PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masa Funaki (ranked 825 p4p, 221 weight class) and Yusuke Urameshi (ranked 113 p4p, 28 weight class). Urameshi has chosen Smile Bomb as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Funaki
vs
Urameshi

180 cm
33
154
18 - 17 - 1

172 cm
37
160
36 - 18 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Voodoo Nutrition
Groove Gear

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 18 - 17 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yusuke Urameshi!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki wants to clinch up but Urameshi keeps it at a distance.
An inside leg kick from Funaki misses.
The fighters circling - Urameshi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Urameshi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Urameshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funaki moves away.
Yusuke Urameshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Urameshi throws a hook to the side of Funaki's head but Funaki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from Funaki misses
and Urameshi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Urameshi misses with an uppercut.
Funaki feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Funaki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Urameshi. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Urameshi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Urameshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Urameshi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Some bone on bone action there as Urameshi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Urameshi! But no joy.
Urameshi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Urameshi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Funaki blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Funaki looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Urameshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Funaki feints and then cracks Urameshi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Urameshi down.
Urameshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Urameshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Urameshi.

Funaki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Urameshi avoids the elbow strike from Funaki, against the cage.
I was talking to Funaki's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Urameshi is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Urameshi fails to land.
Funaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Urameshi dodges an elbow strike from Funaki.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Urameshi as Funaki tries to tie him up.

Urameshi breaks from the clinch.
Urameshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Funaki throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Urameshi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Funaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Urameshi scores with a body shot.

Urameshi gets tackled into the cage by Funaki. Funaki maintains the clinch.
Funaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Urameshi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Funaki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Urameshi lands with a left to the head.
Funaki stalling.
Funaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Urameshi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Funaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Funaki walks into a left hand.
Urameshi throws a hook to the side of Funaki's head but Funaki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Funaki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Funaki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Urameshi misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urameshi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Funaki clinches.
Urameshi prevents a body shot from Funaki.
Urameshi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Urameshi lands with a light punch inside.
Urameshi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Urameshi misses with a punch to the body.
Urameshi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Urameshi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funaki scores with a shot to the side of Urameshi's head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Funaki.
Funaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Funaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Urameshi avoids the damage to the body.
Funaki lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Urameshi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Urameshi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Urameshi looks to land a left hand but Funaki moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urameshi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Urameshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Funaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Funaki tries a low kick but Urameshi avoids it.
Urameshi with a nice cross.
Funaki tries to clinch up but Urameshi circles away and keeps his distance.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Funaki. Urameshi shrugs it off though.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Funaki lands with a shot to the body.
Urameshi throws a jab but it's blocked by Funaki.

Funaki clinches up against the cage.
Urameshi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Urameshi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yusuke Urameshi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Funaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Funaki thumps Urameshi with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Urameshi blocks the leg kick.
Funaki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Urameshi finds it's way round the side to connect with Funaki's head.
Urameshi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Funaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Urameshi scores with a hook to the body. Funaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Funaki moves to clinch but Urameshi breaks away
and Urameshi counters with a stiff right hand.
Funaki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Urameshi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Urameshi throws out a counter right but Funaki avoids it with no problem.
Urameshi loads up on a big right hand but Funaki slips the punch.
As Urameshi tries to get set, Funaki tries to push him back and clinch up but Urameshi manages to avoid the attempt.
Urameshi throws out a powerful jab.
Funaki scores with a head kick. Urameshi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urameshi throws a jab but it's blocked by Funaki.
Urameshi cracks Funaki with an open hand slap.
Urameshi misses with a body shot.
Urameshi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Funaki throws a body kick that misses.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Urameshi moved away.
Funaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Funaki has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Funaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urameshi manages to avoid it.
Urameshi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yusuke Urameshi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Funaki swings for the body but Urameshi moves out of range.
Urameshi misses with a wild body shot.
Funaki seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Funaki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki scores with a nice hook to the head.
Urameshi working hard to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funaki.
Urameshi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Funaki looking to slow down the pace here.
Urameshi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Funaki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Urameshi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Urameshi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funaki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Urameshi's efforts to push away.
Urameshi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Urameshi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Urameshi throws a body shot but no joy.
Funaki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Urameshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urameshi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Funaki momentarily.
Funaki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Urameshi misses with a looping right.
As Urameshi tries to get set, Funaki tries to push him back and clinch up but Urameshi manages to avoid the attempt.
Funaki just misses with a punch to the body.
Urameshi throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Urameshi misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Urameshi misses the target.
Urameshi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A low kick lands for Funaki.
Funaki scores with a head kick. Urameshi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Urameshi's corner calls for a 1-2. Urameshi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Funaki moves into range and clinches up with Urameshi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Urameshi avoids a wild elbow strike from Funaki.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Urameshi lands a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Urameshi blocks an uppercut.
Masa Funaki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funaki.
Urameshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funaki is working Urameshi over against the cage.
Urameshi tries a body shot but Funaki blocks it.
Nice body punch from Urameshi - that landed with a thud.
Urameshi lands a shoulder strike.
Urameshi misses with a body punch.
Urameshi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Urameshi scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Urameshi.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Urameshi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Funaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Urameshi blocks an elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Urameshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Funaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Funaki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Urameshi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Urameshi takes a swing at Funaki's ribcage but misses.
As Urameshi tries to get set, Funaki tries to push him back and clinch up but Urameshi manages to avoid the attempt.
Urameshi loads up on a big right hand but Funaki slips the punch.
Funaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Urameshi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Urameshi throws out a loose jab but Funaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Urameshi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Urameshi misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Urameshi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Urameshi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Funaki doesn't manage to clinch there - Urameshi circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urameshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Funaki is just out of range.
Funaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Urameshi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Funaki with the inside leg kick.
Funaki wants to clinch up but Urameshi keeps it at a distance.
Urameshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Funaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Urameshi checks a leg kick.
Urameshi works the jab nicely.
Funaki throws a low kick but Urameshi avoids it.
Funaki tries to clinch there but Urameshi circles away.
Funaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Urameshi was well out of range. Poor timing from Funaki.
Funaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Urameshi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki looks to land a body kick but Urameshi moved away.
Masa Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Urameshi looks to land a combination but Funaki avoids it well.
Funaki is looking to wear down Urameshi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Funaki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Urameshi throws out the jab.
Urameshi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Urameshi looks to land a combination but Funaki avoids it well.
Funaki throws a low kick but Urameshi moves out of range easily.
Funaki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Urameshi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Funaki has closed the distance and engaged Urameshi in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Urameshi misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Urameshi on the inside.
Urameshi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funaki tries to work over Urameshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Funaki throws a head punch that misses.
Funaki throws a punch but it's blocked by Urameshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Funaki cracks Urameshi with a nice body shot.
Urameshi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Urameshi lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Urameshi.
A hook to the body from Urameshi.
Urameshi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Funaki throws an elbow but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Urameshi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Urameshi.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Funaki obliges.

Urameshi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Funaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Funaki misses
and Urameshi counters with a straight right hand.
Funaki with a nice calf kick.
Urameshi throws a nice looking combination but Funaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Urameshi missing with a left hand there. Funaki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Funaki is looking to counter the offense by Urameshi and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urameshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Funaki is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Urameshi.
Urameshi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Urameshi throws a big shot that misses.
Funaki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Funaki tries to clinch there but Urameshi circles away.
Urameshi throws out a counter right but Funaki avoids it with no problem.
Funaki slips under a jab from Urameshi.
Yusuke Urameshi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Funaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Funaki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Urameshi misses with a hook.
Urameshi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Funaki scores with a head kick. Urameshi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Yusuke Urameshi has been cut.
Urameshi looks to land a left hand but Funaki moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Urameshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Urameshi 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Urameshi!
A very excited looking Yusuke Urameshi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.