PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Minoru Funaki (ranked 4550 p4p, 6128 weight class) and Jurney Man (ranked 457 p4p, 534 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Funaki
vs
Man

165 cm
24
155
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
164
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Minoru Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jurney Man!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Man throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Funaki tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Man is in Funaki's guard.

Man decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Funaki, up you get!
Funaki shoots in for a takedown but Man shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Funaki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Man's waist but Man gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Funaki off to one side.

Man is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Funaki's half guard.
Man wants to stand up but Funaki is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funaki is looking for a sweep. Man is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Man stands up out of the half guard.

Funaki drives through with a takedown into Man's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Funaki cracks Man with a solid left hand.

Man has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Funaki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Man digs a good body shot into Funaki's ribs.
Funaki shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minoru Funaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Man fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Funaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Man circles away.
Funaki has his takedown stuffed

and Man counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Funaki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
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!
Funaki has his hands on Man's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Man stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Man decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Man is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Funaki has his hands clasped together around Man's back. He's all about the action.
Funaki looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Funaki punching from the bottom.
Funaki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Funaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is working hard here to advance position.
Man has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Funaki is proving hard to escape from.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Man throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Funaki shoots and misses

and Man counters with a takedown into side control.

Man stands up and beckons Funaki to his feet.
Funaki moves out of range of the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Funaki.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Funaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Man sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Funaki somewhat.

Man shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Man was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Man decides to stand back up.
Nice sprawl there from Man as Funaki shoots in.
Man slaps away a takedown attempt from Funaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Funaki misses with a takedown attempt

and Man decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funaki's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Man decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Funaki, up you get!
Funaki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Man sprawls well. Man wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Funaki gets slowly back to his feet.

Man closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Funaki did well to prevent Man getting side control.

Man decides to return to a standing position.
Funaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jurney Man dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Funaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Man tries to sprawl out of it but Funaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Man manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Man is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Man connects with a body shot.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown but Man shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Man's coach down at Kung Pao was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Man's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Man shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Funaki sprawls well. Funaki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Man gets slowly back to his feet.
Funaki shoots in for a double leg but Man sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minoru Funaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funaki moves out of range of the strikes.

Man shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Funaki manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Funaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man tries to stand but Funaki is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Man gets to his feet. Funaki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Man scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Funaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Funaki.

Funaki is working an open guard so Man takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Man closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Man lands in his opponent's guard.
Funaki has Man pulled in close to control his posture.
Man tries to stand but Funaki is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki controls Man momentarily but Man frees himself.

Man stands up from Funaki's guard - Man perhaps looking for a knockout.
Funaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Man sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Man with the counter takedown but Funaki avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Man.
Funaki wants to control but Man postures up.
Funaki is looking for a sweep.

Man has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Man has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Funaki shoots in for a double leg but Man sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Funaki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Man defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Man closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Funaki to the mat! Funaki manages to get full guard.
Man wants to get up but he can't break Funaki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Man stands up and waves to Funaki to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Man slaps away a takedown attempt from Funaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Man looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Funaki!

Man decides to stand back up.
Man looks to land a right hand but Funaki moved out of range.

Man darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Man tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Funaki.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jurney Man showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Man fails to land the takedown.

Man is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Funaki's half guard.

Man escapes and gets back to his feet.
Man shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Funaki defends it nicely.

Funaki dives in and scores a takedown into Man's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki wants to pass the guard but Man is keeping the position.
Man wants to get back to his feet but Funaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki advances position into side control!
Funaki controlling the position.
Funaki in side control lands a decent elbow.
Man is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Funaki grinds an elbow into Man's temple.
Jurney Man is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Funaki has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Funaki lands some shots froms side control.
Funaki landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Check out the look on Funaki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Man is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Funaki wants to control but Man is keeping him busy.
Man has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Man is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Funaki asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Man sneaks out the side door and pushes Funaki away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki darts in looking for a takedown but Man gets double underhooks and turns Funaki into the cage.
Man ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funaki moves away.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Man sprawls well. Man wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Funaki gets slowly back to his feet.

Man looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Funaki!

Man stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Minoru Funaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Man shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Man was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Man stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Man wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minoru Funaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Man connects with a body shot.
Man looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Funaki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Man tries to escape but Funaki is in control.
Funaki cracks Man with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Man is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Minoru Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jurney Man.
Well Man 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jurney Man!
A victorious Jurney Man thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.