PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 5471 p4p, 232 weight class) and Gruff Dragon (ranked 5991 p4p, 248 weight class). Gichin Funakoshi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Funakoshi
vs
Dragon

169 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gichin Funakoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gruff Dragon!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Funakoshi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Funakoshi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Dragon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Funakoshi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Dragon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Funakoshi wants to sweep here but Dragon controlling him for the moment.
Funakoshi wants to stand but Dragon is controlling the position.
Funakoshi managing to control the position.
Dragon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funakoshi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dragon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gichin Funakoshi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dragon slips a jab from Funakoshi.
Dragon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Funakoshi.
Dragon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Funakoshi.
Dragon moves out of range of the strikes.
Funakoshi looks to land a right hand but Dragon moved out of range.

Dragon closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dragon lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dragon is one step ahead there.
Funakoshi looking to control.
Dragon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Funakoshi working a defensive guard here.
Funakoshi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dragon puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dragon moves nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here as Dragon stalls from top position.

Dragon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Funakoshi, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi is looking for a sweep.
Funakoshi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Funakoshi tries to get out of the position.
Funakoshi struggling a bit here.
Dragon trying to control the position but Funakoshi is working away.
Dragon 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.

Dragon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dragon working away.
Funakoshi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dragon on the ground.
Dragon is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Funakoshi gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi tries to roll over but Dragon keeps him under control.
Dragon stalling.
Funakoshi wants to improve his position but Dragon is controlling well.
Dragon controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Dragon has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Dragon is thwarting Funakoshi's attempts to control the position.
Dragon trying to control the pace.
My spies in Crapollas Gym inform me that Dragon has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Funakoshi looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A jab lands there for Funakoshi.
Funakoshi connects with a looping right hand.
Funakoshi slips under a jab from Dragon.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Dragon moves away from the strike by Funakoshi.
Gichin Funakoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funakoshi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Funakoshi avoids the head kick by Dragon.
Dragon staying out of range there.
Funakoshi checks a leg kick nicely.
Funakoshi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Funakoshi scores with a shot to the body.
Funakoshi scores with a jab to the head.
Funakoshi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dragon on the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funakoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dragon manages to avoid it.

Dragon moves into range and clinches up with Funakoshi.
Dragon jumps guard but Funakoshi stands there with Dragon around his waist. Dragon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dragon tries to pull guard but Funakoshi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Dragon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dragon closes the distance and clinches.
Dragon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funakoshi lands a right hand.

Funakoshi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Funakoshi misses with a straight left.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Funakoshi lands with a cross.

Dragon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Funakoshi is trying to defend but Dragon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Funakoshi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dragon.
Well, if Dragon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Dragon works his way into full mount!
Dragon prevents Funakoshi from getting the reversal.
Dragon controlling his opponent.
Funakoshi tries to reverse the position but Dragon maintains control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi wants to hold on but Dragon pushes him away.
Dragon throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Funakoshi can't escape the position.
Funakoshi is working hard here to advance position.
Dragon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Funakoshi is looking to improve his position but Dragon isn't that keen on the idea.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funakoshi has given up his back here. Will Dragon look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Funakoshi fending off the submission attempt from Dragon.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Dragon controlling the positon.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Dragon is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Funakoshi with him. Funakoshi is trying to defend but Dragon has an arm under the chin now! Funakoshi grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gruff Dragon!