PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zemli Funtov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Johnson
vs
Funtov

188 cm
27
215 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

158 cm
30
224 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tim Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zemli Funtov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funtov tries for a takedown but Johnson circles away easily
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Funtov shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Funtov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Funtov is in Johnson's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funtov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Funtov wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Funtov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Funtov throwing strikes but missing.
Funtov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funtov tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson has Funtov pulled in close to control his posture.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Funtov is one step ahead there.
Funtov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Funtov controlling him for the moment.
Funtov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Funtov is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funtov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Funtov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funtov tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
Funtov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Funtov throws an elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Funtov's guard. Nice move by Johnson!
Funtov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Funtov blocks nicely.
Funtov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson throws a strike but Funtov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funtov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funtov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson working a defensive guard here.
Funtov preventing the sweep.
Funtov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Funtov.
Funtov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funtov connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funtov throws a big right hand that misses.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Funtov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Funtov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zemli Funtov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson scores with a jab.
Funtov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Johnson defends well and Funtov ends up having to push Johnson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Funtov is proving a slippery customer.
Funtov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Funtov throws a big right hand that misses.
Funtov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Funtov chips away with some ground and pound.
Funtov stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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!
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Funtov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funtov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funtov postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Funtov throws a big elbow that misses.
Funtov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Funtov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zemli Funtov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Funtov postures up.
Funtov postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Funtov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Funtov is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
Funtov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Funtov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Johnson avoids it really well and circles away.
Funtov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Funtov saw that one coming.
Johnson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Funtov avoids it really well and circles away.
Johnson tests Funtov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Funtov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Tim Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zemli Funtov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funtov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Funtov wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Johnson working some strikes from top position.
Funtov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funtov is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Funtov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Funtov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funtov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zemli Funtov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Funtov fails with the takedown.
Johnson misses with a looping right.

Johnson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Funtov did well to prevent Johnson getting side control.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Funtov taking some punishment here, with Johnson in his half guard.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Funtov dodges it nicely.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Funtov to regain full guard.
Funtov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson postures up in Funtov's guard and throws a big left but Funtov blocks it.
Funtov pulls Johnson in close to his closed guard and prevents Johnson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funtov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funtov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zemli Funtov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Johnson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Funtov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Funtov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets full guard.
Funtov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funtov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Funtov preventing the sweep.
Funtov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Funtov throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funtov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Johnson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Funtov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Funtov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Funtov 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Zemli Funtov!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Zemli Funtov!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Zemli Funtov!

Zemli Funtov wins by unanimous decision!