PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marc Read (ranked 1248 p4p, 1228 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 169 p4p, 166 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Read
vs
Funaki

177 cm
32
161
11 - 9 - 1

180 cm
32
154
15 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marc Read!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki throws the kick towards the body but Read avoids it.
Funaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Funaki throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Read drives through with a takedown into Funaki's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Funaki has his feet on Read's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Funaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Funaki slips under a jab.
Funaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Read attempts a counter takedown but Funaki avoids it well and moves away.
Read throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Funaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Read was well out of range. Poor timing from Funaki.
Funaki misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funaki throws a low kick but Read moves out of range easily.
Funaki swings for the body but Read moves out of range.
Funaki throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Read with a nice cross.
Funaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Read manages to avoid it.

Read rushes Funaki and presses him up against the cage.
Funaki gets underhooks to prevent Read's takedown attempt.
I was talking to Read's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Funaki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Read blocks the elbow strike.
Read looking for a takedown.
Funaki creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Funaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Read is defending well for now.
Funaki has Read pressed against the cage.
Funaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Funaki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Read avoids the elbow strike from Funaki, against the cage.

Read jumps guard.
Read looking to hit a scissor sweep but Funaki is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Read is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funaki stopping the sweep attempt from Read.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki wants to stand and escape but instead Read has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Funaki keeping full guard, as Read tries to pass.
Funaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Read stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Funaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funaki is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Read slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Read tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Read has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Read has an Americana. Funaki didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Read is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Read hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marc Read!
After winning the bout, Marc Read thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.