PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Funky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Desouza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Funky has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Funky
vs
Desouza

155 cm
23
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Funky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric Desouza!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Desouza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Funky won't allow Desouza to sweep him here.
Desouza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Desouza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Funky wants to control from the top but Desouza keeps moving.
Desouza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Funky chips away with some ground and pound.
Desouza controls Funky momentarily but Funky frees himself.
Desouza is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Desouza is on top in guard.
Funky keeping full guard, as Desouza tries to pass.
Desouza stands and throws Funky's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two 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.

Desouza goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Funky has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Desouza but great work by Funky.
Desouza tries to improve position but can't.
Desouza struggling a bit here.
Desouza defending against the ground and pound.
Funky landing strikes.
Funky landing strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funky is staying tight to Desouza's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Desouza can't do much from the bottom here.
Desouza tries to bench press Funky off him but Funky keeps the position.
Funky moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Funky in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Funky has control of an arm but Desouza manages to advance to Funky's back!
Desouza looking to hold on to the position here but Funky rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Desouza trying to control but Funky is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Desouza drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Funky manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Desouza has Funky in his guard.
Funky with a nice head shot there.
Funky preventing the sweep.
Funky throws a strike but Desouza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funky keeping full guard, as Desouza tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Funky dominated that round.
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.

Funky is looking to clinch but Desouza is avoiding it.
Funky tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Desouza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Funky was covering up waiting for the punch and Desouza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Funky keeping moving, preventing Desouza from controlling successfully.

Desouza has gone for a leg lock! Funky slips out almost immediately though and dives into Desouza's guard.
Desouza keeping full guard, as Funky tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desouza being controlled here, momentarily.
Funky preventing the sweep.
Funky postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Desouza working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Desouza gets caught flat footed, as Funky shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Desouza trying to control the position.
Funky preventing the sweep.
Funky distracts Desouza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Desouza keeping moving, preventing Funky from controlling successfully.
Desouza keeping full guard, as Funky tries to pass.
Funky stopping the sweep attempt from Desouza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funky throws a strike but Desouza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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.
Funky throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Desouza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Funky in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Desouza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Funky puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Funky missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Funky thows a huge punch but Desouza dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Desouza actively working from the bottom here.
Funky working Desouza over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Funky dominated that second round.
That's time! Funky's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Funky rushes Desouza and presses him up against the cage.
Funky tries for a takedown but Desouza manages to get underhooks.
Desouza looking for a takedown.
Desouza prevents the takedown attempt.

Desouza ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Desouza no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Desouza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Funky manages to get himself to full guard.
Desouza looking to sit in guard and control but Funky gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Funky seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Funky won't allow Desouza to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desouza trying to keep a closed guard but Funky is proving a slippery customer.
Desouza seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Desouza wants to stand and escape but Funky is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Funky's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Desouza wants to sweep but no luck.
Desouza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funky accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Desouza trying to keep a closed guard but Funky is proving a slippery customer.
Funky thows a big elbow that misses.
Funky wants to control from the top but Desouza keeps moving.
Funky has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Funkyis looking to pass into half guard but Desouza pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Desouza is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Desouza wants to pass the guard but Funky is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Funky shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Desouza's guard.
Desouza keeping full guard, as Funky tries to pass.

Desouza looking for a guillotine here but Funky defends easily.
Desouza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Funky puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Desouza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Funky's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Funky's back!

Desouza is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Funky has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Funky showing good submission defense here.
Eric Desouza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Desouza is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Funky defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben Funky.
Well Funky has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Funky!