PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rumina Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funkyama comes to the cage accompanied by . Sato has chosen Call to prayer of islam as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Funkyama
vs
Sato

175 cm
40
175 lbs
33 - 19 - 0

185 cm
37
175 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aoki Funkyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Rumina Sato!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato feints and then cracks Funkyama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Funkyama down.
We've been hearing reports that Funkyama has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sato looks to score with a jab to the body but Funkyama is just out of range.
Funkyama drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sato sprawls and moves away.
Sato's coach down at GTI was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sato's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Funkyama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sato lands with a thumping leg kick.
Funkyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Funkyama shoots in for a double leg but Sato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice straight punches there by Sato. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sato.
Sato connects with an inside leg kick.
Sato misses with a shot to the body

and Funkyama counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funkyama stops Sato from getting back to his feet.
Sato is staying active underneath Funkyama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Funkyama is working for a submission of some sort.
Funkyama is thwarting Sato's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sato pushes Funkyama off looking to stand but Funkyama dives back in and keeps control.

Funkyama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sato is just riding it out for now. Funkyama eventually gives up the hold.
Sato taking some punishment here, with Funkyama in his half guard.
Sato is trying to get back to full guard.
Funkyama is trying to control. Sato wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sato looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sato manages to get to full guard.
Funkyama trying to control but Sato is working from the bottom.
Funkyama passes Sato's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sato has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Funkyama is on him like a limpet, forcing Sato back against the cage.
Sato gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Funkyama.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sato misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sato stops a takedown attempt from Funkyama.
Sato lands a hook that snaps the head of Funkyama backwards.
Funkyama goes for a takedown attempt but Sato pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Sato.
Funkyama takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Funkyama blocks a leg kick.
Sato scores with the left hand. Funkyama knows he should have avoided that one.
Sato connects with a body shot.
Sato slaps away a takedown attempt from Funkyama, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Funkyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rumina Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato misses with a body shot.
Funkyama tries to counter with a takedown but Sato is quick to defend against it.
Funkyama doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato swings for the body but Funkyama moves out of range.
Sato lands a really nice looking cross but Funkyama seems unphased.
Sato bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Funkyama's head backwards.
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!
Sato stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sato wants it to stay on the feet.
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Funkyama is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Funkyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Sato, which made it look bad.
Sato lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sato throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Sato. No joy for Funkyama on that attempt.
Sato lands with a straight right. Funkyama didn't see that one coming.
Sato works the jab nicely.
Sato tests Funkyama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumina Sato dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sato lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Funkyama on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Funkyama looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sato throws a big shot that misses.
Funkyama lands a jab-cross combination.
Sato lands a nice shot to the body.
A jab from Sato does it's job there.
Sato throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sato has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sato throws a lazy right hand but Funkyama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Sato there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funkyama with a poor takedown
and Sato counters with a stiff right hand.
Funkyama shoots in and drives through. Sato sprawls well.
Sato looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato lands with an overhand left.
Funkyama on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Funkyama dives in for a single leg takedown but Sato sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sato uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Funkyama has time to react.
Funkyama shoots in looking for a takedown but Sato manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Funkyama's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sato lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sato lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Funkyama misses with a takedown attempt - Sato sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sato connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Funkyama's hands.
Funkyama takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
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 is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Funkyama's calf.

Sato lands a big head kick that sends Funkyama tumbling to the mat! Sato takes a step backwards and waves Funkyama back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Funkyama is rocked!

It looks like Aoki Funkyama has been cut.
Sato connects with a body shot that sends Funkyama's belly button to the back.
Oh Funkyama is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sato closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Funkyama! Sato dives in looking to finish! Funkyama is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rumina Sato!
In his post fight interview, Rumina Sato gave a big smile as he said 'Remember, a vote for islam is a vote for retardation.'.