PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between UllTap Yo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izzy Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Yo
vs
Sparks

170 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, UllTap Yo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Izzy Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Sparks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Yo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sparks's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yo wants to control but Sparks is keeping him busy.
Sparks is trying to stand.
Yo wants to pass to mount but Sparks is defending the position.
Yo throwing shots but Sparks is blocking nicely.

Yo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sparks to stand up.
Sparks stuffs the takedown.

Sparks moves into the clinch.
Yo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sparks drags the fight down to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yo won't allow Sparks to get back to his feet.
Sparks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sparks controlling the position.
Yo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Yo from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sparks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Yo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Yo taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sparks throws an elbow but Yo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sparks throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sparks looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Yo is avoiding damage well.
Yo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sparks off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Yo's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks is trying to break free.

Yo looking for the choke but no joy.
Yo is breathing heavily.
Sparks just trying to survive but Yo is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Sparks is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Yo off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Yo trying to control momentarily.
Yo avoiding Sparks 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Sparks manages to reverse the position and now he's in Yo's guard. Nice work there by Sparks.
Yo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Yo is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.

Sparks stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A left and a right from Sparks both land. Nice combination.
Sparks shoots in but Yo avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Yo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sparks is looking for a sweep.
Sparks is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Sparks is trying to work for a sweep but Yo has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Izzy Sparks will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yo throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.
Sparks is looking to clinch.

Sparks gets a clinch.
Yo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sparks.

Sparks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
UllTap Yo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sparks throws a series of punches but Yo moves out of range.
Sparks tries for a takedown but Yo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sparks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Yo shoots for a takedown but Sparks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for UllTap Yo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yo loads up on a big right hand but Sparks slips the punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yo.

Sparks clinches with his opponent.

Sparks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A shot to the liver by Sparks. Beautiful body shot.
Sparks tries to clinch but Yo is having none of it.
Yo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sparks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sparks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yo.
Sparks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Yo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Yo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sparks controls Yo momentarily but Yo frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Yo from controlling successfully.
Yo stops Sparks from standing up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks wants to sweep but no luck.
Yo slips nicely into half guard.
Sparks trying to control but Yo postures up.
Sparks is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yo decides to return to a standing position.
Yo avoids the head kick by Sparks.

Yo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Yo from controlling successfully.
Sparks lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yo!
Sparks working the ground and pound effectively.
Sparks thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looking to control but Yo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Yo tries to lock up and control but Sparks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sparks landing strikes from the mount and Yo is in trouble!
Sparks raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yo tries to hold on but Sparks postures up.
The referee warns Yo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks lands a nice shot to the head.
Yo is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Izzy Sparks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sparks is defended easily by Yo.
Yo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sparks leaves Yo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yo throws the left hand but Sparks avoids the punch easily.
Sparks pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Yo back to the cage. Sparks follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown but Yo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Sparks. No joy for Yo on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Yo 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 Sparks has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sparks and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sparks.
UllTap Yo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izzy Sparks.
Sparks moves out of range of the body kick.
Izzy Sparks seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yo instigates a clinch.
Sparks prevents the takedown attempt.
Sparks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yo tries to pull guard but Sparks won't allow it.
Sparks lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Sparks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sparks throws a shot to the body.
Sparks misses with a two punch combination.
Sparks stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Izzy Sparks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sparks is fending him off so far but Yo persists. Nope, Sparks circles away and we're back to standing.
Yo misses with a wild body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Sparks. That snapped Yo's head back.
Sparks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yo fails with the takedown.
Sparks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sparks goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sparks circles away.
Yo fails to land the takedown.
Sparks lands with a cross.
Sparks cracks a nice hook into Yo's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looks to land a right hand but Yo moved out of range.
Yo tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparks pushes Yo away with a front kick.
Yo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Yo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sparks was covering up waiting for the punch and Yo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Yo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sparks, up you get!
Yo doesn't manage to clinch there - Sparks circles away.
Sparks throws a head kick that half lands.
Yo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sparks tries to clinch up but Yo circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks throws a body punch but Yo moves out of range.

Yo moves into the clinch successfully.
Yo is stalling here.
Sparks lands a right hand.
Sparks is working Yo over against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sparks avoiding damage.
Sparks is looking to break free of the clinch but Yo has double underhooks.
Izzy Sparks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sparks pulls guard successfully.
UllTap Yo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yo postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Izzy Sparks.
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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

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