PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roshihiro Funkiunga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slash Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Funkiunga
vs
Aldo

167 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roshihiro Funkiunga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Slash Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Funkiunga counters with a series of strikes. Aldo will be more careful next time no doubt.

Aldo tries to sprawl but Funkiunga drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aldo is defending against the submission attempts here by Funkiunga.
Aldo is trying to stand back up but Funkiunga is controlling him
Funkiunga throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Funkiunga is looking to take a break and control but Aldo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Funkiunga throwing shots but Aldo is blocking nicely.
Funkiunga is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funkiunga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aldo looking to control.
Funkiunga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.
Funkiunga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funkiunga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Funkiunga scoring with punches to the head and body.
Aldo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Funkiunga wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Aldo trying to control the position.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Funkiunga manages to pass to side control.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet.
Funkiunga looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Funkiunga.
Funkiunga not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Funkiunga thows a huge punch but Aldo dodges it nicely.
Aldo is looking to improve his position.
Aldo gets back to full guard.
Funkiunga throws a strike but Aldo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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!
Aldo wants to control from the top but Funkiunga keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funkiunga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Funkiunga throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Funkiunga keeping moving, preventing Aldo from controlling successfully.

Funkiunga has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aldo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Funkiunga is looking for a triangle here but Aldo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo wants to stand but Funkiunga is controlling his arm.
Aldo working away.
Aldo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Funkiunga keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roshihiro Funkiunga dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Funkiunga rushes Aldo and presses him up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Funkiunga - that landed with a thud.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Funkiunga is blocking nicely.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Funkiunga just stands there and leans against the cage.
Aldo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkiunga is trying to break the clinch but Aldo is controlling him.
Aldo tries to stall but Funkiunga uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Aldo is trying to force a seperation but Funkiunga has the dominant position.
Aldo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Funkiunga is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Funkiunga blocks a body shot from Aldo.
Funkiunga is trying to break the clinch but Aldo has him pressed against the cage.
Funkiunga blocking some punches.
Aldo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Funkiunga is keeping busy.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo has Funkiunga pressed against the cage, preventing Funkiunga from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Funkiunga turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funkiunga goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Aldo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Funkiunga but great work by Aldo.
Funkiunga is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aldo off and has taken his back!
Aldo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Funkiunga.

Funkiunga working for a choke but Aldo is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Funkiunga's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Aldo tries to roll but Funkiunga sticks to his back.
Aldo takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Aldo is having to fend off submission attempts from Funkiunga, who is looking to sink in the choke. Funkiunga doesn't have the hooks in though and Aldo manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funkiunga working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Funkiunga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Funkiunga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkiunga wants to sweep but no luck.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break Funkiunga's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aldo trying to control but Funkiunga is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Funkiunga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roshihiro Funkiunga dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Aldo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Funkiunga changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aldo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Funkiunga misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Funkiunga tries for a kimura but Aldo is defending well.

Funkiunga wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Aldo, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Funkiunga's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo pushes Funkiunga off looking to stand but Funkiunga dives back in and keeps control.
Aldo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Funkiunga.
Aldo is looking to improve his position.
Aldo gets full guard.

Funkiunga decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Aldo closes the distance but Funkiunga moves to the side

and Funkiunga counters with a shoot takedown. Aldo fights it but they end up in guard.
Funkiunga prevents Aldo from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Funkiunga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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!
Aldo controls Funkiunga momentarily but Funkiunga frees himself.
Funkiunga keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aldo's head.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Funkiunga isn't so interested in that idea.
Aldo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Funkiunga throwing strikes from guard but Aldo blocks nicely.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Funkiunga passes Aldo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Funkiunga wants to pass to mount but Aldo is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkiunga prevents Aldo from standing back up.
Funkiunga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aldo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Funkiunga there.
Roshihiro Funkiunga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Funkiunga is trying to control the action in half guard but Aldo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Aldo trying to hold on to Funkiunga's head to control him but Funkiunga postures up.
Funkiunga working over Aldo with some ground and pound. Aldo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Aldo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkiunga looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Funkiunga is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aldo trying to control from the bottom.
Slash Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roshihiro Funkiunga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Funkiunga winds up and cracks Aldo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkiunga keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roshihiro Funkiunga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Funkiunga, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roshihiro Funkiunga!