PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Koyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Garfunkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garfunkle has chosen Kamikaze Kush- Very Next Day as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Koyama
vs
Garfunkle

174 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hideo Koyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simon Garfunkle!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garfunkle throws a jab but it's blocked by Koyama.
Garfunkle throws out a loose jab but Koyama uses good head movement to avoid it.

Koyama has closed the distance and engaged Garfunkle in a clinch.
Koyama works on Garfunkle's body with a couple of short punches.
Garfunkle is trying to drag Koyama to the mat but Koyama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Koyama lands a left hand.
Koyama lands a good knee to the midsection. Garfunkle won't want to take too many of those.
Koyama taking a breather.
Koyama is pressed up against the cage. Garfunkle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Koyama down to the mat. Koyama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No joy there for Koyama, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Garfunkle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koyama throws a nice looking combination but Garfunkle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Garfunkle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Garfunkle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Koyama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Garfunkle, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Koyama.
Garfunkle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koyama gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hideo Koyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Garfunkle.
Nice elbow from Koyama.
Koyama content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garfunkle has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Koyama is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Koyama prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Koyama.
Garfunkle has Koyama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Koyama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Koyama leaning his opponent against the cage.
Garfunkle is working for takedown but Koyama is calmly controlling the position for now.
A left hand lands to the body for Koyama.
Koyama gets underhooks to prevent Garfunkle's takedown attempt.
Koyama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Koyama lands a body shot in the clinch.
Koyama is leaning against Garfunkle and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garfunkle jumps guard but Koyama turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koyama lands an elbow inside that Garfunkle shrugs off.
A short left from Koyama.
Garfunkle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Garfunkle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Garfunkle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Garfunkle looks gassed!
Koyama lands with a short shot to the head.
Koyama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short right from Koyama.
Garfunkle jumps guard but Koyama stands there with Garfunkle around his waist. Garfunkle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Garfunkle wants a takedown but no success here.
Koyama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Koyama displaying some good clinch control by pressing Garfunkle up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garfunkle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Koyama after a bit of a struggle.
A shot in the inside from Koyama.
Koyama pushes Garfunkle back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Garfunkle can't get the takedown.
Nice elbow from Koyama.
Good body shot from Koyama.
Koyama leaning against his opponent.
Koyama working Garfunkle over with knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koyama dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Koyama lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideo Koyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good leg kick by Koyama there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Garfunkle scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Left hook, right uppercut from Koyama.
Garfunkle bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Koyama's head backwards.
Garfunkle smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Garfunkle looks to land a right hand but Koyama moved out of range.
Koyama swings for the body but Garfunkle moves out of range.
Garfunkle misses with a body punch

and Koyama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Koyama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garfunkle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garfunkle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Koyama gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Garfunkle.
Hideo Koyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Garfunkle.
Koyama prevents a takedown attempt there.
Koyama lands a body punch.
Garfunkle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koyama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Koyama putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Garfunkle in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koyama digs a right hand underneath Garfunkle's ribcage. Garfunkle let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Koyama taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Koyama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Garfunkle's elbow.
Koyama blocking some punches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Koyama as Garfunkle tries to tie him up.
Garfunkle's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Koyama.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hideo Koyama has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Garfunkle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koyama smiles and moves away.

Koyama clinches up with Garfunkle and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koyama lands a body shot in the clinch.
Garfunkle fails to pull guard.
Garfunkle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Koyama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Koyama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Koyama works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short body shot lands from Koyama as the two fighters clinch.
Garfunkle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Koyama after a bit of a struggle.
Garfunkle is breathing heavily.
Garfunkle tries to score a body lock takedown but Koyama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koyama lands an elbow just above Garfunkle 's eye.
A nice left hand lands by Koyama.
Koyama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A body shot lands from Koyama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koyama lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Koyama gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Koyama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Garfunkle has Koyama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Koyama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Garfunkle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koyama walks away with a smile on his face. Garfunkle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Koyama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garfunkle misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Koyama counters by moving into the clinch.

Garfunkle manages to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koyama stays in close to Garfunkle's body and controls the position.
Koyama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garfunkle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Koyama's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideo Koyama dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Koyama lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Koyama.
Garfunkle misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Koyama. Beautiful body shot.
Garfunkle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Koyama has Garfunkle up against the cage in a clinch.
Garfunkle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garfunkle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koyama digs a right hand into Garfunkle's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garfunkle's gas tank.
Garfunkle tries to pull guard but Koyama forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hideo Koyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Garfunkle.
Koyama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Garfunkle is defending well for now.
Koyama scores a nice knee to the body.
Garfunkle tries to score a body lock takedown but Koyama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garfunkle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koyama lands a knee to the body.
Garfunkle's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Garfunkle takes an elbow to the forehead.
Garfunkle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Garfunkle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koyama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Koyama throws a left and a right that both miss
and Koyama takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Koyama throws a right and a left that Garfunkle avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koyama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Garfunkle circles away quickly and effectively.
Koyama lands a slapping body shot.
Garfunkle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koyama was well out of range. Poor timing from Garfunkle.

Koyama closes the distance and clinches.
Koyama with a knee to the head.
Koyama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Garfunkle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koyama smiles and moves away.
Garfunkle throws a looping overhand right but Koyama ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garfunkle has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Garfunkle there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hideo Koyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Koyama forces Garfunkle back against the cage and clinches.
Garfunkle is trying to pull guard but Koyama turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Koyama.
Garfunkle looking to slow down the pace here.
Koyama tries a body shot but Garfunkle blocks it.
Koyama lands a left hand.
Garfunkle tries to score a body lock takedown but Koyama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koyama effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Koyama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garfunkle tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice elbow from Koyama.
Koyama is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Koyama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Koyama stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nice body punch from Koyama - that landed with a thud.
Koyama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koyama lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Koyama on the inside.
Simon Garfunkle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koyama crunches a lovely knee into Garfunkle's ribcage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideo Koyama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koyama, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Hideo Koyama!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Hideo Koyama!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Hideo Koyama!

Hideo Koyama wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Hideo Koyama thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.