PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Romziel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funkyama comes to the cage accompanied by . Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Funkyama
vs
Romziel

175 cm
28
169 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

179 cm
24
183 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aoki Funkyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Corey Romziel!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funkyama gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Funkyama lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Romziel.
Romziel lands an uppercut.
Funkyama lands a good knee to the midsection. Romziel won't want to take too many of those.

Funkyama lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Funkyama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romziel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Funkyama.
Funkyama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romziel taking some punishment here, with Funkyama in his half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Funkyama controlling the action here.
Funkyama is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Romziel is trying to stand back up but Funkyama is controlling him
Funkyama stalling away here and it's allowed Romziel to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama is looking to work some ground and pound but Romziel has wrist control.
Funkyama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Romziel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romziel is looking to stand up but Funkyama isn't so interested in that idea.
Funkyama looking to sit in guard and control but Romziel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Funkyama can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Romziel controls the pace.

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

Funkyama working for a triangle but Romziel defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Romziel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Funkyama looking to control.
Romziel wants to pass the guard but Funkyama is keeping the position.
Romziel throws a strike but Funkyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Romziel being controlled here, momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romziel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Funkyama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Funkyama 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.
Funkyama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Romziel is looking to stand up but Funkyama isn't so interested in that idea.
Funkyama chips away with some ground and pound.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Romziel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funkyama throwing strikes but missing.
Funkyama is looking to work some ground and pound but Romziel has wrist control.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Romziel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama stops Romziel from standing up.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Romziel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romziel wants to stand but Funkyama is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aoki Funkyama 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.

Funkyama throws a big shot that misses.
Funkyama scores with a jab to the head.
Romziel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Funkyama lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Funkyama gets a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Funkyama.
Funkyama lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funkyama misses with a punch to the body.
Romziel working aggressively here.
Funkyama digs a right hand into Romziel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romziel's gas tank.
Funkyama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romziel's elbow.
Romziel stalling.
Romziel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Romziel misses with some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Romziel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Funkyama's brow.
Romziel misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romziel managing to block the knees to the body from Funkyama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Romziels head.
Funkyama lands a body shot in the clinch.
Funkyama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romziel blocks it with crossed arms.
Romziel takes a shot to the head.
Funkyama lands with a light punch inside.
Funkyama stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Funkyama lands a shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funkyama.
Romziel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Funkyama blocks it with crossed arms.
Romziel is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Funkyama - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Funkyama as Romziel tries to tie him up.
Romziel prevents a body shot from Funkyama.
Romziel tries to stall but Funkyama uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Romziel tries a body shot but Funkyama blocks it.
Funkyama lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funkyama turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Funkyama manages to end up in side control.
Funkyama connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Romziel some visible discomfort.
Funkyama is working Romziel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Funkyama wants to control but Romziel is keeping him busy.

Funkyama tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Funkyama has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Romziel takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Aoki Funkyama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Funkyama in side control lands a decent elbow.
Romziel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Funkyama is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama lands a decent elbow from side control.
Romziel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Funkyama asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Romziel parries the strikes from Funkyama easily there. Funkyama is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Romziel to escape.
Funkyama lands some shots froms side control.
An elbow from Funkyama crashes against the mat.

Funkyama is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Romziel has escaped the position, nice work there.

Funkyama is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romziel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romziel managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Funkyama.
Funkyama in side control lands a decent elbow.
Romziel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funkyama working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Funkyama is working Romziel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Romziel taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funkyama throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Romziel works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Funkyama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aoki Funkyama dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Funkyama scores with a one two! Romziel had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Funkyama tries a head kick but it misses.

Romziel rushes Funkyama and presses him up against the cage.
Aoki Funkyama has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Romziel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Funkyama tries a body shot but Romziel blocks it.
Nice elbow from Funkyama.

It looks like Corey Romziel has been cut.
Funkyama is leaning against Romziel and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Romziel struggles to land a body shot inside as Funkyama controls his hands.
Funkyama scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Funkyama.
Funkyama works on Romziel's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
Funkyama tries a body shot but Romziel blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Funkyama.
A short body shot lands from Funkyama as the two fighters clinch.
Romziel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romziel misses with a punch to the body.
Funkyama lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama pushes Romziel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funkyama throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Funkyama tries to throw a body punch but Romziel avoids it by throwing Funkyama back against the cage.
Funkyama lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Romziel or not.
Funkyama pressing his opponent against the cage.
Romziel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Funkyama.
Funkyama scores with a nice hook to the head.
Funkyama digs a right hand into Romziel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romziel's gas tank.
Romziel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Funkyama's face.
Funkyama presses Romziel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Funkyama lands with a short shot to the head.
Funkyama digs a right hand underneath Romziel's ribcage. Romziel let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Funkyama is working Romziel over against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Funkyama.
Funkyama lands a body punch in the clinch.
Funkyama scores with a shot to the side of Romziel's head.
Funkyama pushes Romziel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Funkyama.
Funkyama lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Funkyama is leaning against Romziel and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Funkyama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Funkyama works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Funkyama works on Romziel's body with a couple of short punches.
Funkyama misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Romziel takes a shot to the head.
Romziel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Good body shot from Funkyama.
A hook to the body from Funkyama.

Funkyama has Romziel pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Funkyama pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Romziel tumbling to the mat - Funkyama dives into Romziel's guard.
Aoki Funkyama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Funkyama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romziel can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Funkyama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romziel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funkyama pushing down on Romziel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Corey Romziel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Funkyama in particular looking to stall.

We're going to have a standup here because Aoki Funkyama wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romziel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funkyama lands with an overhand left.
Funkyama with a nice cross.
Funkyama lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aoki Funkyama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Funkyama has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aoki Funkyama!
After winning the bout, Aoki Funkyama thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.