama moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faber goes for a takedown attempt but Funkyama pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Faber throws the left hand but Funkyama avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama moves out of range as Faber strikes.
Funkyama on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Funkyama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funkyama pushes Faber back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Faber misses with a punch on the inside.
Funkyama trying to control the position but instead, Faber has worked for underhooks and has pushed Funkyama into the cage.
Funkyama struggles to land a body shot inside as Faber controls his hands.
Funkyama prevents Faber from breaking the clinch.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Funkyama has him pressed against the cage.
Funkyama digs a right hand underneath Faber's ribcage. Faber let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Funkyama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faber avoids it.
Funkyama can't find room to land a body shot as Faber controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama misses with a hook from the clinch.
Faber throws a punch but it's blocked by Funkyama.
Faber takes a shot to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Funkyama misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Funkyama.
Faber misses with some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funkyama lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Funkyama misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Faber tries for a takedown but Funkyama manages to get underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funkyama.

Faber breaks the clinch.
Faber shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Funkyama pinned against the cage. Funkyama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Faber's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Faber takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Funkyama looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Faber throws a shot from downtown. Funkyama moves away and avoids it.
Faber misses with a looping left.
Faber ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Funkyama lands a right hook to the body.

Faber looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Funkyama!

Faber goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Funkyama has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Faber but great work by Funkyama.
Funkyama postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Faber gets back to half guard.
Funkyama prevents Faber from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funkyama is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Funkyama pulls his head out easily.

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

Funkyama is trying to work for a kimura but Faber is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Faber manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber controls Funkyama momentarily but Funkyama frees himself.
Faber is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Funkyama is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Funkyama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funkyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Faber is retaining full guard.
Faber manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Funkyama manages to get himself to full guard.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama wants to stand but Faber is controlling the position.
Faber throws a big elbow that misses.
Funkyama is trying to control the position but Faber postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Faber distracts Funkyama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Faber is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Faber slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Faber lands a big elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber unloads with some shots from mount but Funkyama bucks and avoids them well.
Faber works his way to his opponent's back.
Faber biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faber darts in looking for a takedown but Funkyama gets double underhooks and turns Faber into the cage.
Faber drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Funkyama gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Faber tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funkyama lands a shoulder strike.
Funkyama presses Faber against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Faber tries for a takedown. No joy.
Funkyama has a couple of punches blocked by Faber.
Funkyama misses with a punch to the body.
Funkyama tries to stall but Faber uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Faber wants a takedown but no success here.
A right handed body shot lands from Funkyama.
Faber is trying to drag Funkyama to the mat but Funkyama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Funkyama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Faber's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Faber's efforts to push away.
Funkyama pushes Faber back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funkyama has Faber pressed against the cage, preventing Faber from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Faber tries for a takedown but Funkyama manages to get underhooks.
Faber drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Funkyama throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funkyama lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Funkyama fails to land.
Funkyama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faber has Funkyama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Funkyama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Funkyama lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Faber goes for a takedown attempt but Funkyama pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Funkyama fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Faber is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funkyama moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Funkyama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Funkyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Funkyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Faber manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Faber is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Funkyama.
Faber shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Funkyama counters with a slapping leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Funkyama there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Funkyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Funkyama slips under a jab from Faber.
Funkyama jabs Faber to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Faber closes the distance and clinches up with Funkyama, looking for a takedown. Faber pushes Funkyama against the cage but Funkyama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Funkyama. That snapped Faber's head back.
Funkyama lands a leg kick that knocks Faber off balance momentarily.
Faber steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Funkyama.
Faber blocks a jab.
Faber misses with a looping left.
Faber shoots in but Funkyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Funkyama misses.
Funkyama scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Faber misses with a looping right.
Faber takes a swing at Funkyama's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Funkyama misses.
Faber tries to land a leg kick but Funkyama saw it coming and moves away.
Funkyama lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber misses with a straight right.
Nice takedown defense from Funkyama. No joy for Faber on that attempt.
Faber misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kid Funkyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Funkyama 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kid Funkyama!
A very excited looking Kid Funkyama rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.