PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Christ Karter (ranked 764 p4p, 803 weight class) and Masa Funaki (ranked 108 p4p, 115 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Masa Funaki was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Karter
vs
Funaki

170 cm
35
155
25 - 16 - 1

180 cm
35
154
20 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

AVALON

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 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jesus Christ Karter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masa Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki tries to land a leg kick but Karter saw it coming and moves away.
Funaki throws a predictable looking body shot
and Karter cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Karter throws a head kick that misses.
Karter scoring well with a low kick there.

Funaki tries to sprawl but Karter drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Karter is trying to control the action in half guard but Funaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Karter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Funaki is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Karter content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karter is stalling here. Funaki is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Karter seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Funaki has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funaki decides to stand back up.
Funaki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karter.
Funaki tries to land a leg kick but Karter saw it coming and moves away.
Karter throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Karter scores with a leg kick.
Karter throws a front kick that sends Funaki stumbling back into the cage.
Karter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Funaki manages to avoid it.
Funaki shoots in but Karter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karter moves in looking to clinch but Funaki pushes him off.
Funaki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Funaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karter moves away.
Karter tried to score with a low kick but Funaki checks it.
Karter darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Karter works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karter connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Karter finds it's way through Funaki's defenses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Funaki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Karter throws a head kick but Funaki moves out of range.
Karter seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Karter looks to throw a body kick
and Funaki counters with a thumping low kick.
Karter tries to land a front kick but Funaki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Funaki checks the leg kick nicely there.

Funaki moves into the clinch successfully.
Funaki lands with a light punch inside.
Funaki misses with some punches.
Karter lands a hook to the side of the head.
Karter lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Funaki backwards.
Karter struggles to land a body shot inside as Funaki controls his hands.
Funaki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Karter lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Karter misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karter tries to pull guard but Funaki won't allow it.
Funaki tries to throw a body punch but Karter avoids it by throwing Funaki back against the cage.

Karter gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Funaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Karter trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funaki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Karter wants to pass the guard but Funaki is keeping the position.
Funaki is trying to hold Karter in close to prevent damage but Karter has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karter is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karter is trying to control. Funaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Karter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Funaki has hold of Karter's hands but Karter slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Funaki moves into full guard.
Karter 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Christ Karter dominated that round.
That's time! Karter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Funaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Karter looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Karter connects with the punch.
Funaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Funaki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karter.
Karter wants to land a leg kick but Funaki is out of range.

Karter drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Funaki manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karter is looking for a takedown.
Karter misses with a hook to the ribs.

Karter decides to pull guard.
Karter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karter controlling Funaki's posture.
Funaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Karter's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Karter is working an open guard so Funaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Funaki looks to clinch
and Karter counters with a straight right hand.
Funaki tries to bum rush Karter with a series of wild strikes but Karter uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Karter misses the shot to the body.
Funaki steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Karter.
Karter scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Funaki doesn't seem bothered though.
Karter scores with a shot to the body.
Jesus Christ Karter is winning the standup battle so far.
Funaki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Karter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karter fails with the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Funaki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funaki throws a leg kick but Karter checks it.
We've been informed that Funaki has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Karter.
Funaki moves out of range of the body kick.
A little jabbing left from Funaki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jesus Christ Karter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki looks to land a combination but Karter avoids it well.
Karter tries to counter with a takedown but Funaki is quick to defend against it.
A good leg kick by Karter.
Funaki checks a leg kick.
Funaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Funaki throws out a counter right but Karter avoids it with no problem.
Masa Funaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karter.

Karter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karter lands a left hand.
Karter scores with a shot to the side of Funaki's head.
Funaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funaki stops a takedown attempt from Karter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Christ Karter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Funaki can do to turn this around?
Funaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karter avoids it.
Karter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Funaki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Funaki - that landed with a thud.
Funaki with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jesus Christ Karter has been cut.
Karter lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Masa Funaki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Funaki working Karter over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funaki misses with an elbow strike.
Funaki has a couple of punches blocked by Karter.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karter.
A short body shot lands from Funaki as the two fighters clinch.
Funaki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Funaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karter blocks it with crossed arms.
Funaki trying to land knees to the body.
Karter scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Karter managing to block the knees to the body from Funaki.
Funaki prevents the takedown attempt.
Karter can't find room to land a body shot as Funaki controls the action.
Karter avoids the elbow strike from Funaki, against the cage.
Karter lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funaki takes a shot to the head.

Karter lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karter controlling the pace.
Funaki won't allow Karter to pass to mount.
Funaki tries to get to full guard but Karter has control of the leg.
Karter drops an elbow to the side of Funaki's head.
Funaki trying to hold on to Karter's head to control him but Karter postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Karter lands a nice short elbow.
Jesus Christ Karter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karter winds up and cracks Funaki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Karter tries to pass to full mount but Funaki defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Christ Karter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jesus Christ Karter's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Funaki is looking to clinch.
Karter connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Funaki momentarily.
Karter lands a front kick.
Karter throws a body kick that misses.
Funaki is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Karter lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Funaki is looking to land body kicks.
Karter is looking to counter punch.
Karter connects with a crisp jab.
Karter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funaki moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Funaki as Karter shoots in.
Karter thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karter throws a wild body kick that Funaki sees coming a mile off.
Karter slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Funaki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Karter pinned against the cage. Karter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karter dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Funaki. That did some damage!
Karter lands with a straight right. Funaki didn't see that one coming.
Karter pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Funaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karter is stalling here.
Funaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funaki has a couple of punches blocked by Karter.

Karter turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Karter manages to end up in side control.
Funaki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Karter's best efforts.
Karter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Funaki trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karter thows a huge punch but Funaki dodges it nicely.
Masa Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funaki is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karter scores with a couple of nice shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Funaki wants to control but Karter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Karter lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Karter lands a nice short elbow.
Funaki tries to roll over but Karter keeps him under control.
Funaki keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Karter is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Karter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Funaki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Karter is trying to control. Funaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Funaki wants to improve his position but Karter is controlling well.
Funaki is controlling Karter's trapped leg to prevent Karter from advancing to side control.
Funaki is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karter passes to full mount!
Karter trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Funaki tries to hold on but Karter postures up.
Karter looking to finish Funaki with some ground and pound. This is bad for Funaki!
Karter pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Karter blocks Funaki's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Christ Karter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Karter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Christ Karter!
A victorious Jesus Christ Karter thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.