PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Nigal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funk kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Remedy. Nigal has chosen Cannibal Corpse - Death Walking Terror as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Jimmy Funk has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jimmy Funk seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Funk
vs
Nigal

189 cm
20
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

JOKER FIGHTGEAR

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 New York, Jimmy Funk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Nigal!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nigal pushes Funk up against the cage in a clinch.
Funk really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Funk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nigal misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nigal fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Funk.

Funk rushes Nigal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nigal looking for a takedown.
Funk wants to break free but Nigal has control.
Nigal crunches a lovely knee into Funk's ribcage.
Funk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nigal just stands there and leans against the cage.

Funk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Funk has a closed guard, preventing Nigal from standing up.
Nigal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Funk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funk keeping moving, preventing Nigal from controlling successfully.
Funk wants to stand up but Nigal is controlling him.
Funk 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nigal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nigal preventing the sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Funk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nigal as he jumps to the side.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch but Nigal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nigal rushes Funk and presses him up against the cage.
Nigal tries to pull guard but Funk holds him up against the cage and eventually Nigal drops back down to his feet.
Nigal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jimmy Funk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Nigal.
Still in the clinch, Funk scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funk is pressed up against the cage. Nigal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Funk down to the mat. Funk avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Funk catches Nigal right on the button with a cross.

Nigal closes the distance and clinches.
Knees to the body from Nigal.
Funk tries to break the clinch but Nigal is controlling the position.
Funk is breathing heavily.

Funk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nigal fails to land the takedown.

Nigal darts in and clinches Funk up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Funk.
Funk throws a punch but it's blocked by Nigal.
Nigal tries for a takedown. No joy.

Nigal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nigal closes the distance and clinches.
Funk tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funk.
Funk has Nigal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nigal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk taking a breather.
Funk has Nigal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nigal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Funk throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nigal lands a knee to the body.
Nigal trying to land knees to the body.
Nigal has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Funk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nigal gets underhooks to prevent Funk's takedown attempt.
Funk throws a punch but it's blocked by Nigal.
Nigal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Funk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nigal can't get the takedown.

Nigal turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nigal manages to end up in side control.

Nigal decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Funk wants to clinch

and Nigal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funk's guard.
Nigal won't allow Funk to sweep him here.
Funk is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nigal is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funk being controlled here, momentarily.
Funk wants to stand up but Nigal is controlling him.
Nigal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Funk had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nigal is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Funk Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nigal's back instead.
Funk missing with punches from the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nigal tries to roll but Funk sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Nigal dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nigal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nigal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Nigal wants the takedown. Funk is fighting it off but Nigal persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Funk's guard against the cage.
Funk wants to stand but Nigal is controlling the position.
Funk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nigal wants to pass the guard but Funk is keeping the position.
Nigal wants to control from the top but Funk keeps moving.

Nigal drops back looking for a leg! Funk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funk manages to kick Nigal off! Nigal jumps back into Funk's guard.
Nigal looking to sit in guard and control but Funk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nigal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funk is looking to work some ground and pound but Nigal has wrist control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Funk darts in trying to clinch

and Nigal counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nigal.
A short uppercut from Funk.
Funk throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Funk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nigal prevents it.
Nigal looking to stall.

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.
Nigal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Funk lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nigal or not.

Funk manages to break the clinch.
Funk wants to clinch.
Funk fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Funk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Funk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nigal tries to clinch but Funk is having none of it.
Nigal is looking to slow Funk down with leg kicks.
Funk doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nigal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funk's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk wants to stand up but Nigal is controlling him.
Funk wants to sweep here but Nigal controlling him for the moment.
Nigal trying to control the position from guard on top but Funk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nigal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Funk is looking to stand up but Nigal isn't so interested in that idea.
Nigal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Funk wants to sweep but no luck.
Funk will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nigal trying to control the position from guard on top but Funk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

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

Nigal gets a clinch.
Nigal prevents Funk from breaking the clinch.
Funk is pressed up against the cage. Nigal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Funk down to the mat. Funk avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nigal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jimmy Funk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nigal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Funk, pushing him back against the cage.
Funk wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nigal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nigal blocks an elbow strike from Funk.
Funk tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Funk wants to break the clinch but can't.

Nigal has clasped his hands together around Funk's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Funk tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Nigal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Funk throws a sloppy body shot
and Nigal counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Funk is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Funk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nigal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nigal fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Nigal has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Funk uses from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nigal holds on and takes a little breather.

Funk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Funk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nigal thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Funk is looking to stand up but Nigal won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nigal trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nigal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Funk keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nigal's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Funk has managed to clinch.
Funk is trying to break free.

Nigal has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Funk uses from the top position.
Funk makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Funk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nigal is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nigal wants to stand and escape but Funk is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk postures up.
Funk wants to control from the top but Nigal keeps moving.
Funk wanted to stand there but Nigal had control of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nigal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Funk with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nigal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Funk gets full guard.
Funk wants to improve his position but instead Nigal has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk manages to get to full guard.
Funk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nigal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Funk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Funk looking to control.
Nigal's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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.
Nigal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Funk is keeping the position for now.
Nigal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Funk wriggles free and stands up.
Funk misses with a few strikes there.
Jimmy Funk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick by Funk misses

and Nigal counters with a shoot takedown. Funk fights it but they end up in guard.
Funk 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.

Funk looking for a guillotine here but Nigal defends easily.
Jack Nigal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Funk is looking for a triangle but Nigal pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Nigal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nigal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Nigal!