PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yamamoto Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto Funaki told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Yang
vs
Funaki

186 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yamamoto Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funaki gets caught flat footed, as Yang shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Funaki looking for a guillotine here but Yang defends easily.

Funaki looking for a guillotine here but Yang defends easily.
Yang works over Funaki with some ground and pound from guard.

Funaki looking for a guillotine here but Yang defends easily.

Funaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Yang sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Funaki's guard.

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

Funaki actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funaki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Funaki looks gassed!
Yang is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funaki wants to improve his position but Yang is controlling well.
Yang trying to control from half guard but Funaki is working away.
Funaki is looking to improve his position.
Yang stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Funaki shoots and misses

and Yang counters with a shoot takedown. Funaki fights it but they end up in guard.
Yang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Funaki keeping moving, preventing Yang from controlling successfully.
Yang tries to stand but Funaki is controlling from the bottom.
Yang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yang can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Funaki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Yang is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Funaki.
Yang scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Funaki to see if he's OK.
Yang is looking to take a break and control but Funaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Funaki is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Yang off and has taken his back!

Funaki is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Yang is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Yamamoto Funaki!