PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Stonehouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markcus Sparkus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stonehouse comes to the cage accompanied by Invaders Must Die. Paul Stonehouse has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stonehouse
vs
Sparkus

190 cm
22
209 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

190 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Bloodsport Nutrition

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 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Stonehouse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Markcus Sparkus!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sparkus scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stonehouse is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sparkus taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sparkus trying to control the action but Stonehouse is working from the bottom.
Sparkus wants to stand but Stonehouse is controlling his arm.
Stonehouse regains half guard.
Stonehouse is pressing down on Sparkus's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sparkus throws a strike but Stonehouse rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stonehouse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stonehouse's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sparkus is trying to control the position but Stonehouse postures up.
Stonehouse preventing the sweep.
Sparkus is trying to keep Stonehouse in close.
Sparkus throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sparkus is trying to keep Stonehouse in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Markcus Sparkus hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sparkus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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

Sparkus has closed the distance and engaged Stonehouse in a clinch.
Sparkus missing with knees to the body.
Stonehouse throws an elbow that misses.
Stonehouse with a knee to the head.

It looks like Markcus Sparkus has been cut.
Stonehouse just leaning against Sparkus, taking a breather.
Stonehouse scores with a knee to the head.

Sparkus gets control of Stonehouse's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sparkus will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sparkus wants to stand but Stonehouse is controlling the position.
Stonehouse slips nicely into half guard.
Sparkus trying to control but Stonehouse postures up.
Stonehouse thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stonehouse wants to work for an arm triangle but Sparkus is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse wants to free his trapped foot but Sparkus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sparkus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stonehouse's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stonehouse's back!
Stonehouse trying to control but not successfully.
Sparkus doesn't have the hooks in and Stonehouse manages to turn into his guard.
Sparkus working a defensive guard here.
Sparkus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stonehouse's guard.
Sparkus prevents Stonehouse from getting back to his feet.
Stonehouse wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparkus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stonehouse wants to sweep but no luck.
Stonehouse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparkus.
Stonehouse manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Stonehouse working for a guillotine from mount but Sparkus is in no mood to give up.
Stonehouse avoids the attempt from Sparkus to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Markcus Sparkus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Markcus Sparkus's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sparkus throws a series of strikes that have Stonehouse backpedaling.
Sparkus will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Stonehouse tries to clinch but Sparkus moves out of range.
Sparkus cracks the inside of Stonehouse's front leg.

Stonehouse pushes Sparkus up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Sparkus 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.
Stonehouse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparkus.
Stonehouse controls Sparkus momentarily but Sparkus frees himself.
Stonehouse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Stonehouse looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stonehouse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stonehouse working for a triangle but Sparkus defends it easily.
Stonehouse wants to sweep here but Sparkus controlling him for the moment.
Sparkus trying to control but Stonehouse is working from the bottom.
Sparkus tries to stand but Stonehouse is controlling from the bottom.
Sparkus trying to control the position from guard on top but Stonehouse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sparkus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Markcus Sparkus.
Stonehouse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sparkus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stonehouse tries to clinch up

and Sparkus counters with a shoot takedown. Stonehouse fights it but they end up in guard.
Stonehouse looking to control.
Sparkus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse wants to sweep here but Sparkus controlling him for the moment.

Stonehouse has his foot on Sparkus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sparkus works his way back into a safe position though.
Stonehouse manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sparkus manages to get himself to full guard.
Sparkus trying to keep a closed guard but Stonehouse is proving a slippery customer.

Sparkus uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sparkus throws a lazy head kick
and Stonehouse counters with a straight right hand.
Stonehouse moves in looking to clinch but Sparkus pushes him off.
Stonehouse blocks a head kick by Sparkus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse is looking to clinch.
Sparkus throws a leg kick

and Stonehouse counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sparkus blocks an elbow strike from Stonehouse.

Sparkus ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sparkus no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sparkus controls Stonehouse momentarily but Stonehouse frees himself.

Sparkus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stonehouse gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sparkus is breathing heavily.
Sparkus keeping full guard, as Stonehouse tries to pass.
Stonehouse advances position into side control!

Stonehouse looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markcus Sparkus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Markcus Sparkus's cut.
That's time! Stonehouse's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stonehouse has Sparkus up against the cage in a clinch.
Stonehouse utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Stonehouse lands a good knee to the midsection. Sparkus won't want to take too many of those.
Stonehouse with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sparkus takes an elbow to the temple.
Stonehouse gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stonehouse landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stonehouse with a knee to the head.
Stonehouse throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sparkus blocks it with crossed arms.
Sparkus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stonehouse lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That has opened up Markcus Sparkus's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stonehouse connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sparkus's face.
Stonehouse with a knee to the head.
Stonehouse creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sparkus's defenses.

Stonehouse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stonehouse clinches up against the cage.
Sparkus wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by Stonehouse.
Sparkus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stonehouse has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sparkus is trying to keep an underhook but Stonehouse manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Stonehouse seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sparkus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sparkus is pressing down on Stonehouse's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sparkus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stonehouse pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sparkus is keeping the position for now.

Stonehouse thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stonehouse advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse is looking to take a break and control but Sparkus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sparkus moves into full guard.

Stonehouse thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sparkus wants to sweep here but Stonehouse controlling him for the moment.
Stonehouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Sparkus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stonehouse looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stonehouse stopping the sweep attempt from Sparkus.

Sparkus is looking for a triangle but Stonehouse pushes his legs off easily.
Stonehouse chips away with some ground and pound.
Stonehouse stands and throws Sparkus's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Sparkus's face as Stonehouse controls the position.
Stonehouse tries to advance to mount but can't.

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.
Sparkus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stonehouse wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stonehouse tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Stonehouse scoring with punches from side control.

Stonehouse working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stonehouse wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparkus keeps working.

Stonehouse tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stonehouse has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Stonehouse showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sparkus 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Paul Stonehouse!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Paul Stonehouse!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Paul Stonehouse!

Paul Stonehouse wins by unanimous decision!