PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bear Claw (ranked 5446 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tobias Funke (ranked 4325 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Claw
vs
Funke

203 cm
25
267 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bear Claw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tobias Funke!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claw stuffs the takedown.
Claw seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Claw connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Claw throws a right and a left that Funke avoids nicely.

Claw closes the distance and clinches.
Funke avoids a wild elbow strike from Claw.

Funke has hold of one of Claw's legs. Claw is fighting the takedown attempt but Funke gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Claw manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The referee calls for Claw to work.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Funke takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Funke avoiding damage.
Claw leaning against his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Claw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Funke blocks it with crossed arms.
Funke is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Claw misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funke lands a nice shot to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Funke.
Funke digs a right hand underneath Claw's ribcage. Claw let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Claw is breathing heavily.
Funke misses with some punches.
Claw misses with an elbow over the top.
Funke manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Claw misses with a punch to the body.
Funke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Claw is defending well for now.
Claw missing with knees to the body.
Funke looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Funke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Claw.
Claw avoiding damage as Funke throws knees to the body.
Claw is pressed up against the cage. Funke has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Claw down to the mat. Claw avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bear Claw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Claw instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funke struggles to land a body shot inside as Claw controls his hands.
Claw stalling in the clinch but Funke improves position.
Claw struggles to land a body shot inside as Funke controls his hands.
Claw's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Funke can't find room to land a body shot as Claw controls the action.
Funke digs a right hand into Claw's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Claw's gas tank.
Funke effectively controlling the action here.
Funke lands a body shot.
Funke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Claw is defending well for now.
Funke looking to throw knees to the head but Claw is blocking nicely.
Claw misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funke struggles to land a body shot inside as Claw controls his hands.
Claw managing to block the knees to the body from Funke.

Funke turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Funke manages to end up in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funke taking a breather here.

Claw throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Funke gets a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Funke throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Funke misses with a body punch.
Funke effectively controlling the action here.
Claw is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funke is defending well for now.
Funke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Claw.
Claw prevents a body shot from Funke.
Claw has Funke pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funke blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Claw managing to block the knees to the body from Funke.
Funke dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Funke blocks an elbow strike.
Funke on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Claw effectively controlling the action here.
Funke pushes Claw back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Claw gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Funke.
Bear Claw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tobias Funke.
Funke lands with a short shot to the head.
Claw looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Funke trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funke goes for a takedown attempt but Claw pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
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 Bear Claw 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.

Claw clinches up with Funke and pushes him back against the cage.
Claw is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from Claw.
The referee calls for Claw to work.
A knee to the head by Claw.
Tobias Funke seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Funke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Claw is defending well for now.
Funke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Claw obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claw avoiding damage as Funke throws knees to the body.
Funke on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Claw being controlled against the cage.
Funke struggles to land a body shot inside as Claw controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funke can't find room to land a body shot as Claw controls the action.
Claw avoiding damage as Funke throws knees to the body.
Claw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funke avoiding damage as Claw throws knees to the body.
Claw doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Claw pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Claw prevents a body shot from Funke.
Funke wants a takedown but no success here.
Bear Claw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tobias Funke.
Claw trying to control the position but instead, Funke has worked for underhooks and has pushed Claw into the cage.
Funke misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funke pushes Claw back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Funke misses with a punch to the body.
Claw stalling against the cage.
Funke trying to land knees to the body.
Funke trying to land knees to the body.
Good body shot from Funke.

Funke has picked Claw up - he's going for a ride! Funke dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Claw is trying to stand back up but Funke is controlling him
Funke tries to pass to full mount but Claw defends it.
Claw is trying to stand up here but Funke is controlling him well.
Funke drops an elbow to the side of Claw's head.
Funke is trying to control the action in half guard but Claw is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bear Claw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claw is looking to escape.
Funke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Claw does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Funke looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Claw tries to kick Funke off but Funke keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Funke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Claw throws a predictable looking body shot

and Funke counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Claw pushes Funke off and gets back to his feet.
Funke moves out of range of the body kick.
Funke changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Funke moves into the clinch.
Claw prevents a body shot from Funke.
Funke misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Funke.
Claw lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Tobias Funke has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Funke tries to stall but Claw uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Claw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Claw has Funke pressed against the cage.
Funke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Claw avoids it.
Funke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Claw avoids it.
Funke stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Claw has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Claw is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Funke is defending well for now.
Funke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Funke struggles to land a body shot inside as Claw controls his hands.
Funke can't find room to land a body shot as Claw controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tobias Funke will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tobias Funke's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Funke instigates a clinch.
Funke misses with a punch to the body.
Funke stalling the fight.
Funke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Claw is defending well for now.
Funke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Claw blocking some punches.
Claw tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funke avoids it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Claw throws an elbow but misses.
Claw avoiding damage as Funke throws knees to the body.
Claw misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funke.
Claw blocks a body shot from Funke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claw putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Funke in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Claw lands a nice elbow.
Funke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Funke lands a good knee to the midsection. Claw won't want to take too many of those.
Funke lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claw avoiding damage as Funke throws knees to the body.
Funke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Claw tries to work over Funke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funke lands a shot to the body.
Funke throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Funke has Claw pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Funke pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Claw tumbling to the mat - Funke dives into Claw's guard.
Funke postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Funke landing some decent shots from guard.
Funke is working Claw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Funke trying to control but Claw is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funke keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Claw's head.
Funke works over Claw with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funke lands a couple of elbows.

Claw manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Claw lands a high kick!
Claw throws a head kick that misses

and Funke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Claw managing to block the knees to the body from Funke.
Claw trying to stall but Funke improves his position.
Claw will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Funke up against the cage.
Claw prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funke stalling against the cage.
Funke pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funke misses with a body punch.
Claw doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Claw trying to stall but Funke improves his position.
Funke managing to block the knees to the body from Claw.
Funke stalling against the cage.
Funke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funke misses with a punch to the body.
Claw stalling in the clinch but Funke improves position.
Funke tries to throw a body punch but Claw avoids it by throwing Funke back against the cage.
Funke missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Funke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Claw takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short uppercut from Funke.
Funke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Claw avoids it.
Funke trying to land knees to the body.
Funke lands a left hand that snaps the head of Claw backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Funke.

Funke wants the takedown. Claw is fighting it off but Funke persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Claw's guard against the cage.
Funke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Funke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Claw has momentary wrist control but Funke slips an elbow through the middle.
Funke won't allow Claw to get back to his feet.
Funke wants to control from the top but Claw keeps moving.
Funke with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tobias Funke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Funke 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tobias Funke!