PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between deacon james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

james
vs
Sparks

187 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
209 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

[†]FALCON CLOTHING[†]

Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, deacon james!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - james looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sparks swinging wilding here.
james tries to clinch but Sparks moves out of range.
james fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sparks swinging wilding here.
james throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sparks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sparks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
james fails to land with a series of punches.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sparks.
james fails in his attempt to clinch.
james is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sparks punishes james's body with a nice straight punch.
Sparks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and james counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Jimmy Sparks has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

james clinches up against the cage.
james tries to land a knee to the head but Sparks blocks with his arms.
Sparks avoids the elbow strike from james, against the cage.
james scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks is trying to break the clinch but james has him pressed against the cage.

james ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. james no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
james wants to get back to his feet but Sparks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparks stopping the sweep attempt from james.

Sparks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
james is trying to control the position but Sparks postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Sparks stands up from guard. Let's bang!
james tries to clinch there but Sparks circles away.
james throws a head kick that misses.
james tries to close the distance and clinch but Sparks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sparks connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like deacon james has been cut.
A left and a right from Sparks both land. Nice combination.
Sparks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and james moves into the clinch.

james breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks throws a right and a left that both miss.
james throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sparks counters with a series of strikes. james will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sparks swinging wilding here.
A lazy left from Sparks finds it's target.
Sparks looks to score with a jab to the body but james is just out of range.
Sparks keeps the fight on the outside.
Sparks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looks to score with a jab to the body but james is just out of range.
Sparks just misses with a punch to the body.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sparks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sparks throws a right hand that james ducks under and follows up with a left that james also avoids with ease.
Sparks misses with a jab, cross combination.
james tries to clinch but Sparks moves out of range.
Sparks stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Good exchange - Sparks coming out on top.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks swinging wilding here.
james fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sparks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
james wants to clinch.
james with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sparks to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james wants to clinch
and Sparks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
james shoots in but no luck this time.
Sparks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but james moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sparks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
james throws a right hand that Sparks ducks under and follows up with a left that Sparks also avoids with ease.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sparks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
james fails with an attempt to clinch.
james misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks falls off balance throwing a combination

and james moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks avoids the elbow strike from james, against the cage.
james misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sparks.
james wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy Sparks will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

james doesn't manage to clinch there - Sparks circles away.
james misses with a series of wild punches.
Sparks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
james tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sparks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
james throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A right-left combo lands from Sparks.
Sparks throws a right and a left that james avoids nicely.
james fails with an attempt to clinch.
james takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sparks swats away the attempt to clinch by james.
Jimmy Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from Sparks misses
and james counters with a two punch combo.
james on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sparks moves out of range of the body kick.
Sparks tries to bum rush james with a series of wild strikes but james uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
deacon james is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
james keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
james falls off balance throwing a combination
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Sparks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a right and a left that james avoids nicely.
james fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sparks misses with a body kick.
Sparks just misses with a punch to the body.
james tries for a takedown but Sparks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sparks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and james counters by moving into the clinch.
james taking a breather.
Sparks is working for takedown but james is calmly controlling the position for now.
james is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Sparks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
james takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jimmy Sparks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.
james takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
james tries to clinch but Sparks moves away
and Sparks makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sparks misses with a double jab.
Jab by Sparks.
Sparks throws a right and a left that both miss.
james shoots in and drives through. Sparks sprawls well.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.
james lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparks circles away quickly and effectively.
james wants to clinch
and Sparks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sparks looks to land a combination. james sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sparks!
Sparks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by james.
Sparks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sparks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. james looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sparks works over james's head and body with a nice combination.
james tries to clinch there but Sparks circles away.
james swats away the attempt to clinch by Sparks.
Sparks closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A punch combination from Sparks misses.
Sparks misses with a double jab

and james moves into the clinch.
Come on james - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
james is looking to break free of the clinch but Sparks has double underhooks.
Sparks can't break the clinch.
james can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for deacon james. That's going to take a lot out of him.
james is trying to break the clinch but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.

Sparks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
james looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james slips a jab and a cross from Sparks.
Sparks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but james moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
james tries to clinch up but Sparks circles away and keeps his distance.
Sparks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sparks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice combination there by Sparks.
james avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sparks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from james.
james tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
james fails in his attempt to clinch.
james misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Sparks misses.

james clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Sparks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! james's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

james tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sparks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
james fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sparks lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
james misses with a looping left.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks fails to land with a series of punches.
james shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sparks as he avoids it easily.
Sparks scores with a hook.
Sparks throws a left and a right that both miss
and james counters with a head kick. That will keep Sparks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sparks throws a combination. james tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
james shoots and misses
and Sparks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps james thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for deacon james. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
james has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sparks is working the combinations to good effect here.
Sparks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

deacon james's cut is getting worse.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks throws a combination that misses
and james counters with a left and a right that stings Sparks.
Sparks cracks james with a good jab.
Sparks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sparks scores with a takedown into james's guard.
Sparks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sparks got a little sloppy there for a moment and james has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sparks has managed to get both his arms back between james's legs - danger averted.

Sparks stands and steps away. james gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
james throws a right and a left that Sparks avoids nicely.
Sparks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sparks misses with a double jab.
Sparks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sparks fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but james is out of range.
Sparks swats away the attempt to clinch by james.
james showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sparks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
james tries to clinch but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks blocks a head kick by james.
Nice straight punches there by Sparks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sparks.
james misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sparks.
james is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sparks scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

james looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
james scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sparks manages to mount him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
james wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
deacon james has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
james takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Jimmy Sparks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
james is squirming around, avoiding Sparks's attempts to control the action.
james is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
james is desperately trying to improve his position but Sparks has a good base and remains in mount.
Sparks controlling his opponent.
Sparks wants to control but james has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Sparks sitting and controlling from the half guard.
james is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sparks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sparks blocks the strikes from james.
Sparks wants to stand up but james is controlling the position.
james is trying to stand.
Sparks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sparks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sparks closes this distance looking for a takedown but james circles away.
Sparks throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch combination from Sparks misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Sparks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sparks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Sparks!