|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
 |
|
 |
| 178 cm
26
183 lbs
5 - 4 - 0 |
|
175 cm
25
182 lbs
10 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
|
Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Funkyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funkyama blocks a jab.
Yoshida tries to move into range but Funkyama moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yoshida shoots and misses
and Yoshida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Funkyama lands a nice hook to Yoshida's body. Yoshida takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A swing and a miss from Funkyama.
Some bone on bone action there as Yoshida checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Funkyama throws out a loose jab but Yoshida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yoshida bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Funkyama's head backwards.
Yoshida blocks a jab.
Good work by Yoshida as he checks the leg kick.
Yoshida misses with a hook to the body
and Funkyama counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshida takes a swing at Funkyama's ribcage but misses.
Mark Yoshida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yoshida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yoshida drives through with a takedown into Funkyama's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Funkyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama looking for a sweep. Not yet Funkyama, not yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama wants to get back to his feet but Yoshida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Funkyama controlling Yoshida's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funkyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ben Funkyama.
Funkyama misses with an uppercut. Yoshida saw that one coming.
Yoshida avoids the body shot from Funkyama.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama throws a lazy right hand but Yoshida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yoshida drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yoshida's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.
Yoshida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yoshida postures up.
Yoshida trying to control but Funkyama is working from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Yoshida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Yoshida tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida thows a body shot but no joy.
Funkyama throws a looping overhand right but Yoshida ducks down to avoid it.
Yoshida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yoshida shoots in looking for a takedown. Funkyama tries to sprawl out of it but Yoshida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Funkyama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yoshida loads up on a big right hand but Funkyama slips the punch.
Yoshida shoots in looking for a takedown. Funkyama tries to sprawl out of it but Yoshida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Funkyama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ben Funkyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Funkyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yoshida swinging wildly here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Funkyama, right into the meat.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama scores with a leg kick.
Funkyama throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yoshida throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yoshida misses with a jab, cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Funkyama lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yoshida at a distance.
Funkyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Yoshida. Yoshida gets slowly back to his feet.
Yoshida looks gassed!
Funkyama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Funkyama throws a series of punches but Yoshida moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Funkyama wants it to stay on the feet.
Yoshida shoots in and drives through. Funkyama sprawls well.
Funkyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
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 Ben Funkyama will probably get the nod.
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.
Funkyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yoshida walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Yoshida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Funkyama as he jumps to the side.
Funkyama swings for the body but Yoshida moves out of range.
Yoshida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Funkyama is fending him off so far but Yoshida persists. Nope, Funkyama circles away and we're back to standing.
Funkyama dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yoshida. That did some damage!
Yoshida misses with a two punch combination.
Funkyama throws a body punch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Nice shot by Yoshida.
Nice sprawl there from Funkyama as Yoshida shoots in.
Ben Funkyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Yoshida.
Funkyama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Funkyama stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
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!
Funkyama clinches up against the cage.
Funkyama is working for takedown but Yoshida is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama has picked Yoshida up - he's going for a ride! Funkyama dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Funkyama working the head and body with strikes.
Yoshida is looking to control Funkyama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yoshida avoid being mounted?
Yoshida is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Yoshida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Funkyama wants to control from the top but Yoshida keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama forces his way into half guard.
Yoshida is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Funkyama's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Funkyama's back!
Yoshida keeps control of the position as Funkyama tries to break free.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama fending off the submission attempt from Yoshida.
Funkyama covering up well and avoiding damage.
Funkyama has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Yoshida.
Funkyama is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Yoshida gets his way!
Yoshida missing with strikes from the back.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida missing with punches from the back.
Funkyama avoids the strikes from Yoshida.
Yoshida missing with strikes.
Funkyama is keeping busy.
Yoshida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yoshida working for a choke but Funkyama is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama trying to control the hands but Yoshida breaks the grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ben Funkyama dominated that second 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. This is the final round!
Yoshida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Funkyama.
Yoshida slips a straight right by Funkyama.
Yoshida fails to land the takedown.
Yoshida connects with a jab.
Funkyama fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yoshida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yoshida lands with a hook. Funkyama tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Funkyama uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yoshida.
Yoshida takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yoshida shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Funkyama is trying to defend but Yoshida finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funkyama wants to improve his position but Yoshida is controlling well.
Funkyama regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida lands a couple of elbows.
Mark Yoshida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yoshida sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yoshida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yoshida won't allow Funkyama to get back to his feet.
Yoshida advances to half guard.
Yoshida is controlling the pace.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama wants to control but Yoshida is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funkyama is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yoshida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yoshida's back!
Funkyama punches the canvas rather than the man.
Yoshida is covering up but some of the strikes from Funkyama are getting through and doing damage.
Yoshida can't escape the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama misses with a punch to the head.
Funkyama struggling to land strikes to the head as Yoshida covers up.
Funkyama is not going to allow Yoshida to sit and survive in this position.
Yoshida covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Funkyama punches Yoshida on the ear.
Yoshida turns into Funkyama and is now in his guard.
Funkyama looking to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida won't allow Funkyama to sweep him here.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Funkyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama keeping full guard, as Yoshida tries to pass.
Yoshida postures up.
Mark Yoshida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Yoshida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ben Funkyama has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Funkyama misses with a wild body shot.
Yoshida gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Funkyama misses with a looping right.
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 Ben Funkyama.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Funkyama, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Funkyama!
Ben Funkyama looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I have decided this is the last time you will see me in the cage. I am officially retired. Thanks to my fans, sponsors, coaches and my manager who revived my career after tough losses.'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
59% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
