PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Ruoska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funakoshi comes to the cage accompanied by Martial Art Drum Beat. Ruoska has chosen Rolling Stones as his entrance music. Gichin Funakoshi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mauri Ruoska's chin.

Funakoshi
vs
Ruoska

168 cm
22
154 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
169 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gichin Funakoshi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauri Ruoska!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funakoshi throws a big shot that misses.
Funakoshi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ruoska throws a head kick that misses.
Ruoska tries to clinch there but Funakoshi circles away.
Ruoska tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ruoska tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funakoshi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ruoska moves out of range of the strikes.
Ruoska misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ruoska moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruoska tries to clinch but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Funakoshi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruoska closes the distance and clinches.
Ruoska using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Funakoshi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Funakoshi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ruoska tries for a takedown but Funakoshi manages to get underhooks.
Funakoshi looking for a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ruoska tries to pull guard but Funakoshi holds him up against the cage and eventually Ruoska drops back down to his feet.
Gichin Funakoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauri Ruoska.
Ruoska is trying to break the clinch but Funakoshi is controlling him.
Funakoshi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ruoska pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi wants a takedown.

Funakoshi is trying to trip Ruoska. He has hold of a leg but Ruoska is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Funakoshi persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Funakoshi wants to control from the top but Ruoska keeps moving.
Funakoshi throws a strike but Ruoska rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ruoska postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska wants to control from the top but Funakoshi keeps moving.
Funakoshi is adopting a defensive guard.
Funakoshi keeping moving, preventing Ruoska from controlling successfully.
Ruoska prevents Funakoshi from getting back to his feet.
Funakoshi looking for a sweep. Not yet Funakoshi, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mauri Ruoska has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Funakoshi misses with a takedown

and Ruoska holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Funakoshi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funakoshi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Funakoshi misses with a punch on the inside.
Ruoska connects with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Funakoshi.
Funakoshi goes for a takedown attempt but Ruoska pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Funakoshi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ruoska paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ruoska throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Funakoshi was covering up waiting for the punch and Ruoska finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruoska wants to stand but Funakoshi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Funakoshi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Ruoska drops back, looking for a kneebar! Funakoshi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Funakoshi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Funakoshi!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Funakoshi is trying to get an arm triangle but Ruoska is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gichin Funakoshi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ruoska looks to clinch
and Funakoshi counters with a stiff right hand.
Ruoska staying out of range there.
Ruoska tries to clinch but Funakoshi moves away
and Funakoshi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ruoska.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funakoshi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ruoska wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Funakoshi is trying to control Ruoska's posture but Ruoska avoids it.
Ruoska creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Funakoshi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ruoska looking to control but instead Funakoshi has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ruoska not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi is staying active underneath Ruoska, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Funakoshi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ruoska.
Ruoska slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ruoska trying to control the position but Funakoshi is working away.
Ruoska throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Funakoshi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ruoska off and has taken his back!

Ruoska is in a bad position with Funakoshi working for a choke. Ruoska manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Funakoshi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruoska looking to sit in guard and control but Funakoshi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Funakoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruoska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funakoshi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi postures up in Ruoska's guard and throws a big left but Ruoska blocks it.

Funakoshi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ruoska dives on top into guard.
Ruoska slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Funakoshi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Funakoshi being controlled for a moment.
Ruoska scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska wants to control but Funakoshi is keeping him busy.
Ruoska scoring with punches from side control.
Ruoska lands an elbow.
Ruoska lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ruoska throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Ruoska showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Ruoska moves forwards but Funakoshi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Funakoshi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ruoska.
Funakoshi throws an overhand right that lands on Ruoska's shoulder, as Ruoska tries to avoid the shot.
Ruoska bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruoska wants to clinch but Funakoshi slips to the side

and Funakoshi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Funakoshi.
Funakoshi throws a strike but Ruoska rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funakoshi working a defensive guard here.
Ruoska content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruoska wants to stand but Funakoshi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Funakoshi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Funakoshi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ruoska tries to stand but Funakoshi is controlling from the bottom.
Ruoska postures up.
Ruoska stopping the sweep attempt from Funakoshi.

That's two 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.
Ruoska landing with the ground and pound.

Funakoshi is looking for a triangle but Ruoska pushes his legs off easily.
Funakoshi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Funakoshi trying to control the position here.
Ruoska throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ruoska!
Ruoska can't escape the position.

Funakoshi goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ruoska is on top in guard.
Ruoska throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funakoshi looking to control.
Funakoshi pulls Ruoska in close to prevent any damage.
Funakoshi looking for a sweep. Not yet Funakoshi, not yet.

Ruoska stands up from Funakoshi's guard - Ruoska perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ruoska tries to clinch but Funakoshi moves away
and Funakoshi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ruoska.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gichin Funakoshi clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ruoska tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Funakoshi to counter with a crisp jab.
Ruoska tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Funakoshi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Funakoshi.
Ruoska stalling in the clinch but Funakoshi improves position.
Ruoska is trying to break the clinch but Funakoshi has him pressed against the cage.
Ruoska blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funakoshi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Funakoshi lands with a light punch inside.
Funakoshi misses with a punch on the inside.
Funakoshi lands with a right to the head.

Ruoska breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ruoska slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruoska slips a jab from Funakoshi.
Mauri Ruoska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funakoshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ruoska.
Funakoshi throws a hook but Ruoska avoids it easily.
Funakoshi misses with a hook.

Ruoska shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ruoska lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Funakoshi hang on?
Ruoska throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Funakoshi is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska working Funakoshi over with strikes here.
Funakoshi can't escape the position.
Ruoska avoids the attempt from Funakoshi to control.
Ruoska can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Funakoshi is looking to escape.
Ruoska avoids the attempt from Funakoshi to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska with good strikes from the mount here!
Funakoshi is looking to improve his position but Ruoska isn't that keen on the idea.
Ruoska throws some wild stikes that Funakoshi manages to avoid easily.
Funakoshi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ruoska raining down shots from the mount!
Ruoska trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi is desperately trying to improve his position but Ruoska has a good base and remains in mount.

Ruoska goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Funakoshi turns into him and now he's in Ruoska's guard.
Funakoshi wants to get up but he can't break Ruoska's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ruoska looking to control but Funakoshi passes into half guard.
Funakoshi tries to stand and escape but Ruoska is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Ruoska dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ruoska lands a slapping body shot.
Ruoska tries to clinch up.
Ruoska uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Funakoshi.
Ruoska staying out of range there.
Mauri Ruoska is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruoska tries to clinch

and Funakoshi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Funakoshi goes for a takedown attempt but Ruoska pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ruoska tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funakoshi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruoska keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruoska fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ruoska wants to clinch
and Funakoshi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruoska tries to clinch but Funakoshi moves out of range.
Ruoska tries to clinch but Funakoshi is having none of it.
Funakoshi throws a lazy right hand but Ruoska sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Funakoshi gets a clinch.
Ruoska is trying to stall.
Ruoska gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruoska escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Funakoshi closes the distance but Ruoska moves to the side
and Ruoska counters with a big head kick but Funakoshi shrugs it off.
Ruoska throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Funakoshi throws a jab when Ruoska was well out of range.
Ruoska misses with a takedown attempt
and Funakoshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ruoska misses with a takedown
and Funakoshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Ruoska is rocked!
Ruoska is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Ruoska tries to land a leg kick but Funakoshi saw it coming and moves away.
Good leg kick by Ruoska there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska has a takedown stuffed.
Gichin Funakoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauri Ruoska.
Ruoska is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Funakoshi throws a looping overhand right but Ruoska ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Funakoshi misses.
Funakoshi tries to clinch up but Ruoska circles away and keeps his distance.
Ruoska's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Funakoshi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ruoska scrambles back to his feet.
Ruoska is still on wobbly legs! Can Funakoshi finish him?
Ruoska slips under a jab from Funakoshi.
Ruoska seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruoska tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Funakoshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A combination from Ruoska does no damage.
Ruoska doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ruoska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ruoska connects with a looping right hand.
A shot to the liver by Funakoshi. Beautiful body shot.
Ruoska takes one on the button.
Funakoshi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Horrible takedown by Ruoska or perhaps it was just good defense by Funakoshi which made him look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gichin Funakoshi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Funakoshi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gichin Funakoshi!
Gichin Funakoshi retains his lightweight title!