PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bishop Deacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Deacon comes to the cage accompanied by You Raise me Up by Josh Groban. Funkyama is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by . Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Deacon
vs
Funkyama

173 cm
31
166 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

175 cm
33
169 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bishop Deacon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aoki Funkyama!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funkyama listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Funkyama moves forwards but Deacon connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nice straight punches there by Deacon. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Deacon.
Deacon misses with a straight right.
Funkyama misses with a hook. Deacon ducked under it nicely.
Funkyama just misses with a punch to the body.
Deacon lands with a right hand.
Deacon defending well as Funkyama loads up on a big left hand.
Deacon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Deacon misses with a straight left.
Deacon scores with a body shot.

Deacon feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Funkyama has momentary wrist control but Deacon slips an elbow through the middle.
Funkyama has his hands on Deacon's head, controlling the position.
Funkyama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Deacon from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deacon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Funkyama wants to sweep but no luck.
Funkyama looking to control.
Deacon looking to pass the guard.
Funkyama trying to control the position.
Funkyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Funkyama trying to keep a closed guard but Deacon is proving a slippery customer.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Deacon from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Deacon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Funkyama as he jumps to the side.
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Deacon connects with a nice looking jab.
Deacon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Funkyama.
Funkyama slips a straight right by Deacon.

Funkyama gets caught napping as Deacon dives in and scores a takedown. Funkyama manages to retain guard.
Deacon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Deacon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Deacon being controlled here momentarily.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Deacon from controlling successfully.
Deacon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Deacon being controlled here momentarily.
Funkyama manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Deacon manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deacon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Deacon is trying to keep Funkyama in close.
Funkyama connects with a couple of short punches.
Deacon working a defensive guard here.

Deacon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Funkyama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Funkyama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Funkyama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Deacon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Funkyama defends well.

Deacon working for a triangle but Funkyama defends it easily.
Deacon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Deacon being controlled here, momentarily.
Deacon keeping moving, preventing Funkyama from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bishop Deacon dominated that round.
That's time! Deacon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Deacon is looking to slow Funkyama down with leg kicks.
Funkyama throws a series of punches but Deacon moves out of range.
Deacon throws a right and a left that Funkyama avoids nicely.
Deacon blocks a jab.
Deacon throws a hook to the side of Funkyama's head but Funkyama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Deacon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Funkyama swings for the body but Deacon moves out of range.
Bishop Deacon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Deacon slips a straight right by Funkyama.
Deacon lands a jab to the head.
Funkyama lands a nice hook to Deacon's body. Deacon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Deacon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funkyama.
Funkyama lands with a straight right. Deacon didn't see that one coming.
Funkyama with a jab.
Funkyama ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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 loads up on a big right hand but Deacon slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama throws a jab but it's blocked by Deacon.
A big left from Funkyama misses.
Deacon doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Deacon misses the target.
Deacon lands a nice shot to the body.
Funkyama looks to land a left hand but Deacon moved out of range nicely.
Deacon lands a head shot.
Deacon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Deacon smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Deacon stuns Funkyama with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Deacon moves away from the strike by Funkyama.
Funkyama misses with the combination.
Deacon takes a swing at Funkyama's ribcage but misses.
Deacon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funkyama.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deacon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Funkyama as he avoids it easily.
Funkyama throws out a loose jab but Deacon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deacon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Funkyama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Deacon somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bishop Deacon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Deacon cracks Funkyama with an open hand slap.
Deacon misses the jab.
Deacon misses with a few strikes there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deacon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Funkyama moves away.
Funkyama lands with a good body shot.
Deacon lands a nice shot to the body.
Funkyama moves out of range as Deacon strikes.
Funkyama missing with a left hand there. Deacon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Funkyama is looking to chop away at Deacon's legs.
Nice shot by Deacon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Funkyama.
Bishop Deacon is winning the standup battle so far.
Funkyama misses with a straight right.
Deacon scores with a shot to the body.
Deacon misses the jab.
Deacon throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Deacon.
Funkyama thows a left - swing and a miss!
Deacon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Funkyama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Funkyama takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Deacon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Funkyama scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice jab there from Deacon.
Funkyama avoids the head kick by Deacon.
Deacon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Funkyama's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deacon checks a low kick from Funkyama.
Deacon thuds a left hand into Funkyama's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Deacon misses with a hook
and Funkyama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Deacon throws a jab when Funkyama was well out of range.
Deacon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Funkyama connects with a leg kick. Deacon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Funkyama avoids the body shot from Deacon.
Deacon ducks under a wild hook from Funkyama.
Deacon shoots in for a takedown but Funkyama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Funkyama throws a lazy right hand but Deacon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Funkyama lands with a nice combination. Deacon backs away looking to recover.
Deacon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Deacon throws a jab when Funkyama was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aoki Funkyama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Funkyama attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Deacon wants to clinch.

Funkyama throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Deacon tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Funkyama is in Deacon's guard.

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

Deacon working for submissions but it's allowed Funkyama to get to half guard.
Funkyama trying to control the action but Deacon is working from the bottom.
Deacon avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Funkyama.
Deacon wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Funkyama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Deacon is controlling Funkyama's trapped leg to prevent Funkyama from advancing to side control.
Funkyama is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Deacon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Funkyama content to control rather than advance.
Deacon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Funkyama is working away from the top position though.
Funkyama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Deacon makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Deacon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Funkyama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aoki Funkyama has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Funkyama connects with a couple of short punches.
Funkyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Deacon is keeping the position for now.
Funkyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Deacon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Funkyama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Funkyama passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Funkyama throwing strikes but Deacon manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Funkyama tries to get to full guard but Deacon has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Funkyama taking some punishment here, with Deacon in his half guard.
Funkyama tries to roll over but Deacon keeps him under control.
Funkyama manages to get to full guard.
Funkyama is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Funkyama is trying to keep Deacon in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama keeping full guard, as Deacon tries to pass.
Deacon trying to control the position from guard on top but Funkyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Funkyama working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aoki Funkyama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama misses with a leg kick
and Deacon counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Funkyama throws an off balance right hand
and Deacon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch lands to the side of Funkyama 's head but he takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aoki Funkyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Funkyama has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aoki Funkyama!
An out of breath Aoki Funkyama thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.