PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baltazar Ramos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Funkyama might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to . Baltazar Ramos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Funkyama
vs
Ramos

175 cm
24
169 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
182 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

FULL METAL GEAR
FULL METAL GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aoki Funkyama!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baltazar Ramos!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funkyama throws a right hand that misses
letting Ramos counter with a right hand.
Funkyama scores with a jab to the head.
Ramos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ramos moves away from the strike by Funkyama.
Funkyama tries to land a leg kick but Ramos saw it coming and moves away.
Funkyama throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ramos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Funkyama misses with a hook
and Ramos counters with a left and a right that stings Funkyama.

Ramos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ramos with the ground and pound but Funkyama uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramos wants to control from the top but Funkyama keeps moving.
Ramos throwing strikes from guard but Funkyama blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos is stalling in the full guard.
Ramos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Funkyama is looking for a triangle but Ramos pushes his legs off easily.
Ramos working some strikes from top position.
Ramos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ramos throwing strikes from guard but Funkyama blocks nicely.
Funkyama looking for a sweep. Not yet Funkyama, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ramos wants to control from the top but Funkyama keeps moving.
Ramosis looking to pass into half guard but Funkyama pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Funkyama is in guard.
Funkyama might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Funkyama throws and elbow that misses. Ramos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Funkyama's guard. Nice move by Ramos!
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Ramos from controlling successfully.
Ramos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ramos throws and elbow that misses. Funkyama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ramos's guard. Nice move by Funkyama!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramos pulls Funkyama in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ramos is on top in guard.
Funkyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Funkyama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funkyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ramos.
Ramos distracts Funkyama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Funkyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ramos.
Ramos scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramos pushing down on Funkyama's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Funkyama wants to get back to full guard.

Ramos looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Funkyama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ramos is working away from the top position though.
Ramos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Funkyama defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baltazar Ramos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ramos misses with a left hand
and Funkyama counters with a nice uppercut.
Funkyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ramos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Funkyama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ramos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big right from Ramos misses.
Funkyama tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Funkyama misses with a hook
and Ramos counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Funkyama thinking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Funkyama. Ramos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ramos shoots in looking for a takedown but Funkyama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ramos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Funkyama stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ramos misses with a looping left.
Funkyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ramos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ramos takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Funkyama misses with a lunging right hand
and Ramos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ramos misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos staying out of range there.
Funkyama misses with a shot to the body
enabling Ramos to counter with a crisp jab.
Funkyama attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Funkyama throws a combination. Ramos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Funkyama throws a lazy uppercut
and Ramos counters with a straight right hand.
Funkyama tries to bum rush Ramos with a series of wild strikes but Ramos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funkyama throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ramos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Funkyama swings widly with a right hand

and Ramos counters with a shoot takedown. Funkyama fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funkyama trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ramos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ramos tries to free his leg and advance position but Funkyama is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ramos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ramos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Funkyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funkyama controlling Ramos's posture.
Funkyama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ramos controlling from the top position.

Funkyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramos throws a strike but Funkyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funkyama looking to sit in guard and control but Ramos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ramos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Funkyama avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ramos.

That's four 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.
Funkyama tries to get to full guard but Ramos has control of the leg.
Ramos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ramos wants to take a breather but Funkyama is having none of it.
Ramos slows the pace down in half guard.
Ramos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Funkyama defending well though.
Ramos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Funkyama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ramos drops an elbow to the side of Funkyama's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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. Ramos connects with a nice short shot to Funkyama's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baltazar Ramos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Funkyama's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters circling - Funkyama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A leg kick checked by Ramos.
Funkyama tries to clinch there but Ramos circles away.
Funkyama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Funkyama misses with a hook
and Ramos counters with a straight right hand.
Funkyama looks to throw the jab but Ramos is out of range.
Funkyama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ramos.
Funkyama thows a left - swing and a miss!
Baltazar Ramos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ramos throws a poor cross that misses
letting Funkyama counter with a right hand.
Funkyama throws an off balance right hand
and Ramos counters with a one-two to the body.

Funkyama closes the distance and pushes Ramos back into the cage.
Funkyama dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ramos misses with the head strike.
Funkyama scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Funkyama lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ramos avoiding damage as Funkyama throws knees to the body.
Ramos pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos blocks a body shot from Funkyama.
Ramos lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Funkyama.
A right hook to the body lands for Funkyama.
Funkyama is trying to stall.
Funkyama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funkyama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ramos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ramos is looking to control Funkyama's arms but Funkyama gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ramos has his back to the cage.
Funkyama lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ramos tries a body shot but Funkyama blocks it.
Funkyama works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Funkyama throws an elbow but it misses.
Funkyama is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ramos is keeping busy.
Funkyama lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ramos.
Ramos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Funkyama stalling in the clinch.
Ramos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Funkyama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Funkyama swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Funkyama.
Funkyama throws a sloppy body shot
and Ramos counters with a nice uppercut.
Funkyama fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ramos looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ramos is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ramos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ramos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Funkyama does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Funkyama moves away from the strike by Ramos.
Funkyama misses with an uppercut. Ramos saw that one coming.
Ramos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Funkyama takes a swing at Ramos's ribcage but misses.
Ramos circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Funkyama gets the takedown into side control.
Funkyama misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Funkyama is trying to get an arm triangle but Ramos is defending well.
Funkyama throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ramos works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Funkyama thows a huge punch but Ramos dodges it nicely.
Ramos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Funkyama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama works his way into side control.

Funkyama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ramos, who protects the arm well.
Ramos dodges the ground and pound from Funkyama.

Funkyama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ramos, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Funkyama cracks Ramos with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aoki Funkyama clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ramos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Funkyama misses with an uppercut
and Ramos counters with a good low kick that Funkyama was not able to check.
Ramos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Funkyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Funkyama misses with a jab to the body
letting Ramos counter with a right hand.
Funkyama misses with a jab to the body
and Ramos counters with a left and a right that stings Funkyama.
Ramos misses with an uppercut.
Funkyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ramos.
Funkyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ramos.
Ramos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ramos tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Funkyama shoots in and gets a takedown into Ramos's guard.
Ramos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Funkyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Ramos is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos is trying to keep Funkyama in close.
Ramos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baltazar Ramos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Funkyama scoring with punches to the head and body.
Funkyama passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Funkyama is trying to move to mount but Ramos reverses beautifully and ends up in Funkyama's guard.
Ramos 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 two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Funkyama is controlling Ramos's posture.
Ramos is pushing down on Funkyama's leg trying to pass to half guard. Funkyama is fighting to maintain full guard but Ramos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Funkyama works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ramos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ramos throws a strike but Funkyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Funkyama forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Funkyama tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ramos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Funkyama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Funkyama is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Funkyama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ramos is trying to maintain the position but Funkyama is very close to passing his half guard.
Funkyama lands with a punch from half guard.
Ramos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Funkyama.
Funkyama wants to free his trapped foot but Ramos is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Funkyama is thwarting Ramos's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Aoki Funkyama will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Funkyama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Funkyama looks to clinch
and Ramos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Funkyama misses with a hook
enabling Ramos to counter with a crisp jab.
Ramos walks into a jab.
Funkyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ramos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Funkyama dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ramos slips under a jab from Funkyama.
Ramos has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Funkyama misses with a lunging right hand

and Ramos counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Funkyama trying to control the position.
Ramos throws a strike but Funkyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ramos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama throwing strikes from guard but Ramos blocks nicely.
Funkyama wants to pass the guard but Ramos is keeping the position.
Funkyama throwing strikes but missing.
Ramos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Funkyama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ramos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
Funkyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funkyama wants to control from the top but Ramos keeps moving.
Ramos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Funkyama.
Ramos seems keen to control Funkyama's posture.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ramos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama throws a poor cross that misses
and Ramos counters with a three punch combo that has Funkyama backing up. Funkyama nods at Ramos to acknowledge the strikes.
Funkyama throws a nice looking combination but Ramos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Funkyama misses with a body punch
and Ramos counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Ramos takes the fight into the clinch.
Funkyama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Funkyama blocks an uppercut.
Funkyama controlling the action here for a moment.
Ramos pushes Funkyama back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funkyama jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ramos walks away with a smile on his face. Funkyama gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Funkyama tried to score with a low kick but Ramos checks it.
Ramos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Funkyama.
Funkyama tries to clinch but Ramos is having none of it.
Funkyama ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ramos moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ramos avoids it really well and circles away.
Funkyama lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Funkyama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki Funkyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ramos takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ramos throws a big shot that misses.
Funkyama throws an off balance right hand
and Ramos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ramos is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ramos looks to score with a jab to the body but Funkyama is just out of range.
Funkyama lands a nice hook to Ramos's body. Ramos takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ramos takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ramos is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Funkyama shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ramos pinned against the cage. Ramos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ramos throws a right hand that misses

and Funkyama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Funkyama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ramos gets the underhooks and prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baltazar Ramos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ramos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 47:48
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 47:48
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baltazar Ramos!
Baltazar Ramos is the new welterweight champion!