PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Sparks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparks has chosen Sparks as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cruz
vs
Sparks

170 cm
29
152 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

179 cm
30
165 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Down Under - Supplements.160Q Video Proof
Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Sparks!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparks tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz is pushing Sparks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cruz is pressed up against the cage. Sparks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cruz down to the mat. Cruz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cruz has his takedown stuffed

and Sparks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sparks.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparks is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz striking off his back but it's not causing Sparks any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparks is looking to work some ground and pound but Cruz has wrist control.
Cruz is trying to keep Sparks in close.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cruz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sparks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cruz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sparks is aware though and is defending well.

Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sparks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sparks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sparks tries to free his leg and advance position but Cruz is retaining full guard.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cruz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz is looking for a triangle but Sparks pushes his legs off easily.
Sparks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cruz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sparks.
Sparks won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.
Cruz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Sparks tries to pass.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Sparks from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sparks with a nice head shot there.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Sparks defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cruz working for a triangle but Sparks defends it easily.
Cruz wants to stand but Sparks is controlling the position.
Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Sparks is proving a slippery customer.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sparks defends it easily.

Cruz looking for a guillotine here but Sparks defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sparks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sparks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cruz is keeping the position for now.
Sparks passes into half guard.
Cruz controlling the position well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cruz actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sparks lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sparks.

Cruz drives through and clinches with Sparks against the cage.
Cruz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sparks drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sparks has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sparks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sparks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz fails with the takedown

and Sparks counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sparks really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cruz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cruz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sparks defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sparks controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cruz has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sparks is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cruz.
Sparks scores with punches from side control.

Sparks tries for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sparks is controlling him well.
Cruz sneaks back into half guard.
Cruz desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Cruz has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Sparks escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Sparks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sparks wants to control but Cruz is keeping him busy.
Sparks scoring with punches from side control.
Cruz manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sparks's best efforts.
Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cruz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruz is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sparks takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Sparks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sparks listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sparks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sparks just misses with a punch to the body.

Sparks shoots in and bounces Cruz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparksis looking to pass into half guard but Cruz pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cruz is in guard.
Sparks controlling the position.
Sparks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sparks keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cruz tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Sparks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sparks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sparks keeps working.
Cruz taking a breather here.
Sparks is looking to regain half guard here but Cruz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nate Cruz just wasn't active enough.
A swing and a miss from Sparks.
Sparks circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sparks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sparks throwing strikes from guard but Cruz blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sparks looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sparks is looking to stand up but Cruz isn't so interested in that idea.
Sparks is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cruz trying to control but Sparks is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricky Sparks.
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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ricky Sparks!
Ricky Sparks was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.