PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Myke Smyith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terrence Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Terrence Funk enters the cage!

Smyith
vs
Funk

150 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Myke Smyith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Terrence Funk!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funk shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smyith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smyith tries to improve position but can't.
Funk wants to control but Smyith is keeping him busy.
Funk with the ground and pound but Smyith regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Funk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Funk takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Funk throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Smyith to regain full guard.
Funk landing some decent shots from guard.
Funk throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funk stays in close to Smyith's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funk wants to control from the top but Smyith keeps moving.
Funk engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Funk trying to control the position from guard on top but Smyith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smyith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Funk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Funk throwing strikes from guard but Smyith blocks nicely.
Smyith working a defensive guard here.
Funk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smyith keeping moving, preventing Funk from controlling successfully.
Smyith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Funk is looking to work some ground and pound but Smyith has wrist control.
Funk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funk scoring with punches to the head and body.
Funk lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Funk working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smyith's head.
Funk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Funk won't allow Smyith to sweep him here.
Funk passes Smyith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Funk is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ground and pound from Funk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk working the head and body with strikes.
Smyith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funk.
Smyith is breathing heavily.
Funk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Funk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smyith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smyith really is a fat lump.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Funk in particular looking to stall.
Funk scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Funk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Funk working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Funk slips a nice elbow through Smyith's hands, connecting with Smyith's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Funk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Funk thows a huge punch but Smyith dodges it nicely.
Smyith won't allow Funk to pass to mount.
Smyith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funk.
Funk controlling the action here.
Funk is nestled in close to Smyith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Funk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smyith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funk.
Funk is nestled in close to Smyith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Funk throwing shots but Smyith is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Funk dominated that round.
That's time! Smyith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A telegraphed right hand from Funk misses the target.
Smyith shoots in and drives through. Funk sprawls well.
No luck for Funk with that takedown attempt.
Smyith misses with the combination.
Terrence Funk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smyith defends well and Funk ends up having to push Smyith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Smyith changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Funk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Myke Smyith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terrence Funk.
Funk shoots in for a takedown but Smyith shows good takedown defense.

Smyith drives through with a takedown into Funk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smyith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funk looking to control.
Funk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Funk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Funk scoring with some ground and pound.
Terrence Funk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funk throws an elbow that misses. Smyith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Funk's guard. Nice move by Smyith!
Funk wants to sweep here but Smyith controlling him for the moment.
Funk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Funk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Funk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smyith manages to get himself to full guard.

Smyith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smyith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Funk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Funk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smyith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smyith, not yet.
Smyith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Funk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smyith looking to control.
Funk passes into half guard.
Funk sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smyith defending well though.
Smyith taking some punishment here, with Funk in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Funk not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Funk slows the pace down in half guard.
Smyith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funk.
Funk drops an elbow to the side of Smyith's head.
Funk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Funk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Funk landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk working Smyith over with strikes.
Funk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Funk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Funk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Funk working Smyith over with strikes.
Funk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Funk is nestled in close to Smyith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smyith has hold of Funk's hands but Funk slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Funk looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smyith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smyith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funk.
Funk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smyith's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Funk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Funk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smyith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Funk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smyith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Funk.
Smyith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smyith.
Smyith keeping moving, preventing Funk from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Funk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Funk trying to control the position from guard on top but Smyith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk throws a big elbow that misses.
Funk trying to control the position from guard on top but Smyith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Funk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Funk wants to control from the top but Smyith keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Funk throws a low kick but Smyith avoids it.
Smyith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Funk defends well and Smyith ends up having to push Funk into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Funk fails to land the takedown.

That's two 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.
Smyith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Funk sprawls well. Funk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smyith gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Funk.
Myke Smyith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terrence Funk.

Funk drives through with a takedown into guard.
Funk is looking to work some ground and pound but Smyith has wrist control.
Smyith is adopting a defensive guard.
Funk works over Smyith with some ground and pound from guard.
Funk is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk cracks Smyith with a solid left hand.
Funk is in close to Smyith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Funk scoring with punches to the head and body.
Funk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Funk chips away with some ground and pound.
Funk with a nice head shot there.
Funk landing with the ground and pound.
Funk wants to control from the top but Smyith keeps moving.
Terrence Funk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smyith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smyith tries to get out of the position.
Funk working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smyith has momentary wrist control but Funk slips an elbow through the middle.
Funk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Funk postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Funk is looking to work some ground and pound but Smyith has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Funk's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Funk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Funk's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Funk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Myke Smyith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funk lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Terrence Funk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Funk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Terrence Funk!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Terrence Funk!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Terrence Funk!

Terrence Funk wins by unanimous decision!