PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dick Ekelund (ranked 3486 p4p, 3799 weight class) and Ron Funches (ranked 273 p4p, 293 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.

Ekelund
vs
Funches

178 cm
31
150
11 - 14 - 0

175 cm
31
148
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Conviction

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dick Ekelund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ron Funches!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekelund lands with a straight right. Funches didn't see that one coming.

Funches pushes Ekelund up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Ekelund.
Funches takes a knee to the side of the body.
Funches tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Funches lands with a right to the head.
Funches softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ekelund.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funches.
Funches landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funches is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
Ekelund can't get the takedown.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Funches.
Funches scores with a shot to the side of Ekelund's head.
Funches working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Funches.
Funches misses with some punches.
Ekelund throws a punch but it's blocked by Funches.
Ekelund misses with some punches.
Funches blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Funches.
Funches blocks an uppercut.
Funches swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ekelund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekelund lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Funches backwards.
Funches trying to land knees to the body.
Funches throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekelund.
We've been informed that Funches has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Funches throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ekelund blocks it with crossed arms.

Funches breaks the clinch.
Funches dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ekelund pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ekelund wants to clinch up but Funches keeps it at a distance.
Ekelund lands with a cross.
The crowd cheers as Ekelund lands an impressive looking overhand right. Funches doesn't seem phased though.

Ekelund darts in and clinches Funches up against the cage.
Funches fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funches scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekelund blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funches blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funches misses with a punch on the inside.
Funches throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funches.
Funches can't find room to land a body shot as Ekelund controls the action.
Ekelund blocks an uppercut.
Funches working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Funches lands a body shot in the clinch.
Funches misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funches misses with a punch to the body.
Funches blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funches misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ekelund lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Funches backwards.
Funches misses with the head strike.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Funches takes a shot to the head.
Funches misses with a punch to the body.
Funches pushes Ekelund back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Funches's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ekelund displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Funches throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund ducks under a wild hook from Funches.
As Funches tries to get set, Ekelund tries to push him back and clinch up but Funches manages to avoid the attempt.
Ekelund throws a looping overhand right but Funches ducks down to avoid it.
Ekelund swings for the body but Funches moves out of range.
Funches lands a jab.
Funches lands a nice shot that snaps Ekelund's head back.

Ekelund closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Funches misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funches fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funches.
Funches lands with a light punch inside.
Funches tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Funches tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Ekelund on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ekelund scores with a nice hook to the head.
Funches lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Funches tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Funches doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ekelund on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Funches.
Ekelund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Funches avoids it.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.

Funches's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Funches just misses with a punch to the body.
Ekelund steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Funches.
Funches looks for the body kick but Ekelund saw that one coming.
Ekelund tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Funches paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ekelund bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Funches's head.

It looks like Ron Funches has been cut.
Funches throws a push kick but Ekelund slaps the foot to one side.
Ekelund shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left lands for Ekelund.
Ekelund closes the distance but Funches moves to the side
and Funches counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Funches chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ron Funches dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ron Funches'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.

Ekelund tries to clinch there but Funches circles away.

Ekelund gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Funches manages to break the clinch.
Ekelund wants to clinch up but Funches keeps it at a distance.
Funches swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice body punch from Ekelund.
Ekelund lands a lovely overhand right.
Ekelund cracks Funches with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Funches clinches up against the cage.
Ekelund lands with a short shot to the head.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funches throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekelund.
Funches scores with a shoulder strike.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ekelund swings wildly with an uppercut but Funches uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funches misses with a short punch on the inside.
Funches misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Funches.
Funches misses with a body punch.
Funches misses with the head strike.
A short right from Funches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funches.
Still in the clinch, Ekelund scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funches lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Ekelund managing to block the knees to the body from Funches.
Funches misses with some punches.
Funches misses with a punch on the inside.
Funches blocks an uppercut.
Ekelund misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ekelund fails to land.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Funches.
Still in the clinch, Funches scores with a nice short uppercut.
Funches goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Funches using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ekelund has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekelund.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funches fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Ekelund.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funches lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Funches wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Funches lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Funches.
Ekelund lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Funches's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ekelund tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Funches misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funches.
Ekelund blocks a body shot from Funches.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Funches.
Funches throws a head punch that misses.
Funches swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ekelund managing to block the knees to the body from Funches.
Funches can't find room to land a body shot as Ekelund controls the action.
Funches has a couple of punches blocked by Ekelund.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funches manages to break the clinch.
Funches throws a head kick that misses.
Funches avoids the body shot from Ekelund.
Funches slips a jab and a cross from Ekelund.
Funches throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ekelund ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ron Funches seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circling - Funches throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekelund on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ekelund takes one to the side of the head.
Funches comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big left from Ekelund misses.
It seemed like Funches was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Funches lands a leg kick that knocks Ekelund off balance momentarily.
Donk. Ekelund catches Funches right on the button with a cross.
Ekelund throws an overhand right that lands on Funches's shoulder, as Funches tries to avoid the shot.
Ekelund thows a left - swing and a miss!
Funches will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ekelund tries to counter by clinching up but Funches breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funches connects with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ekelund tries to clinch
and Funches counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ekelund throws a series of punches but Funches avoids them all with ease.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ekelund.
Funches misses the body punch

and Ekelund counters by moving into the clinch.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.
Funches tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Funches fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funches gets through Ekelund's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Funches has a couple of punches blocked by Ekelund.
Funches tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekelund's elbow.
Funches fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekelund keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Funches's efforts to push away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funches lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Funches lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ekelund blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ron Funches will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ron Funches's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ekelund cracks Funches with an open hand slap.
Ekelund cracks Funches with a good jab.
Funches connects with an inside leg kick.

Ekelund closes the distance and pushes Funches back into the cage.
Funches struggles to land a body shot inside as Ekelund controls his hands.
Funches lands a nice uppercut.
Funches tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Funches is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Funches misses with a punch on the inside.
Funches misses with the head strike.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Funches.
Funches throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Funches breaks from the clinch.
Funches moves in looking to clinch but Ekelund pushes him off.
Ekelund closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Funches to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funches misses with a body shot.
A jab from Funches misses.
Ekelund is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Funches.
Ekelund moves forwards but Funches connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ekelund stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Funches with the inside leg kick.
Funches lands a jab to the nose.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ekelund looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ekelund scores with a hook.
Funches scoring well with a low kick there.
Ekelund keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheers as Ekelund lands an impressive looking overhand right. Funches doesn't seem phased though.

Funches is rocked!
Ekelund moves to clinch but Funches breaks away
letting Funches counter with a right hand.
Funches slips a jab from Ekelund.
Dick Ekelund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ekelund lands a big shot that drops Funches! Can he finish him?
Funches is still in real trouble! Can Ekelund finish him?
Ekelund controlling from the top position.
Ekelund advances position into side control!
Ron Funches is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Funches trying to remain calm as Ekelund controls from the top position.
Funches seems to have recovered his senses.
Ekelund prevents Funches from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ekelund stands up.
Ekelund is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Funches uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ekelund.
Funches jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ekelund throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dick Ekelund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funches connects with an inside leg kick.
Funches missing with a left hand there. Ekelund was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ekelund looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big left from Ekelund misses.
Funches let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Funches lands a nice looking body shot.
Ekelund on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Funches. Funches obviously looking to wear him down.
Funches scores with a hook to the body. Ekelund takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ekelund tries to clinch up.
Ekelund has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Funches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ekelund.

Ekelund rushes Funches and presses him up against the cage.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.
Funches blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekelund misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ekelund fails to land.
Ekelund misses with the head strike.
Ekelund is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Funches can't find room to land a body shot as Ekelund controls the action.
Funches throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekelund.
Funches blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funches blocking some punches.
Ekelund misses with some punches.
Funches lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Ekelund showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Funches has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ron Funches!
Ron Funches thanked the fans post fight for their support.