PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bakki yAkoi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

yAkoi
vs
Sparks

170 cm
20
158 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

179 cm
28
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Valhalla Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bakki yAkoi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
yAkoi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sparks's head.
Sparks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but yAkoi circles away quickly and effectively.
yAkoi slips under a jab.
yAkoi misses with a head kick.
yAkoi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
yAkoi tries to bum rush Sparks with a series of wild strikes but Sparks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sparks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching yAkoi on his heels. He'll look to pass yAkoi's guard now, I'm sure.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
yAkoi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sparks trying to control but yAkoi is working from the bottom.
Sparks stops yAkoi from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yAkoi keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.
yAkoi wants to stand up but Sparks is controlling him.

Ricky Sparks has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sparks jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sparks closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. yAkoi quickly recovers to half guard.
yAkoi tries to kick Sparks off but Sparks keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks stalling.
Sparks trying to control from half guard but yAkoi is working away.
Sparks looks to land a strike but yAkoi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sparks is working yAkoi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sparks sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
yAkoi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but yAkoi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sparks slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
yAkoi tries to improve position but can't.
Sparks working the ground and pound.
Sparks controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sparks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
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!
yAkoi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Sparks's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
yAkoi is trying to stand up here but Sparks is controlling him well.

yAkoi kicks Sparks off and gets back to his feet.
Sparks throws an overhand right that lands on yAkoi's shoulder, as yAkoi tries to avoid the shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks blocks the body kick.
Sparks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by yAkoi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Sparks dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sparks thows a body shot but no joy.
Sparks lands the left hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by yAkoi. That's going to slow Sparks down.
yAkoi misses with a kick to the body.
Sparks looks to land a left hand but yAkoi moved out of range nicely.
yAkoi misses with a wild combination.
yAkoi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparks throws a hook to the side of yAkoi's head but yAkoi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice uppercut there from yAkoi.
Sparks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
yAkoi dips to his left and cracks Sparks with an uppercut!
Sparks avoids the head kick by yAkoi.
A looping hook to the body misses from yAkoi. Sparks does a little dance to reset his feet.

Sparks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. yAkoi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sparks is in yAkoi's guard.
Sparks wants to control from the top but yAkoi keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks won't allow yAkoi to get back to his feet.
Sparks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sparks with a flurry of punches that miss.
yAkoi keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ricky Sparks hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
yAkoi throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks misses with a straight right.
A head kick misses from yAkoi.
yAkoi lands a front kick.
yAkoi tries a head kick but it misses.
yAkoi tries a head kick but it misses.
yAkoi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sparks circles away quickly and effectively.
Sparks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. yAkoi tries to avoid it but Sparks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag yAkoi to the ground. yAkoi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - yAkoi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sparks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. yAkoi defends it nicely.
Bakki yAkoi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
yAkoi throws a leg kick but Sparks sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sparks blocks a head kick by yAkoi.
yAkoi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bakki yAkoi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

yAkoi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
yAkoi checks a low kick from Sparks.
Bakki yAkoi is winning the standup battle so far.
yAkoi throws a right and a left that Sparks avoids nicely.
Sparks throws a jab when yAkoi was well out of range.

Sparks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sparks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
yAkoi wants to stand and escape but Sparks is having none of it.
Sparks wants to control from the top but yAkoi keeps moving.
yAkoi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yAkoi wants to stand but Sparks is controlling the position.
Sparks sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sparks stops yAkoi from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ricky Sparks.
yAkoi moves out of range of the body kick from Sparks.
Sparks misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
yAkoi throws a sloppy head kick and Sparks moves out of range easily.
Sparks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by yAkoi.
Sparks fails to land the takedown.
Sparks throws a lazy right hand but yAkoi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
yAkoi avoids a kick to the body.
Sparks loads up on a big right hand but yAkoi slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
yAkoi tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparks throws a leg kick
and yAkoi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sparks takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bakki yAkoi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
yAkoi throws a wild body kick that Sparks sees coming a mile off.
Sparks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says yAkoi as he avoids it easily.
yAkoi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
yAkoi stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparks. Sparks gets slowly back to his feet.
Bakki yAkoi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Sparks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
yAkoi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sparks.
Sparks blocks a head kick by yAkoi.
yAkoi throws a right and a left that Sparks avoids nicely.
yAkoi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
yAkoi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sparks.
A head kick misses from yAkoi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Sparks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sparks 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

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