PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Safdar Al Razi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Funk
vs
Al Razi

185 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

191 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Funk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Safdar Al Razi!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Funk with a lazy takedown attempt
and Al Razi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Funk's knee momentarily.
Funk closes the distance and clinches up with Al Razi, looking for a takedown. Funk pushes Al Razi against the cage but Al Razi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Funk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Razi. That's going to slow Funk down.
Al Razi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Al Razi throws a nice inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Funk is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Al Razi is defending well.

Al Razi breaks from the clinch.
Al Razi connects with a solid leg kick.
Al Razi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Funk tries to keep at a distance but Al Razi has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Razi breaks from the clinch.
Al Razi is looking to slow Funk down with leg kicks.

Al Razi has managed to clinch.

Al Razi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funk tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Razi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Funk tries for a takedown but Al Razi circles away easily
and Al Razi counters with an inside leg kick.

Al Razi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Funk shoots and misses

and Al Razi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Funk!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Al Razi is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Funk has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Funk!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Funk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Funk passes Al Razi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Funk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Funk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Al Razi defends it well.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.

Al Razi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Funk pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Funk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Al Razi defends it well.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
Al Razi tries to kick Funk off but Funk keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Al Razi won't allow Funk to pass to mount.
Funk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Al Razi wants to get back to his feet.
Al Razi is trying to get back to full guard.
Al Razi wants to get back to his feet.

Al Razi looking for submissions off his back.
Funk passes to side control.

Funk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Al Razi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Funk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Funk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Al Razi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Razi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Funk's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Al Razi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Funk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Al Razi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Funk pulls his head out easily.
Funk tries to pass the half guard into mount. Al Razi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Safdar Al Razi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Al Razi takes the fight into the clinch.

Al Razi manages to break the clinch.
Funk doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Razi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Razi. That's going to slow Funk down.
Frank Funk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Razi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Funk has his takedown stuffed
and Al Razi counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funk fails with the takedown
and Al Razi counters with a head kick. That will keep Funk thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Funk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Razi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Funk misses with a takedown attempt
and Al Razi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Funk wants to clinch but Al Razi slips to the side
and Al Razi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Funk's knee momentarily.
Funk tries to clinch but Al Razi moves out of range.
That kick from Al Razi tenderised Funk's leg. Funk is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi gets a takedown into half guard.

Al Razi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Al Razi is looking for a kimura but Funk is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Razi to get the leverage.
Funk is trying to stand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Funk is defending against the submission attempts here by Al Razi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Al Razi is looking for a kimura here.

Al Razi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Funk has managed to free his arm - good work.

Al Razi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Funk is just riding it out for now. Al Razi eventually gives up the hold.
Al Razi prevents Funk from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Safdar Al Razi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Al Razi.

Funk gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Funk tries for a takedown. No joy.

Al Razi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Funk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Al Razi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Al Razi.
Funk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Al Razi has him pressed against the cage.

Al Razi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Razi. That's going to slow Funk down.

Al Razi pushes Funk up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Razi breaks from the clinch.
Funk moves in looking to clinch but Al Razi pushes him off.
Funk has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Al Razi.

Funk shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Funk was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Al Razi somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Funk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Al Razi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Funk, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi manages to break the clinch.
Al Razi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Funk. That did some damage!
Al Razi connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Funk moves into the clinch.

Al Razi breaks from the clinch.
Funk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Funk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al Razi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Al Razi counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funk tries to clinch but Al Razi moves out of range.
Funk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Al Razi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Funk's sensitive parts.
Al Razi slaps away a takedown attempt from Funk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Funk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Al Razi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Al Razi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Funk is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Al Razi, into his guard.

Al Razi is looking for a triangle but Funk pushes his legs off easily.
Frank Funk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Funk advances position into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Razi regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funk stops Al Razi from getting back to his feet.

Al Razi kicks off Funk and gets to his feet.
Safdar Al Razi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Al Razi misses with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Safdar Al Razi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Al Razi 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Safdar Al Razi!