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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gichin Funakoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funakoshi comes into the arena with Martial Art Drum Beat blaring out of the sound system. Jones comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Life Goes On kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fabio Jones 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!
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| 168 cm
27
154 lbs
18 - 5 - 1 |
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185 cm
31
155 lbs
18 - 12 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
18 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gichin Funakoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Fabio Jones!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Funakoshi's hands.
Jones lands with a good body shot.
Jones misses with a looping left.
Good standup being displayed there by Funakoshi as he connects with a hook.
Jones avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones scores with a nice right hand.
Funakoshi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Jones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Funakoshi is keeping the position for now.
Jones seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jones postures up.
Jones postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Funakoshi working a defensive guard but Jones passes into half guard.
Jones looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Funakoshi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jones trying to pass the guard but Funakoshi defending well.
Funakoshi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Funakoshi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Funakoshi's guard.
Funakoshi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Funakoshi tries to kick Jones off in order to stand up. Jones Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Funakoshi struggling a bit here.
Funakoshi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jones wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jones looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Funakoshi can't do much from the bottom here.
Jones is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Funakoshi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Funakoshi is looking to regain half guard here but Jones keeps moving and retains side control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Funakoshi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jones trying to control but Funakoshi postures up.
Jones moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funakoshi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jones works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Funakoshi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funakoshi throws a big elbow that misses.
Funakoshi is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Funakoshi cracks Jones with a solid left hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones is trying to control the position but Funakoshi postures up.
Funakoshi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Funakoshi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Funakoshi throwing strikes but missing.
Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Funakoshi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
Funakoshi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones trying to control the position.
Funakoshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Funakoshi stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funakoshi throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funakoshi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jones bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Funakoshi's guard.
Funakoshi looking to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Funakoshi has wrist control.
Jones throws a big right hand that misses.
Funakoshi keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones won't allow Funakoshi to sweep him here.
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funakoshi can't do much from the bottom here.
Jones is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Fabio Jones dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funakoshi manages to avoid it.
Jones is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jones misses with a shot to the body
and Funakoshi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jones throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jones throws a leg kick but Funakoshi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jones jabs Funakoshi right on the nose. Funakoshi blinks but takes it well.
Jones throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Funakoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Funakoshi checks a leg kick nicely.
Jones is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Funakoshi rather than just go for the knockout.
Jones takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jones comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funakoshi.
Jones lands with a hook. Funakoshi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
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!
Funakoshi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Jones has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jones lands a lovely overhand right.
Funakoshi is rocked!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Funakoshi lands a jab to the head.
Oh Funakoshi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jones dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Funakoshi seems to have got his legs back now.
Jones pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab by Jones.
Funakoshi scores with a jab to the body.
Jones digs a good hook to Funakoshi's body.
Jones waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funakoshi.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones connects with a good right hand that stumbles Funakoshi. Funakoshi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fabio Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Funakoshi at a distance.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Funakoshi is just out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones connects with a body shot that sends Funakoshi's belly button to the back.
Fabio Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jones.
Funakoshi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Funakoshi wants to clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Funakoshi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Funakoshi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Funakoshi scores with a punch to the head.
Jones's jab looks to have found its range, popping Funakoshi under the eye.
Jones drives through with a takedown into Funakoshi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Jones stops Funakoshi from standing up.
Funakoshi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Funakoshi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Funakoshi wants to sweep but no luck.
Funakoshi wants to hit a switch here but Jones passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Funakoshi there!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Funakoshi tries to roll but Jones sticks to his back.
Jones looking for the choke but no joy.
Jones really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Funakoshi.
Funakoshi trying to control the position but Jones manages to sink in the hooks.
Jones is hanging on to Funakoshi's back as he tries to escape.
Jones is persistently looking for the submission but Funakoshi is defending it well.
Funakoshi turns into Jones and is now in his guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funakoshi controlling from the top position.
Jones 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.
Funakoshi wants to get up but he can't break Jones's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jones working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Funakoshi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Funakoshi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funakoshi throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Funakoshi trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Fabio Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
A slow jab from Jones misses its intended target.
Funakoshi wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Jones does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Jones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Funakoshi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jones misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Funakoshi misses the target.
Funakoshi throws a looping overhand right but Jones ducks down to avoid it.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Funakoshi circles away.
Funakoshi slips a jab from Jones.
Funakoshi throws a hook but Jones avoids it easily.
Funakoshi closes the distance and clinches.
Funakoshi lands with a left to the head.
Funakoshi misses with some punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Funakoshi fails to land.
Funakoshi throws a head punch that misses.
Jones breaks the clinch.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Funakoshi.
Jones connects with a leg kick. Funakoshi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jones pivots, looking for a leg kick but Funakoshi is out of range and Jones settles back down.
Jones misses with an uppercut.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Funakoshi moves away and avoids it.
Jones sizes up Funakoshi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jones throws a predictable looking body shot
and Funakoshi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funakoshi manages to avoid it.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Funakoshi misses with an elbow over the top.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
Jones takes an elbow to the temple.
Gichin Funakoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funakoshi blocking some punches.
Jones goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Funakoshi.
Funakoshi has a couple of punches blocked by Jones.
Funakoshi blocking some punches.
Funakoshi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones scores with a nice hook to the head.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funakoshi misses with some punches.
Jones can't find room to land a body shot as Funakoshi controls the action.
Funakoshi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Funakoshi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Funakoshi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jones blocks an uppercut.
Funakoshi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Funakoshi swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a left hand.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funakoshi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Funakoshi pushes Jones back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funakoshi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jones blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funakoshi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jones blocking some punches.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Funakoshi.
Funakoshi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funakoshi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jones misses with some punches.
Jones lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Funakoshi lands an uppercut.
Jones lands an uppercut.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gichin Funakoshi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Funakoshi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Funakoshi misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jones.
Funakoshi throws an elbow but it misses.
Funakoshi working aggressively here.
Funakoshi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Funakoshi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Funakoshi.
Jones tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Funakoshi.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funakoshi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jones manages to break the clinch.
Funakoshi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gichin Funakoshi.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabio Jones!
During a confident post fight interview, Fabio Jones thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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