PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Funch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Edgar
vs
Funch

170 cm
18
144 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
22
146 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Funch!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funch keeps the fight on the outside.

Edgar has managed to clinch.
Funch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Funch avoiding damage as Edgar throws knees to the body.

Edgar breaks the clinch.
Edgar connects with a right hand. Funch shakes it off.

It looks like Ricardo Funch has been cut.

Edgar drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edgar tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edgar connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Funch some visible discomfort.
Edgar looks up at the clock and then as Funch takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Edgar smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Edgar lands an elbow.

Edgar decides to stand back up.
Funch looks gassed!

Edgar moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funch is trying to break the clinch but Edgar has him pressed against the cage.

Edgar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Funch scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar wants to get back to his feet.
Edgar trying to control but Funch postures up.

Funch wants to work for an arm triangle but Edgar is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Funch seems to be working for a kimura but Edgar defends the submission attempt.
Edgar is not content to let Funch control the position.

Edgar kicks Funch off and gets back to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Edgar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Edgar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Edgar tries to clinch there but Funch circles away.
Edgar is looking to clinch but Funch is avoiding it.

Edgar takes the fight into the clinch.

Edgar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matt Edgar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edgar tries to bum rush Funch with a series of wild strikes but Funch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Edgar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Edgar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Edgar postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Funch to stand up.

Edgar has managed to clinch.

Edgar works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Edgar wanted to stand there but Funch had control of the position.
Funch wants to stand up but Edgar is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funch is trying to control the position but Edgar postures up.

Funch looking for a guillotine here but Edgar defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Edgar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Funch wants to clinch but Edgar slips to the side

and Edgar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

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.
Funch lands an uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Funch.
Funch wants to break free but Edgar has control.

Funch pulls Edgar into guard.

Edgar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Funch looking for a guillotine here but Edgar defends easily.
Edgar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Edgar is looking to work some ground and pound but Funch has wrist control.
Edgar prevents Funch from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Edgar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Funch's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Funch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Edgar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Edgar throws a head kick but Funch moves out of range.
Funch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Edgar but Edgar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Edgar closes the distance and pushes Funch back into the cage.

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

Edgar moves into range and clinches up with Funch.
Funch working aggressively here.
Edgar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Funch has him pressed against the cage.
Funch lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funch looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Funch is looking to break free of the clinch but Edgar has double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Edgar.

Edgar manages to break the clinch.
Funch keeps the fight on the outside.
Matt Edgar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edgar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Edgar lands an elbow inside.
Edgar fails to pull guard.
Funch is trying to break free.
Edgar scores a nice knee to the body.

Edgar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Edgar lands a head kick. Funch smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Funch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Edgar.
Funch doesn't manage to clinch there - Edgar circles away.
Funch throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Edgar shoots for a double leg takedown but Funch sprawls well. He's pushed Edgar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Edgar. No joy for Funch on that attempt.
Funch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Matt Edgar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Funch.
Edgar takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Funch pushes Edgar away with a front kick.
Funch scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Edgar doesn't seem bothered though.
Funch fails with a takedown attempt.
Edgar misses with a kick to the body.
Edgar throws a sloppy head kick
and Funch counters with a nice low kick that buckles Edgar's knee momentarily.
Funch avoids the head kick by Edgar.
Funch wants to clinch

and Edgar counters with a shoot takedown. Funch fights it but they end up in guard.
Edgar tries to free his leg and advance position but Funch is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar looking to sit in guard and control but Funch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Funch trying to control but Edgar is working from the bottom.
Matt Edgar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Funch wants to stand but Edgar is controlling his posture from full guard.
Funch won't allow Edgar to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Funch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Funch wants to stand but Edgar is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Funch passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Edgar is looking for a sweep.
Edgar wants to get back to his feet but Funch is dominant here and he's now got Edgar's back!

Edgar is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Funch gets his way!
Edgar controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
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 Matt Edgar will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Funch's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Edgar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Edgar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Edgar is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Funch can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Edgar with the ground and pound from mount.
Funch working to try and regain half guard.
Edgar is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Funch is looking to get to half guard.

Edgar has hold of Funch's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Funch manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Funch is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funch holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Edgar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Funch wants to hold on but Edgar pushes him away.
Funch holds of for dear life.
Edgar lands a nice shot to the head.

Edgar wants to finish this one by submission but Funch is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Edgar.
Edgar trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Edgar goes for an armbar but Funch turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Funch.

Edgar looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Funch passes into half guard.
Edgar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Funch is working away from the top position though.
Funch uses his free foot to push down on Edgar's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Edgar.
Funch connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar tries to buck Funch off but he can't manage it.
Edgar tries to hold on but Funch pushes him away.
Funch manages to capitalize on a mistake by Edgar to take his back!
Funch keeps control of the position as Edgar tries to break free.

Funch looking for the choke from the back.
Funch scores with strikes from the back.
Edgar breaks Funch's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Funch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funch is looking to stand up but Edgar isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funch is trying to control the position but Edgar postures up.
Edgar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Edgar scoring with some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Edgar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Funch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Edgar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Edgar misses.

Funch closes the distance and clinches.
Funch has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Edgar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ricardo Funch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Edgar tightens his grip and picks Funch up, before dumping him to the ground. Funch manages to land in guard.
Matt Edgar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Edgar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricardo Funch.
Well Edgar 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Edgar!