PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Sparrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Black will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sparrow
vs
Black

175 cm
26
189 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Sparrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Black!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sparrow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sparrow off to one side.
Black throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sparrow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Black counters with a stiff right hand.
Black throws a combination. Sparrow tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Jack Sparrow has been cut.
Black stuffs the takedown attempt from Sparrow. Sparrow gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Sparrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black drives through and clinches with Sparrow against the cage.
Black tries to land a knee to the head but Sparrow blocks with his arms.
Black misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sparrow blocks an uppercut.
Black tries to break free but Sparrow pushes him back against the cage.
Black is trying to push Sparrow away but Sparrow has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sparrow ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sparrow no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Black stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow fails with the takedown
and Black connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Black lands a really nice looking cross but Sparrow seems unphased.
Black scores with a shot to the body.
Sparrow shoots in but no luck this time.
Black lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Black.
Sparrow takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Sparrow is rocked!

Black fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sparrow, pushing him back against the cage.
Oh Sparrow is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Black misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sparrow blocks an elbow strike from Black.
Sparrow seems to have got his legs back now.
Black wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sparrow wants a takedown.

Sparrow wants the takedown. Black is fighting it off but Sparrow persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Black's guard against the cage.
Black controls Sparrow momentarily but Sparrow frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sparrow's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Black is trying to control the position but Sparrow postures up.
Black keeping full guard, as Sparrow tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black wants to sweep but no luck.

John Black has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sparrow shoots in looking for a takedown. Black tries to sprawl out of it but Sparrow keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Black manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sparrow takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Black dips to his left and cracks Sparrow with an uppercut!
Black scores with a jab. Sparrow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Black.
Sparrow misses with a takedown
and Black counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Black.

Sparrow closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sparrow lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black is looking to stand up but Sparrow isn't so interested in that idea.
Sparrow pushes down on Black's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow prevents Black from standing back up.
Sparrow sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sparrow prevents Black from improving his position.
Sparrow is taking a breather. Black says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack Sparrow's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sparrow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Black counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Sparrow has Black up against the cage in a clinch.
Sparrow avoiding damage as Black throws knees to the body.
Black tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sparrow blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Black misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knees to the body from Black.
Black throws a head punch that misses.
Black misses with some punches.

Black escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jack Sparrow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black with a hook.
Black lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Black counters with a nice body shot.
Black scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Sparrow scores with a takedown into Black's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sparrow content to stall in guard here.
Black wants to stand and escape but Sparrow is having none of it.
Sparrow passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Sparrow prevents Black from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow is taking a breather. Black says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
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!
Sparrow seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Black for as long as he can get away with.

Black looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sparrow passes to side control.
Sparrow remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sparrow has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Black being controlled for a moment.
Black gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparrow content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Black will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jack Sparrow's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sparrow takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sparrow looks for a takedown but Black sprawls well.
Sparrow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.
John Black seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sparrow closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A right-left combo lands from Black.
Sparrow drops his hands momentarily and Black takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Donk. Black catches Sparrow right on the button with a cross.
Good shot there by Black.
Sparrow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Black counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Sparrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sparrow looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black lands a jab to Sparrow's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparrow tries to score a body lock takedown but Black shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Black misses with an elbow strike.
Sparrow prevents a body shot from Black.
Black goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sparrow keeps control of Black as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Black.

Black manages to break the clinch.
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sparrow moves forwards but Black connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sparrow shoots and misses
and Black counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Black fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sparrow on the side of the head.
Black scores with a jab. Sparrow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black scores with a jab. Sparrow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sparrow doesn't seem bothered though.

Black closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Black tries to break free but Sparrow pushes him back against the cage.
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Black tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice elbow from Black.

Black breaks the clinch.
Black will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Black throws a series of strikes that have Sparrow backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black cracks Sparrow with a good jab.
Sparrow has his takedown stuffed
and Black counters with an outside leg kick.
Sparrow drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sparrow fails with a takedown attempt.
Sparrow tries to clinch there but Black circles away.

Black takes the fight into the clinch.
Black is trying to break free.
Black misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sparrow.
John Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sparrow's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow dodges an elbow strike from Black.
Black working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Black lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sparrow prevents Black from breaking the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Black wants to break the clinch but can't.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparrow wants to take the fight to the mat but Black manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sparrow just leaning against Black, taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Black 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Black!
A very excited looking John Black made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.