PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saki Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thai Leng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Funaki
vs
Leng

175 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

JOKER FIGHTGEAR

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saki Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thai Leng!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leng ducks under a wild hook from Funaki.
Funaki misses with a double jab.

Leng moves into the clinch.
Funaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Leng has double underhooks.

Leng has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Funaki uses from the top position.

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

Leng scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Leng moves out of range.

Leng pushes Funaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Leng lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Saki Funaki has been cut.
Leng is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Leng escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Funaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Leng.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leng.
Leng avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leng gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Funaki.
Funaki slips a straight right by Leng.
Leng tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Leng moves out of range.
Funaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Funaki lands a jab-cross combination.
Leng blocks a low kick nicely.

Leng clinches up with Funaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Leng wants to stall.
Leng lands a knee to the body.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Leng lands a nice knee to the body.

Leng breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leng tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leng showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Funaki.
Funaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leng but Leng pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Funaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Saki Funaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Leng misses.
Leng has a takedown stuffed.
Funaki falls off balance throwing a combination

and Leng counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Leng breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leng looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Funaki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Leng holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Leng is working for takedown but Funaki is calmly controlling the position for now.
Saki Funaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thai Leng.
Leng lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Leng avoiding damage.
Leng lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Leng manages to break the clinch.
Leng throws a head kick but Funaki moves out of range.
Leng throws a half hearted mid kick.
Funaki missing with a left hand there. Leng was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Leng is looking to clinch.
Funaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Leng tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leng fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Leng fails with an attempt to clinch.
Funaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leng shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Leng clinches up with Funaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Leng avoiding damage.
Leng with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Funaki has had enough of the clinch but Leng keeps him there for the moment.
Leng tries a knee to the head but Funaki blocks it.
Funaki blocks the elbow strike.
Funaki is pressed up against the cage. Leng has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Funaki down to the mat. Funaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Funaki misses with a takedown attempt - Leng sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leng misses with a series of wild punches.
Funaki throws a right hand that Leng ducks under and follows up with a left that Leng also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thai Leng dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saki Funaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A combination from Leng does no damage.
Funaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Leng counters with a head kick. That will keep Funaki thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Leng misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Funaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Funaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Funaki as Leng shoots in.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Leng unloads a knee to the mid-section. Funaki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leng is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Funaki is trying to break free.
Funaki wants to break the clinch but can't.

Leng manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funaki lunges at Leng with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Leng's hand.
Funaki tries to score with a low kick but Leng moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Funaki throws a leg kick that misses.
Leng throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Funaki.
Some wild striking there from Funaki.
No luck for Leng with that takedown attempt.
Saki Funaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thai Leng.
Funaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Funaki misses with a double jab
and Leng counters with a series of strikes. Funaki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Funaki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Leng backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Funaki blocks a head kick by Leng.
Leng shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Funaki as he jumps to the side.
Saki Funaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Funaki misses.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Leng moves out of range.

Leng drives through and clinches with Funaki against the cage.
Leng is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Funaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Leng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funaki throws a right and a left that Leng avoids nicely.
Funaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leng tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Funaki duly obliges.

Leng clinches up with Funaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Funaki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Funaki managing to block the knees to the body from Leng.
Leng keeps control of Funaki as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leng lands an elbow that stopped Funaki in his tracks for a moment.
Leng drops down looking for an ankle pick but Funaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Funaki throws out a leg kick but Leng moves out of range and Funaki only half commits.
Funaki misses with a wild combination.

Leng clinches.
Funaki takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Leng.

Leng has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Funaki uses from the top position.

Funaki stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Funaki wants to slow Leng down by chopping away at his legs.
Leng shoots in looking for a takedown. Funaki tries to sprawl out of it but Leng keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Funaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Funaki staying out of range there.
Funaki lands a two punch combo.
Leng tries to close the distance and clinch up but Funaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leng throws a nice inside leg kick.

Leng has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thai Leng showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saki Funaki's cut.
That's time! Funaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A good leg kick by Leng.
Leng tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Funaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leng misses with a low kick.
Funaki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Funaki.
Leng showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Funaki.
Funaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Leng lands a high kick!
Funaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Funaki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leng counters with a head kick. That will keep Funaki thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Funaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leng tries to clinch there but Funaki circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leng shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funaki throws a leg kick that is checked

and Leng counters by moving into the clinch.

Leng breaks the clinch.
Funaki misses with a wild combination.
Leng wants to clinch up but Funaki keeps it at a distance.
Funaki scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Leng swats away the attempt to clinch by Funaki.
Leng misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Funaki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thai Leng is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Leng closes the distance and clinches.
Knees to the body from Leng.
Leng is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Funaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Saki Funaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thai Leng.
A bit of stalling here from Funaki.
Leng has Funaki pushed against the cage.
Leng has Funaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Funaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Funaki wants to break free but Leng has control.
Funaki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Leng.
Funaki wants to break free but Leng has control.
Funaki wants to break the clinch but can't.

Leng breaks from the clinch.
Funaki misses with the combination.
Leng tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Funaki misses.
Funaki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Funaki on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Saki Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funaki blocks a head kick by Leng.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Leng avoids them all with ease.
Funaki looks to land a combination but Leng avoids it well.
Leng is looking to clinch but Funaki is avoiding it.
Leng plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Funaki throws a series of punches but Leng moves out of range.
Leng lands a head kick. Funaki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Funaki misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Funaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A leg kick checked by Leng.
Leng lands with a slapping head kick.
Funaki throws a right hand that Leng ducks under and follows up with a left that Leng also avoids with ease.
Funaki stuffs the takedown.
Funaki throws a series of strikes that have Leng backpedaling.
Funaki throws a nice looking combination but Leng bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Funaki looks to land a combination but Leng avoids it well.
Leng doesn't manage to clinch there - Funaki circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thai Leng comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leng winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thai Leng!