PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aramis Knox (ranked 1113 p4p, 1141 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 162 p4p, 166 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Knox
vs
Funaki

181 cm
35
167
25 - 13 - 0

180 cm
35
154
20 - 21 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 25 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aramis Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Knox lunges at Funaki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Funaki's hand.
Funaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knox is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Funaki slips a straight right by Knox.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knox. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knox misses the shot to the body.
Knox swings for the body but Funaki moves out of range.
Knox misses with a right hand
letting Funaki counter with a right hand.

It looks like Aramis Knox has been cut.
The fighters circling - Knox throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Funaki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Knox slips under a jab from Funaki.
Knox scores with a decent looking hook.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Knox misses.

Funaki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Knox's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knox doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Knox seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Knox is trying to keep Funaki in close.
Knox has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox looking to control but Funaki passes into half guard.
Funaki blocks the strikes from Knox.

Knox looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Funaki has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Funaki get's back to his feet.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funaki moves away.

Funaki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knox pulls guard.
Knox trying to strike off his back.
Knox trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox looking to hit a scissor sweep but Funaki is one step ahead there.
Knox throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Knox is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knox keeping moving, preventing Funaki from controlling successfully.

Funaki stands and steps away. Knox gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Knox lands with a straight right. Funaki didn't see that one coming.

Knox instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Funaki.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki lands a nice uppercut.
Funaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Funaki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knox backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox fails to pull guard.
A short body shot lands from Knox as the two fighters clinch.
Funaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knox tries to throw a body punch but Funaki avoids it by throwing Knox back against the cage.
Funaki misses with a knee strike.
Knox tries to pull guard but Funaki holds him up against the cage and eventually Knox drops back down to his feet.
Funaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knox tries to throw a body punch but Funaki avoids it by throwing Knox back against the cage.
Knox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Funaki's elbow.

Knox ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Knox no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Knox throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.

Knox escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Funaki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knox looking to control but Funaki passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox is not content to let Funaki control the position.
We've been informed that Funaki has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Knox holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Funaki controlling the action here.
Knox throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Knox is trying to maintain the position but Funaki is very close to passing his half guard.
Knox is looking to improve his position.
Knox is pressing down on Funaki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Funaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knox is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masa Funaki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Knox looks to land a left hand but Funaki moved out of range nicely.
Funaki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Knox misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knox throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox scores with a jab to the body.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Funaki moved out of range.

Knox gets tackled into the cage by Funaki. Funaki maintains the clinch.
Nice elbow from Funaki.
Funaki pushes off an throws an elbow but Knox leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Funaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Funaki looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Knox'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.
A shot in the inside from Funaki.
Knox tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Funaki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Funaki lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Knox avoids the damage to the body.
A short uppercut from Funaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki missing with knees to the body.
Knox blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knox jumps guard but Funaki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knox tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Funaki just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aramis Knox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox jumps guard but Funaki stands there with Knox around his waist. Knox gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knox jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Funaki walks away with a smile on his face. Knox gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A big right from Knox misses.
Knox fails with an attempt to clinch.

Funaki clinches up with Knox and pushes him back against the cage.
Knox is trying to pull guard but Funaki has him pressed against the cage.
Knox fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Knox jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox is adopting a defensive guard.
Masa Funaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Funaki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox has control of Funaki's left arm, preventing Funaki from doing any damage.

Funaki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Funaki trying to move into half guard but instead Knox has managed to sweep!

Funaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Funaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Funaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knox.
Knox passes Funaki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Knox trying to control the action but Funaki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Funaki wants to control the action here but instead Knox manages to pass to full mount!
Funaki is squirming around, avoiding Knox's attempts to control the action.
Funaki tries to hold on but Knox pushes him away.
Knox misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Funaki is looking to improve his position but Knox isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox scoring with strikes but Funaki is staying in there.
Knox throwing strikes here but Funaki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Funaki tries to reverse the position but Knox maintains control.
Knox looking to control but Funaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Knox controlling the position easily from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aramis Knox will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Knox thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch lands to the side of Funaki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Knox lands a nice looking body shot.
A slow jab from Knox misses its intended target.
Knox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Funaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knox throws out a powerful jab.
Funaki ducks under a wild hook from Knox.
Funaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knox.
Knox scores with a jab. Funaki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Knox bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Funaki's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut lands for Knox. That snapped Funaki's head back.
Funaki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Funaki gets a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki lands a body punch.
Nice body punch from Knox - that landed with a thud.
Knox is trying to pull guard but Funaki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki takes a shot to the head.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Funaki controls the action.
Funaki lands a nice elbow.
Knox avoids the elbow strike from Funaki, against the cage.
Funaki is leaning against Knox and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Knox fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knox takes an elbow to the temple.
Knox tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aramis Knox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Funaki pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Knox working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Funaki lands a damaging elbow.
Knox jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Funaki walks away with a smile on his face. Knox gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Funaki misses with a two punch combination.
Aramis Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox lands a head shot.
A jab lands there for Knox.
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!
Funaki misses with a left hand
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.
Funaki motions for Knox to come forward. Funaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses the jab.
Knox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funaki.
Knox misses with a straight left.
Knox takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Aramis Knox's cut is getting worse.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knox. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.

Funaki moves into range and clinches up with Knox.
Funaki working Knox over with knees to the body.
Knox looking to slow down the pace here.
Knox lands a left hand.
Funaki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knox backwards.
Knox's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Funaki misses with an elbow over the top.

Knox jumps guard and drags Funaki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Funaki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Knox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki looking to pass the guard.
Funaki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Knox working a defensive guard here.
Knox keeping full guard, as Funaki tries to pass.
Funaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Funaki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Knox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four 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 keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Funaki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Funaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Knox throws out the jab.
As Knox backs off Funaki throws a huge counter combo but Knox manages to avoid it all.
Knox takes a kick to the side of the head.

Knox moves into the clinch.
Funaki pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Funaki is working Knox over against the cage.
Knox is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Funaki is keeping busy.
Funaki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Funaki misses with a punch to the body.
Knox slowing the pace effectively.
Knox misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Knox - that landed with a thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Masa Funaki.
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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masa Funaki!
After the fight, Masa Funaki was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
The defeated Aramis Knox had this to say: 'Sheeeeeeeeit. '.