PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeph Frazier (ranked 431 p4p, 65 weight class) and Trenton Funkhouser (ranked 867 p4p, 126 weight class). Frazier comes to the cage accompanied by "Apparently" by J. Cole. 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.

Frazier
vs
Funkhouser

184 cm
26
210 lbs
10 - 2 - 1

196 cm
28
222 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zeph Frazier!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trenton Funkhouser!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frazier tries to clinch up but Funkhouser circles away and keeps his distance.

Funkhouser looking to score a takedown here. Frazier is defending well but Funkhouser drives through and ends up in Frazier's guard.
Frazier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Frazier is on top in guard.

Funkhouser trying to control the position.
Frazier 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.

Funkhouser is looking for a triangle but Frazier pushes his legs off easily.
Frazier wanted to stand there but Funkhouser had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Funkhouser is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Frazier is aware though and is defending well.

Funkhouser has his foot on Frazier's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Frazier works his way back into a safe position though.

Funkhouser looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Funkhouser looking to control.
Frazier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funkhouser working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Frazier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Frazier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Funkhouser is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Frazier is aware though and is defending well.
Frazier sitting in guard here, content to control.
Frazier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Frazier tries to stand but Funkhouser is controlling his head.
Frazier tries to advance to mount but Funkhouser denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funkhouser struggling a bit here.
Funkhouser tries to improve position but can't.
Funkhouser is trying to escape the position but Frazier is controlling the position.
Funkhouser dodges the ground and pound from Frazier.
Funkhouser tries to buck Frazier off but Frazier is having none of it.
Funkhouser manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkhouser is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Frazier's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Frazier's back!
Funkhouser has the hooks in. Frazier is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Funkhouser connects with a big shot to the side of Frazier's head.

Funkhouser is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Frazier knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Frazier for a finish.
Funkhouser misses with an elbow to the head.
Funkhouser is trying to stick to Frazier's back but Frazier is turning into Funkhouser. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Funkhouser's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Frazier.
Frazier stays in close to Funkhouser's body and controls the position.
Funkhouser wants to sweep but no luck.
Our spies down at at White's ELITE Fitness Gym inform us that Funkhouser has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Frazier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Funkhouser is looking for a triangle but Frazier pushes his legs off easily.
Frazier looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Frazier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frazier's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Funkhouser looking to control.
Frazier stands and throws Funkhouser's legs to the side, diving into side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Funkhouser is right now.
Frazier is looking to take a break and control but Funkhouser is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Trenton Funkhouser will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Funkhouser scores with a jab.
Funkhouser lands with a nice combination. Frazier backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Zeph Frazier has been cut.

Funkhouser drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Frazier bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!
Funkhouser darts in looking for a takedown but Frazier gets double underhooks and turns Funkhouser into the cage.
Funkhouser misses with a takedown
letting Frazier counter with a right hand.
Frazier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Funkhouser.
Zeph Frazier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trenton Funkhouser.
Frazier connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Frazier throws a good cross that connects.
Frazier misses with a looping left.
Funkhouser misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Funkhouser scores with a jab to the head.
Funkhouser pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Funkhouser throws a nice looking combination but Frazier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Frazier misses.
Frazier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Trenton Funkhouser seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frazier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funkhouser moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Funkhouser uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Frazier.
Jab, jab by Frazier - just one landing.
Funkhouser fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Frazier on the side of the head.
Frazier throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Funkhouser sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Funkhouser throws a right hand that Frazier ducks under and follows up with a left that Frazier also avoids with ease.
Funkhouser throws a good cross that connects.
Good standup being displayed there by Funkhouser as he connects with a hook.
Frazier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funkhouser.
Funkhouser displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Frazier throws out the jab.
Funkhouser scores with a jab.
Zeph Frazier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Funkhouser scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Frazier doesn't seem bothered though.
Funkhouser has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Funkhouser falls off balance throwing a combination
and Frazier counters with an inside leg kick.
Funkhouser gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Funkhouser takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Frazier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Funkhouser lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Funkhouser throws a right and a left that Frazier avoids nicely.
Frazier was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Frazier explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Frazier cracks Funkhouser with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Frazier takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Funkhouser misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Funkhouser tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Frazier defends well and Funkhouser ends up having to push Frazier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Frazier was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Funkhouser looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Funkhouser is breathing heavily.
Frazier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funkhouser.
Frazier moves out of range as Funkhouser strikes.
Frazier swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Funkhouser moves away from the strike by Frazier.
Funkhouser walks into a jab.
Funkhouser with a poor takedown

and Frazier counters with a left hand that sends Funkhouser to the canvas!

Funkhouser is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Frazier controls from within his opponent's guard.
Funkhouser is still in real trouble! Can Frazier finish him?

Frazier decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Funkhouser slips a jab and a cross from Frazier.
Frazier is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Frazier lands with a nice body punch.
Funkhouser seems to have recovered his senses.
Frazier cracks Funkhouser with a hook to the temple - Funkhouser is on wobbly legs here! Frazier swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Funkhouser falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Frazier wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Zeph Frazier!
Zeph Frazier retains his light heavyweight title!
Zeph Frazier was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.