PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saki Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garturo Aatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Saki Funaki has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Funaki
vs
Aatti

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saki Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Garturo Aatti!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki throws a big shot that misses.

Funaki gets caught flat footed, as Aatti shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Aatti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aatti really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Funaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Funaki working for a triangle but Aatti defends it easily.
Aatti scoring with some ground and pound.
Aatti lands a couple of elbows.

Funaki is looking for a triangle but Aatti pushes his legs off easily.
Funaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Funaki looking for a guillotine here but Aatti defends easily.
Aatti cracks Funaki with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aatti working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Funaki's head.
Funaki is trying to keep Aatti in close.
Aatti content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Funaki keeping moving, preventing Aatti from controlling successfully.
Aatti is looking to work some ground and pound but Funaki has wrist control.
Aatti is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Funaki working for a triangle but Aatti defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aatti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aatti thows a big elbow that misses.
Aatti postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Funaki has momentary wrist control but Aatti slips an elbow through the middle.
Aatti throwing strikes from guard but Funaki blocks nicely.
Aatti is looking to work some ground and pound but Funaki has wrist control.
Aatti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aatti with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki wants to get back to his feet but Aatti is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Aatti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aatti throwing strikes from guard but Funaki blocks nicely.
Funaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Aatti shoots in and bounces Funaki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Funaki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aatti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aatti wants to control from the top but Funaki keeps moving.
Aatti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aatti with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aatti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aatti throws and elbow that misses. Funaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aatti's guard. Nice move by Funaki!
Aatti throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garturo Aatti dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Aatti scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Funaki trying to control but Aatti postures up.
Funaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Aatti thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Funaki to regain full guard.
Aatti throws a big right hand that misses.
Aatti cracks Funaki with a solid left hand.
Aatti trying to control but Funaki is working from the bottom.
Aatti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aatti is breathing heavily.
Aatti postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aatti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Funaki has his foot on Aatti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aatti works his way back into a safe position though.

Funaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aatti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Funaki has momentary wrist control but Aatti slips an elbow through the middle.
Aatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funaki has momentary wrist control but Aatti slips an elbow through the middle.
Aatti cracks Funaki with a solid left hand.
Aatti thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aatti landing some decent shots from guard.
Funaki trying to control the position.
Funaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Funaki scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aatti waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Funaki.
Aatti shoots in but Funaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Funaki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is looking to clinch.
Aatti stuffs the takedown.

Aatti gets the takedown into side control.
Funaki parries the strikes from Aatti easily there. Aatti is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Funaki to escape.
Aatti working away.

Aatti goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Funaki rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Aatti's guard! Nice work there by Funaki!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aatti thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Funaki wanted to stand there but Aatti had control of the position.
Aatti throwing short punches from the bottom.
Garturo Aatti has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aatti scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Funaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aatti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aatti looking to control.
Funaki has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aatti is proving hard to escape from.
Aatti wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Funaki is looking to clinch.
Aatti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Funaki tries to avoid it but Aatti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Funaki to the ground. Funaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aatti keeps the fight on the outside.
Funaki throws a series of punches but Aatti avoids them all with ease.

Aatti drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Funaki keeping full guard, as Aatti tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garturo Aatti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Aatti drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Aatti lands a few punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Aatti are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sloppy strikes there by Aatti.
Funaki is trying to control Aatti's posture but Aatti avoids it.
Funaki regains half guard, as Aatti was trying to land strikes.
Aatti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aatti throws a strike but Funaki avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Funaki keeping moving, preventing Aatti from controlling successfully.
Aatti preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A bone on bone clash there as Aatti blocks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Funaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Funaki tries to clinch but Aatti is having none of it.
Funaki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Funaki.
Aatti tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Funaki swivels and escapes.
Garturo Aatti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki tries to bum rush Aatti with a series of wild strikes but Aatti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funaki throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Aatti throws a combination that misses

and Funaki counters by clinching up.
Saki Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki prevents the takedown attempt.
Aatti can't get the takedown.
Saki Funaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Garturo Aatti.
Aatti goes for a takedown in the clinch but Funaki prevents it.
Funaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aatti has him pressed against the cage.
Aatti is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Funaki manages to break the clinch.
Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aatti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aatti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Funaki circles away.
Funaki fails in his attempt to clinch.

Aatti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Aatti throws a strike but Funaki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funaki wanted to stand there but Aatti had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aatti striking off his back, scoring a few points.

Funaki decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aatti, up you get!
Aatti lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Aatti swats away the attempt to clinch by Funaki.
Aatti misses with a two punch combination.
Funaki wants to clinch up but Aatti keeps it at a distance.
Aatti displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Funaki throws a leg kick which misses Aatti's front leg but catches the back leg as Aatti tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki lands a head kick!

Aatti scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Funaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aatti is nestled in close to Funaki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Aatti not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Garturo Aatti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Funaki is looking to escape.

Funaki is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Aatti pulls his head out easily.
Aatti perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Garturo Aatti.
I've got Aatti 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garturo Aatti!