PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kratos Gorkhain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakatsu Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gorkhain
vs
Funaki

180 cm
26
200 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

183 cm
20
209 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kratos Gorkhain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masakatsu Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki throws a hook but Gorkhain blocks it.
Funaki lands a two punch combo.
Gorkhain tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Gorkhain.
Gorkhain leaves Funaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Funaki looking to score a takedown here. Gorkhain is defending well but Funaki drives through and ends up in Gorkhain's guard.
Gorkhain keeping full guard, as Funaki tries to pass.
Gorkhain seems keen to control Funaki's posture.
Gorkhain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Funaki is controlling him.

Funaki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

Gorkhain uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorkhain wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Funaki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gorkhain lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Funaki circles away quickly and effectively.

Funaki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gorkhain manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Funaki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Funaki wants to free his trapped foot but Gorkhain is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Funaki prevents Gorkhain from standing back up.

Funaki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Funaki wants to pass the guard but Gorkhain is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Funaki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gorkhain has managed to free his arm - good work.

Funaki is looking for a kimura but Gorkhain is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Funaki to get the leverage.
Funaki wants to pass the guard but Gorkhain is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Funaki is looking for a kimura but Gorkhain is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Funaki to get the leverage.
Funaki is keen to just control but Gorkhain is a slippery customer.

Funaki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gorkhain sees it coming and defends easily.

Funaki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gorkhain is just riding it out for now. Funaki eventually gives up the hold.
Funaki passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gorkhain defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Funaki.

Funaki is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gorkhain can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gorkhain is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Funaki moves to back control.

Funaki is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gorkhain is defending well though. Funaki let's go of the attempt for now.

Funaki tightening his grip on Gorkhain, looking for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain is trying to break free.

Gorkhain is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Funaki gets his way!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Funaki is looking for the choke from the back position but Gorkhain is controlling his hands well.

Funaki is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gorkhain knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gorkhain for a finish.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gorkhain is in bad spot here.

Gorkhain showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakatsu Funaki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gorkhain connects with a single shot there.
A right-left combo lands from Funaki.

It looks like Kratos Gorkhain has been cut.
Funaki is looking to clinch.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gorkhain misses with a hook.
Gorkhain takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gorkhain misses with a jab, cross combination.
Funaki dives in and grabs Gorkhain's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gorkhain pushes down on Funaki's head and hops out.
Funaki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gorkhain.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gorkhain. Funaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Funaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gorkhain circles away.
Gorkhain swinging wildly here.
Gorkhain takes a swing at Funaki's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Gorkhain lands an impressive looking overhand right. Funaki doesn't seem phased though.
Funaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gorkhain circles away.
Kratos Gorkhain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakatsu Funaki.
A nice combination there by Gorkhain.
Nice sprawl there from Gorkhain as Funaki shoots in.
No joy there for Gorkhain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Funaki misses with a hook.
Funaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Good shot there by Gorkhain.
Funaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Gorkhain.
No joy there for Gorkhain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gorkhain misses with a combination
and Funaki counters with a straight right hand.
Funaki throws a nice looking combination but Gorkhain bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain throws a series of punches but Funaki avoids them all with ease.
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!
Gorkhain lands with an uppercut that bounces Funaki off the cage and back into range.
Funaki jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gorkhain dodges the punch combination from Funaki.
Gorkhain fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Gorkhain misses.
Funaki tests Gorkhain's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gorkhain cracks a nice hook into Funaki's ribs.
Funaki slips a jab and a cross from Gorkhain.
Gorkhain misses with a series of wild punches.

Funaki clinches.

Funaki pulls guard successfully.

Funaki working for a triangle but Gorkhain defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain trying to stand up but can't free himself from Funaki's guard.

Funaki is looking for a triangle but Gorkhain pushes his legs off easily.
Funaki wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gorkhain has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Funaki is proving hard to escape from.

Funaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Funaki has his foot on Gorkhain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gorkhain works his way back into a safe position though.
Funaki wants to sweep here but Gorkhain controlling him for the moment.

Funaki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Funaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
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!
Gorkhain's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gorkhain trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gorkhain passes into half guard.

Funaki looking for submissions off his back.
Funaki wants to improve his position but Gorkhain is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funaki gets full guard.

Gorkhain avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Masakatsu Funaki has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gorkhain avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masakatsu Funaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kratos Gorkhain's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gorkhain uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Funaki.

Gorkhain gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Funaki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gorkhain working a defensive guard here.
Funaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Gorkhain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gorkhain is trying to control the position but Funaki postures up.
Gorkhain keeping moving, preventing Funaki from controlling successfully.

Funaki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gorkhain wants to sweep here but Funaki controlling him for the moment.
Gorkhain knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Funaki on the ground.
Funaki stops Gorkhain from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Gorkhain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Gorkhain is retaining full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gorkhain is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kratos Gorkhain.
Gorkhain uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Funaki.
Gorkhain misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gorkhain lands with a shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Gorkhain. Those never looked like landing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gorkhain enables Funaki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gorkhain manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funaki wants to control from the top but Gorkhain keeps moving.
Gorkhain keeping full guard, as Funaki tries to pass.

Gorkhain has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Funaki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain leaves Funaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Funaki misses with a body shot.
Gorkhain stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gorkhain wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kratos Gorkhain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakatsu Funaki.
Gorkhain goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kratos Gorkhain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gorkhain works over Funaki's head and body with a nice combination.
Gorkhain is looking to wear down Funaki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gorkhain misses with a double jab.
Gorkhain digs a good hook to Funaki's body.
Gorkhain takes a swing at Funaki's ribcage but misses.
Gorkhain misses with a wild combination.
Kratos Gorkhain is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorkhain throws a right and a left that Funaki avoids nicely.
Gorkhain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gorkhain misses with a wild body shot.

Funaki scores with a takedown into Gorkhain's guard.
Funaki advances to half guard.
Gorkhain looks like he's trying to stand up.

Funaki is looking for a kimura but Gorkhain is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Funaki to get the leverage.

Funaki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Funaki in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Gorkhain tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Funaki!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Masakatsu Funaki!