PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phat Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noel comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Street Gang kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Danny Noel told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Funk
vs
Noel

185 cm
22
185 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

186 cm
27
202 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phat Funk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Noel!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funk gets tackled into the cage by Noel. Noel maintains the clinch.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Noel throws an elbow but misses.
Noel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Funk stalling against the cage.
Funk blocks an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Funk.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funk's brow.
Funk has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Funk avoids a wild elbow strike from Noel.
Noel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funk's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk lands a good knee to the midsection. Noel won't want to take too many of those.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Funk obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk is looking to control Noel's arms but Noel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Funk has his back to the cage.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk looking to throw knees to the head but Noel is blocking nicely.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but Noel blocks with his arms.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Funk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Funk landing knees to the body.
Funk controlling the action here for a moment.
Noel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk takes an elbow to the forehead.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk avoiding damage as Noel throws knees to the body.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Funk is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk is struggling to control the position.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk avoids a wild elbow strike from Noel.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funk's brow.
Noel pushes off an throws an elbow but Funk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk misses with a knee to the head.
Funk blocks an elbow strike.
Funk displaying some good clinch control by pressing Noel up against the cage.
Noel throws an elbow but it misses.
Noel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.
Funk looking to throw knees to the head but Noel is blocking nicely.
Noel lands a knee to the body.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
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 avoiding damage as Noel throws knees to the body.
Funk landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Funk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Noel misses with an elbow over the top.
Noel throws an elbow that misses.
Noel takes a knee right on the jaw!
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Noel.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
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 Phat Funk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Noel misses with a double jab

and Funk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Funk.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Funk slows down the pace here.
Noel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk avoids the elbow strike from Noel, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Noel throws an elbow but misses.
Funk with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Noel lands an elbow that stopped Funk in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Phat Funk has been cut.
Funk missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Funk in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Noel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Funk.
Funk crunches a lovely knee into Noel's ribcage.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Noel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
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 blocks an elbow strike.
Danny Noel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel lands a damaging elbow.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knees to the body from Noel.
Funk landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Funk.
Noel is breathing heavily.
Noel misses with an elbow over the top.
Funk scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Funk.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk avoids the elbow strike from Noel, against the cage.
Funk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Funk stalls.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funk's brow.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Noel throws an elbow that misses.
Noel pushes off an throws an elbow but Funk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funk crunches a lovely knee into Noel's ribcage.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Funk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
Noel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk taking a breather.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Noel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funk is defending well for now.
Noel pushes off an throws an elbow but Funk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
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 Phat Funk will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Phat Funk's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Funk clinches up with Noel and pushes him back against the cage.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The referee is keeping an eye on Funk - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Funk utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Noel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A knee to the head by Funk.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Funk blocks an elbow strike from Noel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Funk.
Noel lands an elbow inside that Funk shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funk throws an elbow but misses.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.
Funk misses with a knee strike.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk lands a knee to the head.
Noel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Noel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Funk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
Noel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Funk in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Noel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Noel blocks it with crossed arms.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Funk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Funk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Noel has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The referee calls for Funk to work.
Noel pushes off an throws an elbow but Funk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funk has Noel pushed against the cage.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Noel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Funk pressing his opponent against the cage.
Funk with a knee to the head.
Noel misses with an elbow over the top.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Noel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funk taking a breather.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Funk pressing his opponent against the cage.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk misses with a knee strike.
Funk dodges an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk connects with a knee to the head.
Funk landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funk blocks an elbow strike from Noel.
Funk utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Funk clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Phat Funk's cut.
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 turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Funk tries to clinch up but Noel circles away and keeps his distance.

Noel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Funk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Noel blocks it with crossed arms.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Noel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funk's brow.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel lands an elbow that stopped Funk in his tracks for a moment.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Funk is stalling here.
Noel is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Funk blocks an elbow strike from Noel.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Funk landing knees to the head.

It looks like Danny Noel has been cut.
Funk slows down the pace here.
Funk blocks an elbow strike.
Noel throws an elbow but it misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Funk obliges.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Funk will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Noel up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Noel throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Noel takes a knee right on the jaw!

Noel is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel is still on wobbly legs! Can Funk finish him?
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Noel seems to have recovered his senses.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
Noel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Funk with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel lands a knee to the body.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk misses with an elbow over the top.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section. Noel lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funk is defending well for now.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Funk avoiding damage as Noel throws knees to the body.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
Noel takes a knee to the side of the body.
Funk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk crunches a lovely knee into Noel's ribcage.
Funk is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Funk tries to land a knee to the head but Noel blocks with his arms.
Funk taking a breather.
Funk lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Noel lands an elbow inside that Funk shrugs off.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Noel has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk avoids a wild elbow strike from Noel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Funk had his way with Danny Noel in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Noel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funk is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Noel is keeping busy.
Funk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Noel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk avoiding damage as Noel throws knees to the body.
Funk pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk blocks an elbow strike.
Funk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Noel can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Noel.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel misses with an elbow over the top.
Funk lands a nice knee to the body.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Noel is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk avoiding damage as Noel throws knees to the body.
Noel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funk is defending well for now.
Noel misses with an elbow strike.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Noel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Noel misses with an elbow over the top.
Funk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Funk throws a knee to the head but misses.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Funk working Noel over with knees to the body.
Funk slowing the pace effectively.
Funk is looking to control Noel's arms but Noel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Funk has his back to the cage.
Noel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Noel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funk.
Danny Noel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk controlling the action here for a moment.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Funk trying to stall but Noel improves his position.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
Phat Funk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Noel takes a knee to the side of the body.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Noel pushes off an throws an elbow but Funk leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk managing to block the knees to the body from Noel.
Noel missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funk is defending well for now.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk lands a good knee to the midsection. Noel won't want to take too many of those.
Noel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funk avoids it.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Noel avoids it.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Noel avoids the damage to the body.
Funk is stalling here.
Noel throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Noel tries to land knees in the clinch but Funk avoids the damage to the body.
Noel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funk missing with knees to the body.
Funk blocks an elbow strike from Noel.
Noel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Noel missing with knees to the body.
Funk blocks the elbow strike.
Funk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noel trying to land knees to the body.
Noel throws an elbow but it misses.
Noel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funk is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Danny Noel.
Well Funk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 49:46
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phat Funk!
Phat Funk retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Phat Funk thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Danny Noel spoke after the fight, saying 'We'll fight again. In the parking lot, maybe. But we'll fight again.'.