PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Alcano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kamaneto Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kamaneto Funaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alcano
vs
Funaki

178 cm
29
153 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

168 cm
21
150 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, JP Alcano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kamaneto Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki avoids the head kick by Alcano.
Funaki slips a jab and a cross from Alcano.
Funaki shoots in looking for a takedown but Alcano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Funaki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alcano throws a right and a left that Funaki avoids nicely.
Alcano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alcano throws out a powerful jab.
Funaki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
JP Alcano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alcano misses with a few strikes there.
Alcano slaps away a takedown attempt from Funaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Funaki fails with a takedown attempt.
JP Alcano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamaneto Funaki.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alcano as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcano misses with a two punch combination.
Alcano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alcano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funaki moves away.
A combination from Alcano does no damage.
Alcano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alcano wants to slow Funaki down by chopping away at his legs.
Alcano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alcano tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Alcano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alcano tries a head kick but it misses.
Alcano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alcano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Alcano thows a body shot but no joy.
Alcano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Alcano. Those never looked like landing.
Alcano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alcano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alcano just misses with a punch to the body.
Alcano misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alcano gets tackled into the cage by Funaki. Funaki maintains the clinch.
Funaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Alcano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Alcano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Funaki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alcano looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Funaki trying to control the action but Alcano is working from the bottom.
Alcano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ground and pound from Funaki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Funaki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Funaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alcano keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Alcano tries to improve position but can't.
Funaki is looking to take a break and control but Alcano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alcano sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Alcano is trying to get back to full guard.

Funaki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alcano regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Funaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JP Alcano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alcano misses with a series of wild punches.
Alcano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alcano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alcano wants it to stay on the feet.
Alcano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alcano throws a jab but it's blocked by Funaki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Funaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Funaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alcano swivels and escapes.
Alcano feints a jab promting Funaki to slip. Alcano then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Funaki slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcano misses with a straight right.
Danga de danga de dang - Alcano scores with a four punch combination!
Alcano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funaki.
Alcano scores with a hook to the body. Funaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Funaki slips a jab from Alcano.
Funaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alcano.
Funaki dives in and grabs Alcano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alcano pushes down on Funaki's head and hops out.
JP Alcano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamaneto Funaki.
Alcano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alcano misses with a double jab

and Funaki counters with a shoot takedown. Alcano fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki stopping the sweep attempt from Alcano.
Alcano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alcano is looking to stand up but Funaki isn't so interested in that idea.

Alcano has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Funaki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Funaki moves in looking to clinch but Alcano pushes him off.
Alcano throws a jab but it's blocked by Funaki.
Alcano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcano throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Funaki avoids the head kick by Alcano.
Alcano goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Funaki looks for a takedown but Alcano sprawls well.
Funaki checks a leg kick nicely.
Alcano throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
A nice combination there by Alcano.
Alcano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Funaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alcano tries to sprawl but Funaki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Alcano is trying to stand up here but Funaki is controlling him well.
Funaki throwing shots but Alcano is blocking nicely.
Funaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Funaki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Funaki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Alcano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Funaki.
Alcano tries to kick Funaki off but Funaki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Funaki slows the pace down in half guard.

Funaki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Alcano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Funaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JP Alcano dominated that second round.
That's time! Alcano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Funaki fails to land the takedown.
Alcano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Funaki.
Alcano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Funaki doesn't seem bothered though.
Alcano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Funaki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Funaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alcano connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Alcano. That snapped Funaki's head back.
Alcano throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Alcano cracks Funaki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Alcano swinging wildly here.
Alcano lands a slapping body shot.
Alcano swings for the body but Funaki moves out of range.
Funaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Jab by Alcano.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Funaki is defended easily by Alcano.
JP Alcano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamaneto Funaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcano throws a head kick but Funaki moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alcano.
Alcano's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Alcano duly obliges.
JP Alcano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki avoids the head kick by Alcano.
Alcano is looking to wear down Funaki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Alcano throws a right and a left that Funaki avoids nicely.
Funaki checks a low kick from Alcano.
Alcano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alcano throws a head kick but Funaki moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcano throws a combination. Funaki tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alcano as he jumps to the side.
Alcano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Funaki wants to clinch.
Alcano connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Alcano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Funaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alcano is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alcano is fending him off so far but Funaki persists. Nope, Alcano circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Alcano.
JP Alcano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alcano lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Funaki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Alcano uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Funaki has time to react.
Funaki shoots in for a double leg but Alcano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Decent striking displayed by Alcano there.
Kamaneto Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alcano misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
JP Alcano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alcano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JP Alcano!