PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vance Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saki Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kennedy kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Everybody Nose by N.E.R.D. Saki Funaki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kennedy
vs
Funaki

173 cm
20
167 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BC FightWear
JOKER FIGHTGEAR

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vance Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saki Funaki!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Funaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Funaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saki Funaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Funaki throws a sloppy head kick and Kennedy moves out of range easily.

Kennedy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Funaki is pressed up against the cage. Kennedy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Funaki down to the mat. Funaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Funaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Funaki wants to clinch

and Kennedy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Kennedy decides to stand and escape the position.

Kennedy pushes Funaki up against the cage in a clinch.

Kennedy is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Funaki can't fight it off and eventually Kennedy manages to take the fight to the floor. Funaki looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kennedy stands up and waves to Funaki to follow him.
Funaki throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Kennedy.

Kennedy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Funaki sprawls well initially but Kennedy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kennedy in particular looking to stall.
Funaki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Funaki tries to get to full guard but Kennedy has control of the leg.
Funaki trying to control from the bottom.
Kennedy is controlling the pace.
Kennedy is tying to control. Funaki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy controlling the action here.
Funaki is pressing down on Kennedy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kennedy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy stands up and waves to Funaki to follow him.
Funaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Funaki tries to clinch up

and Kennedy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Funaki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kennedy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kennedy's back!
Kennedy trying to control the hands but Funaki won't let him.

Kennedy is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Funaki gets his way!
Funaki looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funaki is hanging on to Kennedy's back as he tries to escape.
Kennedy tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kennedy throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.

Funaki is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kennedy can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kennedy tries to hold on but Funaki pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vance Kennedy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kennedy instigates a clinch.
Funaki can't break the clinch.

Kennedy lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Funaki is trying to stand up here but Kennedy is controlling him well.
Kennedy throwing shots but Funaki is blocking nicely.

Kennedy stands up and beckons Funaki to join him on the feet.
Funaki throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.

Kennedy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kennedy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Funaki is breathing heavily.
Kennedy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kennedy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Funaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Funaki throws a sloppy head kick and Kennedy moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Funaki misses with a double jab.
Funaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kennedy counters by clinching up.

Kennedy has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Funaki is trying to keep an underhook but Kennedy manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kennedy controlling the action here.
Funaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to control from half guard but Funaki is working away.

Kennedy decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Kennedy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Funaki sprawls well initially but Kennedy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Funaki looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kennedy connects with a nice short shot to Funaki's temple.
Kennedy trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kennedy lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kennedy wants to advance to full mount but Funaki doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Funaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kennedy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kennedy stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kennedy closes the distance and clinches up with Funaki, looking for a takedown. Kennedy pushes Funaki against the cage but Funaki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vance Kennedy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Kennedy. No joy for Funaki on that attempt.
Funaki wants to clinch but Kennedy slips to the side

and Kennedy counters with a shoot takedown. Funaki fights it but they end up in guard.

Kennedy stands up from Funaki's guard - Kennedy perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funaki lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vance Kennedy dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Funaki misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Funaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vance Kennedy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Funaki clinches but Kennedy breaks the clinch

and Kennedy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Funaki's guard.
Kennedy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Funaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kennedy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Funaki for as long as he can get away with.
Kennedy wants to pass the guard but Funaki is keeping the position.
Vance Kennedy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kennedy trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Vance Kennedy just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Funaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kennedy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kennedy.

Kennedy stands up and waves to Funaki to follow him.
Funaki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kennedy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kennedy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Funaki is looking to stand up but Kennedy isn't so interested in that idea.
Saki Funaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to control the position from guard on top but Funaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Funaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kennedy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Funaki keeping full guard, as Kennedy tries to pass.
Kennedy advances position into side control!
Kennedy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Funaki can do to turn this around?
Funaki bucks up and tries to throw Kennedy off but instead Kennedy has got his back!
Funaki trying to get back to his feet but Kennedy is in full control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vance Kennedy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kennedy, 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vance Kennedy!