PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakatsu Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Brown
vs
Funaki

190 cm
24
215 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

186 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masakatsu Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick misses from Brown.
Funaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brown moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Funaki misses with a wild combination.
Funaki throws a right hand that Brown ducks under and follows up with a left that Brown also avoids with ease.

Brown has closed the distance and engaged Funaki in a clinch.

Brown drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Brown looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Brown is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brown keeping moving, preventing Funaki from controlling successfully.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Funaki is pushing down on Brown's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brown is fighting to maintain full guard but Funaki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Brown works his way to full guard. Good work.
Funaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Brown keeping moving, preventing Funaki from controlling successfully.
Brown preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brown avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Funaki prevents Brown from getting back to his feet.
Funaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brown working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Funaki.
Funaki throwing strikes from guard but Brown blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Funaki looks to land a combination but Brown avoids it well.
Masakatsu Funaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Brown throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Brown lands with a nice body kick.
Funaki looks gassed!
Brown lands with a kick to the temple. Funaki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Masakatsu Funaki has been cut.
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!
Brown throws a head kick that misses.

Brown closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Brown stands up and beckons Funaki to his feet.
Brown plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Brown throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
No joy there for Brown, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Brown - that will leave a mark!
Funaki throws a left and a right that both miss

so Brown counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Brown wants to control from the top but Funaki keeps moving.
Funaki throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Funaki looking to control.

Brown thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Brown avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown advances to half guard.
Funaki is trying to maintain the position but Brown is very close to passing his half guard.
Funaki is looking for a sweep. Brown is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brown wants to free his trapped foot but Funaki is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Brown is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Funaki!

Brown gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Brown drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Brown tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Brown decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws a combination that misses

and Brown counters with a nice double leg into side control. Funaki won't be happy with that.
Brown tries to advance to mount but Funaki denies him.
Brown is looking to take a break and control but Funaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Brown is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Funaki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Brown tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Brown tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brown has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Funaki gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is trying to maintain the position but Brown is very close to passing his half guard.
Brown passes the guard and advances to mount!
Brown trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Funaki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Funaki wants to get back to full guard.
Brown moves into full mount! Funaki won't be happy about that!

Brown is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Brown dodges the punch combination from Funaki.
Funaki blocks a head kick by Brown.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a combination
and Brown counters with a series of strikes. Funaki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Funaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Brown counters with a left and a right that stings Funaki.

Brown moves into the clinch.
Funaki can't get the takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Brown as Funaki tries to tie him up.
Funaki tries to break the clinch but Brown is controlling the position.
A short body shot lands from Brown as the two fighters clinch.
Funaki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Brown lands a damaging elbow.

Brown breaks the clinch.
Brown throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Brown is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Funaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Brown counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Funaki misses with a combination
and Brown counters with a good, hard body kick but Funaki shrugs it off.
Brown misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Brown counters with an inside leg kick.
Funaki takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws a right hand that Brown ducks under and follows up with a left that Brown also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Funaki misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Brown. Funaki shrugs it off though.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Brown checks a leg kick.
Funaki misses with the combination.
Funaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brown moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Brown counters with a one-two to the body.
Brown tries a head kick but it misses.
Funaki misses with a double jab
and Brown connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Funaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Brown throws a one two combo.
Funaki misses with a double jab
and Brown counters with a head kick.
Brown slips a jab and a cross from Funaki.
Funaki throws a combination that misses

and Brown counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brown.
Brown landing knees to the head.
Brown lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Brown avoiding damage as Funaki throws knees to the body.
Brown landing knees to the body.

Brown pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Brown counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Brown counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Funaki is on top in guard.
Brown is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Brown has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Funaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Funaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brown utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Funaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brown manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Funaki manages to get himself to full guard.
Brown pushes down on Funaki's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Funaki landing strikes from the bottom.
Brown uses his free foot to push down on Funaki's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Funaki.
Funaki tries to lock up and control but Brown gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Brown trying to control but Funaki is having none of it.

Brown stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Funaki throws a right and a left that Brown avoids nicely.
Brown works Funaki's body with a nice hook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Funaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Brown is working the combinations to good effect here.
Brown throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Funaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Funaki misses with a double jab.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Brown counters with a three punch combo that has Funaki backing up. Funaki nods at Brown to acknowledge the strikes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Brown counters with an outside leg kick.
Funaki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Funaki tries to bum rush Brown with a series of wild strikes but Brown uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Brown counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Funaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Brown with a knee to the head.
Brown with a knee to the head.
Brown landing knees to the body.

Brown breaks the clinch.
Brown dodges the punch combination from Funaki.
Funaki misses with a combination

and Brown counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Funaki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brown doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brown manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Brown looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funaki tries to strike from the bottom.
Brown trying to control but Funaki is working from the bottom.
Funaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Brown dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Masakatsu Funaki's cut.
That's time! Brown's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Brown misses with a head kick.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Brown counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A right hand to the body from Brown.
Brown lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Brown lands an elbow inside that Funaki shrugs off.
Brown comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Brown works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brown lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brown lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brown lands a left hand that snaps the head of Funaki backwards.
Funaki is working for takedown but Brown is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brown connects with a knee to the head.

Brown ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Brown no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Brown is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Funaki can do to turn this around?

Funaki has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Brown to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Funaki is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Brown pulls down on the head and he's put Funaki to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). John Brown!