PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yamamoto Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigori Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Funaki
vs
Rasputin

173 cm
23
161 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yamamoto Funaki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grigori Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rasputin scores with a takedown into Funaki's guard.

Funaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Rasputin drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick Rasputin off! Rasputin jumps back into Funaki's guard.

Funaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Funaki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rasputin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rasputin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Funaki is looking for a triangle but Rasputin pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Rasputin trying to control but Funaki is working from the bottom.
Rasputin wants to pass the guard but Funaki is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasputin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Funaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rasputin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Funaki's guard.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura but Funaki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rasputin to get the leverage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rasputin is looking for a kimura but Funaki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rasputin to get the leverage.
Funaki is looking for a sweep. Rasputin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rasputin wants to free his trapped foot but Funaki is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Rasputin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funaki is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rasputin pulls his head out easily.
Funaki is refusing to be controlled, as Rasputin sits in half guard.

Funaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasputin fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt - Funaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rasputin.
Yamamoto Funaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grigori Rasputin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Funaki scores with a takedown into Rasputin's guard.

Funaki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Funaki drops back looking for a leg! Rasputin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rasputin manages to kick Funaki off! Funaki jumps back into Rasputin's guard.
Funaki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Funaki has gone for a leg lock! Rasputin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Funaki's guard.
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 Yamamoto Funaki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rasputin fails with the takedown

and Funaki counters with a takedown into side control.

Funaki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rasputin is trying to control Funaki's posture but Funaki avoids it.
Rasputin manages to get back to half guard.

Funaki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rasputin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funaki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rasputin dives on top into guard.

Funaki had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rasputin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Funaki Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rasputin's back instead.
Rasputin turns into Funaki and is now in his guard.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Funaki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rasputin gets to his feet - Funaki follows without any prompting.
Rasputin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Funaki counters with a single leg into guard. Rasputin didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Funaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Funaki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Funaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Funaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Funaki drops back looking for a leg! Rasputin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rasputin manages to kick Funaki off! Funaki jumps back into Rasputin's guard.

Funaki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rasputin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Funaki has Rasputin in his guard.
Rasputin stopping the sweep attempt from Funaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rasputin trying to control but Funaki is working from the bottom.

Funaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Funaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Funaki working for a triangle but Rasputin defends it easily.
Funaki is looking to sweep but instead, Rasputin has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rasputin is trying to work for a kimura but Funaki is defending well.
Rasputin moves into full mount! Funaki won't be happy about that!
Rasputin prevents Funaki from getting the reversal.
Rasputin takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Funaki tries to roll but Rasputin sticks to his back.

Rasputin working for a choke but Funaki is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yamamoto Funaki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rasputin tries to clinch up but Funaki circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Funaki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rasputin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Funaki off and has taken his back!
Rasputin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin doesn't have the hooks in and Funaki manages to turn into his guard.

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

Funaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Funaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Funaki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Funaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Funaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin is working to tighten is grip on Funaki's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Funaki has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Rasputin is really squeezing tight and eventually Funaki passes out! Rasputin breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Grigori Rasputin!
Grigori Rasputin is the new lightweight champion!