PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Sparr (ranked 140 p4p, 878 weight class) and Tommi Ritola (ranked 22 p4p, 109 weight class). Sparr comes to the cage accompanied by OH NO!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sparr
vs
Ritola

200 cm
35
265
21 - 8 - 0

200 cm
28
265
14 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store
Brooklyn Apothecary

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roger Sparr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Ritola!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparr misses the shot to the body.
Sparr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Ritola was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ritola scores with a push kick.
Sparr jabs at Ritola's body.
Ritola takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sparr cracks a nice hook into Ritola's ribs.
Ritola defending well as Sparr loads up on a big left hand.
It seemed like Ritola was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sparr moves away.
Sparr takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice uppercut lands for Sparr. That snapped Ritola's head back.
Sparr scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sparr feinted with a counter takedown.
Sparr misses with a wild body shot.
Sparr dips to his left and cracks Ritola with an uppercut!
Sparr looks to land a right hand but Ritola moved out of range.
Ritola looks to throw a body kick
and Sparr counters with a straight right hand.
Sparr moves out of range of the leg kick from Ritola.
A lazy left from Sparr finds it's target.
Sparr is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Sparr misses the target.
Ritola let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sparr throws a jab when Ritola was well out of range.
A little jabbing left from Ritola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Sparr.
Ritola stuns Sparr with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sparr throws an off balance right hand
and Ritola counters with a right hand to the body.
Sparr throws a shot from downtown. Ritola moves away and avoids it.
Ritola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparr with a hook.
Ritola loads up on a big right hand but Sparr slips the punch.
Sparr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ritola.
Ritola is trying to counter with his kicks.
Ritola throws a low kick but Sparr avoids it.
Ritola moves away from the strike by Sparr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola slips a straight right by Sparr.
Sparr has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sparr there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sparr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ritola counters with a crisp one two that drops Sparr! Ritola thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Sparr to his feet! Sparr is in big trouble!

Sparr is rocked!
Ritola throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sparr circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sparr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ritola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sparr is able to avoid easily.
Sparr attempts a counter takedown but Ritola avoids it well and moves away.
Ritola is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sparr rather than just go for the knockout.
A swing and a miss from Ritola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparr throws a body shot but no joy.
Ritola raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sparr ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sparr is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sparr stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sparr moves away from the strike by Ritola.
Ritola looks to score with a jab to the body but Sparr is just out of range.
Nice body kick from Ritola.
Ritola defending well as Sparr loads up on a big left hand.
Ritola throws a head kick but Sparr moves out of range.
Sparr changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick misses from Ritola.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roger Sparr will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sparr connects with a body shot that sends Ritola's belly button to the back.
Sparr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ritola defends well and Sparr ends up having to push Ritola into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ritola lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sparr is trying to drag Ritola to the mat but Ritola just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ritola is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Sparr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Sparr.
Ritola can't find room to land a body shot as Sparr controls the action.
Ritola working aggressively here.
Ritola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ritola swings wildly with an uppercut but Sparr uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sparr lands a hook that snaps the head of Ritola backwards.
Sparr avoiding damage as Ritola throws knees to the body.
Ritola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ritola swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparr can't find room to land a body shot as Ritola controls the action.
Ritola trying to land knees to the body.
Ritola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sparr blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Sparr scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sparr avoiding damage as Ritola throws knees to the body.
Ritola missing with knees to the body.

Sparr works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Sparr throwing strikes from guard but Ritola blocks nicely.
Sparr throws a big elbow that misses.
Ritola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sparr's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sparr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparr is looking to work some ground and pound but Ritola has wrist control.
Sparr sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sparr postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ritola keeping moving, preventing Sparr from controlling successfully.
Sparr sitting in guard here, content to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sparr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sparr engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sparr chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparr lands a couple of digs.
Sparr connects with a couple of short punches.
Sparr passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ritola is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sparr tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Sparr has an Americana. Ritola didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Sparr is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Sparr hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Roger Sparr!
Roger Sparr retains his heavyweight title!
Roger Sparr decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.