PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saki Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Zion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zion has chosen Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards - 1% as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Saki Funaki has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Saki Funaki seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Funaki
vs
Zion

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saki Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Zion!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zion darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zion is thwarting Funaki's attempts to control the position.

Funaki actively working from the bottom here.
Zion is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zion performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Funaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zion.
Zion 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.
Funaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki taking some punishment here, with Zion in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zion is trying to control the action in half guard but Funaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zion not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zion works his way into side control.
Funaki on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zion has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zion lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funaki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zion connects with a decent elbow.

Zion working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zion lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zion misses with the ground and pound.
Funaki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Funaki on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Funaki tries to bench press Zion off him but Zion keeps the position.
Zion cracks Funaki with a big right hand but Funaki just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zion is putting a hurting on Funaki here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zion cracks Funaki with a big right hand but Funaki just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zion connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Funaki some visible discomfort.
Zion fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zion working the ground and pound.
Funaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zion cracks Funaki with a big elbow.
Zion working the head and body with strikes.

Zion is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Funaki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Funaki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zion connects with a decent elbow.
Zion looks up at the clock and then as Funaki takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zion smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zion misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki struggling a bit here.
Funaki is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Funaki taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zion prevents Funaki from escaping the position.
Funaki is looking to regain half guard here but Zion keeps moving and retains side control.
Zion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Funaki wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Zion dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zion misses with a head kick.
A combination from Funaki does no damage.
Funaki throws a nice looking combination but Zion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Funaki misses with a jab, cross combination.

Zion gets the takedown into side control.
Funaki is trying to buck Zion off.
Funaki taking a bit of punishment here - Zion scoring with strikes.
Funaki is trying to escape the position but Zion is controlling the position.
Zion has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zion lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Funaki hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zion with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zion scoring with strikes but Funaki is staying in there.
Zion can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Funaki is looking to escape.

Zion moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Funaki has worked his arm free - good work by Funaki!
Zion cracks Funaki with a big right hand but Funaki just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zion is trying to ground and pound but Funaki uses the momentary lack of control by Zion to regain half guard.
Zion thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Funaki is refusing to be controlled, as Zion sits in half guard.
Funaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Zion is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Funaki defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zion seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Funaki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Funaki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Funaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Funaki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Funaki wants to get back to his feet but Zion is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zion keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Funaki's head.
Zion lands a couple of digs.

Funaki is looking for a triangle but Zion pushes his legs off easily.
Zion trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Funaki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zion doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zion manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zion cracks Funaki with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Zion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zion feints and as Funaki raises his hands in defense, Zion changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Funaki is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Zion dives into side control.
Funaki is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zion lands an elbow.
Zion trying to control the action but Funaki is working from the bottom.
Zion lands a few punches from side control.
Bob Zion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zion lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zion lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Funaki down.
Funaki is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zion asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Funaki is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Funaki takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Zion creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zion works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zion landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zion works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Funaki keeps working.
Funaki tries to escape but Zion is in control.
Zion working the ground and pound.
Zion is looking to take a break and control but Funaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zion scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Funaki to see if he's OK.
Zion lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zion cracks Funaki with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zion wants to control but Funaki is keeping him busy.
Zion lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Saki Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funaki is looking to regain half guard here but Zion keeps moving and retains side control.
Zion lands some shots froms side control.
Zion lands a few punches from side control.
Zion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zion scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is trying to buck Zion off.
Zion is working Funaki over with some ground and pound from side control.
Funaki taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zion landing a few strikes.
Funaki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Zion scores with punches from side control.
Funaki is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Zion looks up at the clock and then as Funaki takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zion smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Zion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zion has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Zion!