PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Montesh Dominguez (ranked 948 p4p, 1375 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 135 p4p, 195 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Dominguez
vs
Funaki

179 cm
28
158
13 - 14 - 0

180 cm
35
154
19 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Montesh Dominguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki throws a body shot but no joy.
Dominguez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dominguez seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A swing and a miss from Dominguez.
Dominguez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Funaki counters with a left to the body.
Funaki stalks Dominguez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dominguez's face. Dominguez staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Montesh Dominguez has been cut.
Funaki is looking to slow Dominguez down with leg kicks.
Funaki connects with a leg kick.
Funaki is looking to land body kicks.
Dominguez throwing a counter right hand but Funaki manages to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dominguez checks a leg kick.
Dominguez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A left lands for Funaki.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dominguez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Dominguez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Funaki moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dominguez throws a body punch but Funaki moves out of range.
Dominguez punishes Funaki's body with a nice straight punch.
Dominguez misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez slips a jab and a cross from Funaki.
Dominguez leaves Funaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dominguez takes one to the chin there.
Dominguez thows a body kick. Funaki tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Montesh Dominguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dominguez can pounce on him.
Dominguez throws a right hand that Funaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Funaki also avoids with ease.
Dominguez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Funaki. Funaki obviously looking to wear him down.
Dominguez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dominguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Funaki.
Dominguez swings for the body but Funaki moves out of range.
Dominguez swings for the body but Funaki moves out of range.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Dominguez avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez throws a sloppy head kick and Funaki moves out of range easily.
Dominguez lands a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left and a right from Funaki both land. Nice combination.
Dominguez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Funaki has time to react.
Funaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dominguez throws out the jab.
Funaki lands a head shot.
Dominguez jabs at Funaki's body.
Dominguez scoring well with a low kick there.
Funaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dominguez was well out of range. Poor timing from Funaki.
Funaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice side step and Funaki releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Dominguez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funaki.
A cross from Funaki lands.
A slow jab from Dominguez misses its intended target.
Dominguez jabs Funaki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Funaki misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funaki clinches.
Dominguez pushes Funaki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.
Funaki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Funaki misses with some punches.
Funaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dominguez blocks it with crossed arms.
Dominguez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Funaki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dominguez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Masa Funaki has been cut.
Dominguez tries to throw a body punch but Funaki avoids it by throwing Dominguez back against the cage.
A short right from Dominguez.
A nice left hand lands by Dominguez.
Funaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dominguez blocks it with crossed arms.
Funaki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Funaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Funaki dodges an elbow strike from Dominguez.
A nice left hand lands by Dominguez.
Dominguez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez lands an elbow just above Funaki 's eye.
Funaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dominguez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Funaki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dominguez lands a nice uppercut.
Funaki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Funaki trying to land knees to the body.
Dominguez tries to throw a body punch but Funaki avoids it by throwing Dominguez back against the cage.
Funaki blocks a body shot from Dominguez.
Dominguez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Funaki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've been informed that Funaki has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Funaki looks winded!
Dominguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dominguez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.
Dominguez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Funakis head.
Funaki blocks a body shot from Dominguez.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dominguez throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dominguez lands a good knee to the midsection. Funaki won't want to take too many of those.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dominguez.
Dominguez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Funaki.
Dominguez scores with a knee to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Montesh Dominguez dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dominguez throws a head kick that misses.
Dominguez wants to clinch.
Masa Funaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dominguez throws a head kick that misses.
Funaki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dominguez.
Dominguez misses the shot to the body.
Masa Funaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Funaki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It seemed like Funaki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dominguez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Dominguez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dominguez misses with a head kick.
Dominguez is looking to land body kicks.
Funaki moves out of range as Dominguez strikes.
Dominguez misses with a right hand
and Funaki counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Funaki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dominguez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Funaki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Dominguez misses the shot to the body.
Funaki is looking to chop away at Dominguez's legs.
Dominguez lands a head shot.
Funaki misses with a straight left.
Funaki throws a sloppy head kick and Dominguez moves out of range easily.
Dominguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Funaki can do to turn this around?
Funaki moves in looking to clinch but Dominguez pushes him off.
Dominguez connects with a right hand. Funaki shakes it off.
Funaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Dominguez lands with a shot to the body.
Dominguez checks a low kick from Funaki.
Dominguez throws a body punch but Funaki moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Funaki is defended easily by Dominguez.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Funaki has managed to clinch.
Funaki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funaki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dominguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dominguez blocks an elbow strike.
Funaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Dominguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Dominguez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Dominguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Funaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki avoids a wild elbow strike from Dominguez.
Funaki managing to block the knees to the body from Dominguez.
Dominguez misses with a knee strike.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funaki landing knees to the body.
Funaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dominguez's defenses.

Montesh Dominguez's cut is getting worse.
Funaki missing with knees to the body.
Montesh Dominguez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Funaki lands a good knee to the midsection. Dominguez won't want to take too many of those.
Funaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Dominguez looking to throw knees to the head but Funaki is blocking nicely.
Funaki tries a body shot but Dominguez blocks it.
Dominguez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Funaki.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dominguez throws a head punch that misses.
Funaki misses with a body punch.
Dominguez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Funaki.
Funaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right from Funaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez misses with some punches.
Dominguez lands with a light punch inside.
Dominguez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dominguez tries to work over Funaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funaki trying to land knees to the body.
Dominguez blocks the elbow strike.
Funaki scores with a shot to the side of Dominguez's head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dominguez throws an elbow but misses.
Dominguez blocks a body shot from Funaki.
A hook to the body from Dominguez.
Funaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dominguez misses with a body punch.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Dominguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Funaki's face.
Dominguez lands an elbow inside that Funaki shrugs off.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Dominguez blocks a body shot from Funaki.
Funaki avoiding damage as Dominguez throws knees to the body.
Dominguez misses with a punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masa Funaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dominguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dominguez throwing a counter right hand but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Dominguez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dominguez throws a body punch but Funaki moves out of range.
Dominguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dominguez sets himself, and Funaki steps forward looking for the clinch! Dominguez avoids it this time.
Dominguez digs a good body shot into Funaki's ribs.
Funaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Funaki swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Funaki clinches.
Funaki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Funaki lands with a left to the head.
Funaki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Funaki backwards.
Dominguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Funaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dominguez.
Dominguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez tries to work over Funaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A left hand lands to the body for Dominguez.
Dominguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Funaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Funaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dominguez is defending well for now.
Funaki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Funaki blocking some punches.
Funaki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Funaki lands an elbow that stopped Dominguez in his tracks for a moment.
Dominguez tries to land a knee to the head but Funaki blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dominguez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Funaki displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dominguez up against the cage.
Funaki lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Funaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Funaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dominguez blocks it with crossed arms.
Funaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Dominguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez lands with a right to the head.
Dominguez lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funaki managing to block the knees to the body from Dominguez.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Dominguez tries to work over Funaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funaki lands with a light punch inside.
Funaki lands a knee to the head.

Montesh Dominguez's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dominguez throws an elbow but misses.
Funaki scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dominguez.
Dominguez unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Funaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Dominguez controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but Dominguez blocks with his arms.
Dominguez takes a shot to the head.
Funaki misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki scores with a knee to the head.

Dominguez is rocked!
Knees in the clinch landing for Funaki.
Oh Dominguez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Funaki obliges.
Dominguez seems to have got his legs back now.
A knee to the head by Funaki.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Funaki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dominguez backwards.
Funaki looking to throw knees to the head but Dominguez is blocking nicely.
Funaki lands a hook that snaps the head of Dominguez backwards.
Dominguez trying to land knees to the body.
Funaki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dominguez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice body punch from Dominguez.
Funaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Funaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Funaki pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dominguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Funaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dominguez.
Dominguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Dominguez controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Funaki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dominguez's brow.
Funaki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Funaki takes an elbow to the temple.
Funaki trying to land knees to the body.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but Dominguez blocks with his arms.
Funaki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dominguez backwards.
Funaki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dominguez.
Dominguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Funaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Dominguez misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dominguez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funaki's brow.
Funaki lands a good knee to the midsection. Dominguez won't want to take too many of those.
Funaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Funaki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dominguez's elbow.
Funaki tries to land a knee to the head but Dominguez blocks with his arms.
Funaki tries to throw a body punch but Dominguez avoids it by throwing Funaki back against the cage.
Funaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dominguez blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dominguez connects with a knee to the head.
Dominguez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Funaki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dominguezs head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masa Funaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Funaki 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masa Funaki!
Masa Funaki decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.