PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Babcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and FedEx Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Babcock
vs
Funkyama

180 cm
35
170 lbs
20 - 15 - 1

178 cm
29
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Babcock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, FedEx Funkyama!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Babcock.
Babcock takes one to the side of the head.
Babcock displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Funkyama throws out the jab.
Funkyama thows a body shot but no joy.
Funkyama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Funkyama misses with an uppercut

and Babcock counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Funkyama keeping control of the position.
Babcock missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babcock is trying to control. Funkyama wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Funkyama is trying to get back to full guard.
Babcock is pressing down on Funkyama's thigh, looking to free his foot. Funkyama is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama trying to control from the bottom.
Funkyama gets back to full guard.
Funkyama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Babcock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Babcock is working hard here to advance position.
Babcock wants to control from the top but Funkyama keeps moving.
Babcock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babcock stays in close to Funkyama's body and controls the position.
Funkyama controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Babcock scores with the left hand. Funkyama knows he should have avoided that one.
Funkyama connects with a good right hand that stumbles Babcock. Babcock circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
FedEx Funkyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babcock moves out of range of the leg kick from Funkyama.
Babcock scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Funkyama doesn't seem bothered though.
Babcock feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Funkyamas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Babcock thuds a left hand into Funkyama's body.
Nice jab there from Babcock.
Babcock's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Funkyama connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Babcock scrambles back to his feet.
Funkyama's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Babcock connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Funkyama scrambles back to his feet.
Babcock cracks Funkyama with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch combination from Funkyama misses.
Funkyama throws the left hand but Babcock avoids the punch easily.
Funkyama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Babcock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Babcock is looking to slow Funkyama down with leg kicks.
Funkyama swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Babcock connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Funkyama's hands.
Babcock leaves Funkyama with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Babcock misses with a straight left.
Funkyama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horrible takedown by Funkyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Babcock which made him look bad.
Bruce Babcock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of FedEx Funkyama.
Babcock lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babcock misses the shot to the body.
Babcock shoots in but no luck this time.
A decent looking cross lands there for Babcock.
A big left from Babcock misses.
Funkyama misses with a two punch combination.
Funkyama displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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!
A jab from Babcock misses.
Funkyama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Funkyama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Babcock decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funkyama's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babcock wants to control from the top but Funkyama keeps moving.
Babcock looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Babcock misses with a looping left.
Funkyama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Funkyama shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Babcock is trying to control but can't.
Funkyama drops an elbow to the side of Babcock's head.
Babcock is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Funkyama's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Funkyama's back!

Babcock is persistently looking for the submission but Funkyama is defending it well.
Babcock lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Funkyama is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Babcock off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funkyama showing good submission defense here.
Funkyama is trying to break free.
Funkyama wants to control his opponent's hands but Babcock gets his hands free.
Babcock lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Funkyama.
I really don't envy Funkyama right now.
Even with his hooks in, Babcock manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Funkyama tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama keeps trying to improve his position.
Babcock throws a series of strikes and Funkyama wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Babcock looking to ground and pound but Funkyama is blocking nicely.
Babcock raining down shots from the mount!
Babcock 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funkyama is in a horrible position here. Babcock smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Babcock looking to control but Funkyama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Babcock lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babcock tries to control but Funkyama wriggling away.
Babcock punishing his opponent with strikes.
Babcock with shots to the head and body - Funkyama looks very uncomfortable down there.
Babcock scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Funkyama is rocked!
Babcock tries to control but Funkyama wriggling away.
Funkyama is still in real trouble! Can Babcock finish him?
Oooooh, big shot lands for Babcock! Funkyama is hurt baaadly! Babcock is firing away with more strikes - Funkyama is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bruce Babcock!
During a confident post fight interview, Bruce Babcock thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.