PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Funkyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Funkyama kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is . Aoki Funkyama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Funkyama
vs
Laak

175 cm
36
169 lbs
26 - 11 - 0

172 cm
31
169 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class 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 26 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aoki Funkyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Phil Laak!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funkyama looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A clash of legs there as Funkyama blocks the low kick.
Laak thows a body shot but no joy.
Funkyama throws a nice looking combination but Laak bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Funkyama misses with a takedown attempt
and Laak makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Laak just misses with a punch to the body.
Laak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laak ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Funkyama.
Laak throws a head kick that misses.

Laak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Funkyama blocks the elbow strike.
Funkyama is working for takedown but Laak is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Funkyama goes for a takedown attempt but Laak pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Laak closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Funkyama quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Funkyama is pressing down on Laak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Laak pushes down on Funkyama's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Funkyama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laak pulls his head out easily.
Funkyama is trying to maintain the position but Laak is very close to passing his half guard.
Laak wants to control but Funkyama is keeping him busy.
Funkyama is looking to improve his position.
Laak trying to control from Funkyama's half guard. Funkyama has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Laak from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laak is one step ahead there.

Funkyama has an active guard here but Laak has managed to pass into half guard.
Funkyama wants to get back to full guard.
Laak wants to free his trapped foot but Funkyama is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Laak is looking to take a break and control but Funkyama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Funkyama looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Funkyama is looking for a sweep. Laak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama is in trouble now - Laak has advanced to mount!
Funkyama sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Laak trying to mount his opponent but Funkyama defends it.
Laak trying to control from half guard but Funkyama is working away.
Funkyama moves into full guard.

Funkyama is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laak is aware though and is defending well.

Funkyama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laak sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Funkyama's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama missing with punches from the bottom.

Funkyama looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laak trying to control from half guard but Funkyama is working away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Funkyama is defending against the submission attempts here by Laak.
Funkyama is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Funkyama actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phil Laak will probably get the nod.
That's time! Funkyama's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Laak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laak lands a slapping body shot.
Laak is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Funkyama rather than just go for the knockout.
Funkyama shoots in for a takedown but Laak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Laak throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Laak throws a half hearted mid kick.
Laak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Laak avoids the body shot from Funkyama.
Funkyama staying out of range there.
Funkyama throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laak counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Laak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Funkyama was well out of range. Poor timing from Laak.

Funkyama drives through with a takedown into guard.
Funkyama lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funkyama wants to pass the guard but Laak is keeping the position.
Laak bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Funkyama's guard.
Funkyama trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Funkyama is looking for a triangle but Laak pushes his legs off easily.
Laak pushing down on Funkyama's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Funkyama actively working from the bottom here.
Funkyama wants to improve his position but Laak is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Laak seems content to control.
Funkyama wants to improve his position but Laak is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Funkyama's head.

Funkyama actively working from the bottom here.
Laak is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Laak not doing much here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Funkyama is staying active underneath Laak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Funkyama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laak pulls his head out easily.
Funkyama is staying active underneath Laak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phil Laak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Funkyama throws a right hand that Laak ducks under and follows up with a left that Laak also avoids with ease.
Funkyama ducks right into an uppercut from Laak.
Laak closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laak.
Funkyama is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laak 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 misses with a jab to the body
and Laak counters with a leg kick.

Laak looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Laak in particular looking to stall.
Phil Laak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laak is looking to take a break and control but Funkyama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laak controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laak wants to take a breather but Funkyama is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Phil Laak.
Funkyama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laak cracks Funkyama with a good jab.
Laak slips under a jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Laak lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Funkyama has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Funkyama and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Horrible takedown by Funkyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Laak which made him look bad.
Laak scores with a shot to the body.
Funkyama looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Funkyama looks for a takedown but Laak sprawls well.
Funkyama throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aoki Funkyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Laak 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 get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Funkyama will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Laak misses with a wild body shot.
Funkyama slips under a jab.
Laak throws a half hearted mid kick.
Laak looks to throw the jab but Funkyama is out of range.
A head kick misses from Laak.
Laak lands a slapping body shot.
Laak changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Laak misses with a body shot.
Laak throws a looping overhand right but Funkyama ducks down to avoid it.
Funkyama looks to land a combination but Laak avoids it well.
Laak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Funkyama.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funkyama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laak wants to control from the top but Funkyama keeps moving.
Funkyama being controlled here, momentarily.
Laak's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Funkyama looking to control.
Laak wants to pass the guard but Funkyama is keeping the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phil Laak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jab, jab by Laak - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funkyama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laak circles away quickly and effectively.
Funkyama fails to land with a series of punches.

Laak shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Funkyama manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laak slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Laak trying to control but Funkyama is working from the bottom.
Funkyama keeping full guard, as Laak tries to pass.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Funkyama keeping moving, preventing Laak from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Phil Laak hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Funkyama with a poor takedown
and Laak counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aoki Funkyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Funkyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak misses with a combination

and Funkyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Funkyama.
Laak keeping full guard, as Funkyama tries to pass.
Laak can't keep his opponent in guard - Funkyama advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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. Funkyama connects with a nice short shot to Laak's temple.
Funkyama working Laak over with strikes.
Funkyama takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laak regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Funkyama.
Funkyama distracts Laak with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Laak is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Laak wants to sweep here but Funkyama controlling him for the moment.
Funkyama wants to pass the guard but Laak is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phil Laak.
Well Laak 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Laak!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Phil Laak waved his t-shirt featuring Hellbent 's logo in front of the cameras.