PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Randle (ranked 4339 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sparky Sparx (ranked 4528 p4p, 101 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Randle
vs
Sparx

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Randle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sparky Sparx!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Darius Henderson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Randle tries to keep at a distance but Sparx has taken the fight into the clinch.
Randle has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Randle tries to score a body lock takedown but Sparx shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sparx tries to throw a body punch but Randle avoids it by throwing Sparx back against the cage.

Sparx manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Randle wants to pass the guard but Sparx is keeping the position.

Randle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Randle is looking to stand up but Sparx won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sparx looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Randle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparx looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Randle passes Sparx's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Randle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sparx is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Randle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Well, if Randle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Randle wants to take a breather but Sparx is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sparx tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Randle feinted with a counter takedown.

Randle clinches with his opponent.
Randle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sparx fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Randle darts in and clinches Sparx up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Randle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sparx instigates a clinch.

Randle has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sparx uses from the top position.
Sparx wants to control from the top but Randle keeps moving.

Randle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sparx defends well.
Randle keeping moving, preventing Sparx from controlling successfully.
Sparx is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Randle has his foot on Sparx's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sparx works his way back into a safe position though.
Randle trying to control the position.
Sparx postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Randle controlling Sparx's posture.
Sparx really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Randle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sparx scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Randle keeping full guard, as Sparx tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dan Randle will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sparx gets a clinch.
Randle prevents a body shot from Sparx.
Randle's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sparx lands an elbow that stopped Randle in his tracks for a moment.

Sparx breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Randle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sparx drives through and clinches with Randle against the cage.
Sparx scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Sparx breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sparx scores with a hook to the body.
Randle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sparx pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Randle misses.

Sparx moves into the clinch successfully.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sparx stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparx landing knees to the head.
Sparx lands a left hand.
Randle is trying to pull guard but Sparx has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Randle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Sparx.
Sparx lands a good knee to the midsection. Randle won't want to take too many of those.

Randle gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Randle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sparx is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Randle is keen to just control but Sparx is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparx wants to control but Randle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sparx slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Randle trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparx is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparx wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sparx keeping moving, preventing Randle from controlling successfully.

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

Sparx rushes Randle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Randle is trying to pull guard but Sparx turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sparx tries to pull guard but Randle holds him up against the cage and eventually Sparx drops back down to his feet.
Come on Randle - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sparx is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Randle to keep the fight standing.
Randle lands a hook that snaps the head of Sparx backwards.

Sparx manages to break the clinch.

Sparx has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Randle is trying to push Sparx away but Sparx has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sparky Sparx 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. This is the final round!

Randle tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sparx defends well and Randle ends up having to push Sparx into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Sparx pushes Randle up against the cage in a clinch.

Sparx escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Randle closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sparx counters with a left and a right that stings Randle.
Randle throws a leg kick but Sparx moved away.
Randle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sparx gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sparx breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sparx rushes Randle and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sparx just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Randle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sparx is stalling here.
Sparx prevents Randle from breaking the clinch.

Sparx's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Randle rushes Sparx and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sparx.
Sparx keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Randle's efforts to push away.
Sparx taking a breather.
Sparx gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Randle.
Randle lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparx unloads a knee to the mid-section. Randle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Sparx escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sparx moves into the clinch.
Randle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sparx walks away with a smile on his face. Randle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Randle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Randle wants to clinch up but Sparx keeps it at a distance.

Sparx gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Randle is working for takedown but Sparx is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sparx wants to take the fight to the mat but Randle manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sparx tries to pull guard but Randle forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sparx makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sparx manages to break the clinch.

Randle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sparx taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Sparx.
Randle tries to stall but Sparx uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sparx jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Randle walks away with a smile on his face. Sparx gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sparx displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Randle.
Despite the aggression on Sparx's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sparx lands with a slapping head kick.
Randle tries to clinch but Sparx is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparx closes the distance and clinches.

Sparx pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sparx shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Randle as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Randle.

Sparx takes the fight into the clinch.
Randle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sparx avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Randle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sparx walks away with a smile on his face. Randle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sparx gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sparky Sparx comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sparx 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sparky Sparx!