PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukasz Sajewski (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
Sajewski

175 cm
39
164 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

177 cm
32
169 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aoki Funkyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Lukasz Sajewski!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sajewski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funkyama.
Sajewski throws a hook but Funkyama avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Sajewski.
Nice jab there from Sajewski.
Funkyama shoots in but Sajewski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
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.

Funkyama drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Funkyama trying to control but Sajewski is working from the bottom.
Funkyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Sajewski is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funkyama is working Sajewski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Funkyama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sajewski is trying to control the position but Funkyama postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama lands a couple of digs.
Sajewski pulls Funkyama in close to prevent any damage.
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 loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funkyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sajewski is keeping the position for now.
Funkyama postures up in Sajewski's guard and throws a big left but Sajewski blocks it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Funkyama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sajewski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sajewski enables Funkyama to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sajewski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Funkyama throws a big right hand that misses.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Sajewski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama throws a big right hand that misses.
Funkyama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Funkyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sajewski misses with a head kick.
Sajewski misses with a lunging right hand

and Funkyama counters with a shoot takedown. Sajewski fights it but they end up in guard.
Funkyama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Funkyama wants to pass the guard but Sajewski is keeping the position.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Sajewski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama postures up in Sajewski's guard and throws a big left but Sajewski blocks it.
Funkyama slips nicely into half guard.

Funkyama is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Funkyama throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sajewski to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aoki Funkyama dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Funkyama misses with a takedown attempt
and Sajewski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sajewski has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sajewski as he avoids it easily.
Funkyama avoids the head kick by Sajewski.
Sajewski lands a leg kick that knocks Funkyama off balance momentarily.
Funkyama shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sajewski gets caught napping as Funkyama dives in and scores a takedown. Sajewski manages to retain guard.
Funkyama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Funkyama trying to control but Sajewski is working from the bottom.

Funkyama is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funkyama advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sajewski's legs.
Sajewski is trying to control Funkyama's posture but Funkyama avoids it.
Funkyama tries to move to mount but Sajewski blocks the move with his legs.
Sajewski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Funkyama wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Funkyama throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Sajewski works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Funkyama is pressing down on Sajewski's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sajewski is holding on for now.
Funkyama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sajewski defending well though.
Funkyama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Funkyama is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sajewski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Funkyama is looking to stall here but Sajewski recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Funkyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Sajewski is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sajewski lands a leg kick that knocks Funkyama off balance momentarily.
Sajewski connects with a looping right hand.
Funkyama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sajewski can do to turn this around?
Sajewski lands a nice looking kick to the body. Funkyama takes a step back to recover.
Funkyama misses with a takedown attempt
and Sajewski counters with a low kick, right behind Funkyama 's knee.
Funkyama goes for a double leg but Sajewski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sajewski continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sajewski is pressed up against the cage. Funkyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sajewski down to the mat. Sajewski avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Funkyama blocks a head kick by Sajewski.
Lukasz Sajewski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama tries for a takedown but Sajewski circles away easily
and Sajewski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lukasz Sajewski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sajewski throws a one two combo.
Funkyama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sajewski finds it's way round the side to connect with Funkyama's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice straight punches there by Sajewski. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sajewski.
Sajewski connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sajewski throws a looping overhand right but Funkyama ducks down to avoid it.
Sajewski throws a leg kick that is checked

and Funkyama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sajewski is trying to maintain the position but Funkyama is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funkyama seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sajewski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukasz Sajewski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Funkyama takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Funkyama takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sajewski slips under a jab.
A punch combination from Funkyama misses.
Funkyama shoots for a double leg takedown but Sajewski sprawls well. He's pushed Funkyama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Funkyama shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sajewski defends it nicely.
Sajewski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Aoki Funkyama has been cut.
Sajewski lands a nice hook to Funkyama's body. Funkyama takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funkyama is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sajewski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funkyama on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Funkyama walks into a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sajewski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funkyama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sajewski throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sajewski throws a head kick but Funkyama moves out of range.
Sajewski swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Funkyama.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sajewski.

Funkyama is rocked!
Funkyama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Funkyama.
Sajewski smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Oh Funkyama is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sajewski lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Lukasz Sajewski!
Lukasz Sajewski was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.